Dynamic handover between inter-cell and intra-cell multiple transmit-receive points

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a control message indicating a set of timing advance groups (TAGs), where a first TAG is associated with a first control resource set (CORESET) and a second TAG is associated with a second CORESET. In some examples, the UE may receive a downlink message for a random access procedure, where the downlink message includes one or more reservation bits indicating TAGs from the set of TAGs, and the UE may select a TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reservation bits. In some other examples, the UE may receive a downlink message that triggers a random access channel procedure and indicates a state from a set of states, and the UE may select a TAG based on the indicated state and a mode of the UE.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The following relates to wireless communications, including physical random access channel (PRACH) enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple transmit receive points (TRPs) between cells and within a cell. Background Art

[0002] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These systems may be able to support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple-access systems include fourth-generation (4G) systems (such as long-term evolution (LTE) systems, advanced LTE (LTE-A) systems, or LTE-A Pro systems) and fifth-generation (5G) systems (which may be referred to as new radio (NR) systems). These systems may employ techniques such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or discrete Fourier transform-spread orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple-access communication system may include one or more base stations, each of which supports wireless communication for communication devices, which may be referred to as user equipment (UE). Summary of the Invention

[0003] The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses for supporting physical random access channel (PRACH) enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple transmit receive points (TRPs) between cells and within a cell. Generally, the techniques described herein may enable a user equipment (UE) to implement one or more rules associated with interpreting one or more messages received by the UE to determine a timing advance group (TAG) associated with a TRP (e.g., associated with a control resource set (CORESET) pool index). For example, the UE may receive a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., associated with a TRP or a network entity), and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., a CORESET pool index value). Additionally, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a serving cell physical cell identifier (PCI). In some examples, the UE may receive a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, wherein the first downlink message includes one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG. In such cases, the UE may select one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits, and may communicate according to the selected TAG based on the selection.

[0004] In some other examples, the UE may receive a different downlink message that triggers a random access procedure, where the different downlink message indicates a state from a state set. Each state from the state set may be associated with a PCI from a PCI set and may indicate a TAG to be used by the UE. In such cases, the UE may select a TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and the UE's multiple TRP mode. Additionally, the UE may send an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0005] A method for wireless communication at a UE is described. The method may include: receiving a control message indicating a tag set, wherein a first tag from the tag set is associated with a first coreset pool index, and a second tag from the tag set is associated with a second coreset pool index, and wherein the first coreset pool index is associated with a serving personal information component (PCI); receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first tag or the second tag; selecting one of the first tag or the second tag based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; and communicating according to the selected tag based on the selection, the selected tag being one of the first tag or the second tag.

[0006] An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment terminal (UE) is described. The apparatus may include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive a control message indicating a tag set, wherein a first tag from the tag set is associated with a first coreset pool index, and a second tag from the tag set is associated with a second coreset pool index, and wherein the first coreset pool index is associated with a serving personal information component (PCI); receive a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of a first tag or a second tag; select one of the first tag or the second tag based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; and communicate according to the selected tag based on the selection, the selected tag being one of the first tag or the second tag.

[0007] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include: means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI; means for receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of a first TAG or a second TAG; means for selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; and means for communicating according to the selected TAG based on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0008] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: receive a control message indicating a tag set, wherein a first tag from the tag set is associated with a first coreset pool index, and a second tag from the tag set is associated with a second coreset pool index, and wherein the first coreset pool index is associated with a serving personal information component (PCI); receive a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of a first tag or a second tag; select one of the first tag or the second tag based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; and communicate according to the selected tag based on the selection, the selected tag being one of the first tag or the second tag.

[0009] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, components, or instructions for receiving a second downlink message that triggers a random access procedure and associating the random access procedure with a serving PCI or an additional PCI that may be different from the serving PCI, wherein a rule for applying one or more reserved bits may be associated with the serving PCI or the additional PCI based on the random access procedure.

[0010] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a random access procedure may be associated with an additional PCI, and a rule for applying one or more reserved bits may indicate that the UE may ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the random access procedure being associated with the additional PCI.

[0011] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for selecting the selected TAG based on a configuration associated with the additional PCI.

[0012] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for selecting the selected TAG based on an indication of one or more reserved bits.

[0013] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the selected TAG may be a second TAG, and the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media may include further operations, features, components, or instructions for delaying communication according to the second TAG based on the UE operating in inter-cell mode when the first downlink message may be received or may be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index associated with one or more TCI states that may be associated with the additional PCI may indicate that the UE may operate in inter-cell mode.

[0014] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, communicating according to the selected TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for: communicating according to the second TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states that may be associated with the service PCI due to activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0015] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, communicating in accordance with the selected TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for communicating in accordance with the selected TAG based on the UE operating in intra-cell mode when the first downlink message may be received or may be applied, wherein both the first CORESET pool index and the second CORESET pool index associated with one or more TCI states that may be associated with a serving PCI may indicate that the UE may operate in intra-cell mode.

[0016] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a rule for applying one or more reserved bits may be based on a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE when a first downlink message may be received or may be applied.

[0017] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE may be an inter-cell mode, and the rules for applying the one or more reserved bits may indicate that the UE may ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the UE being in inter-cell mode, as indicated by at least one active TCI state of the UE being associated with an additional PCI that may be different from the service PCI.

[0018] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE may be an intra-cell mode, and the rules for applying the one or more reserved bits may indicate that the UE may select a selected TAG using the one or more reserved bits based on the UE being in intra-cell mode, as indicated by all active TCI states of the UE being associated with a serving PCI.

[0019] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the first downlink message of the random access procedure may be a RAR message or an absolute TA command MAC-CE.

[0020] A method for wireless communication at a UE is described. The method may include: receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI; receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE; selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE; and sending an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0021] An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions may be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receive a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI; receive a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE; select a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE; and send an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0022] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a UE is described. The apparatus may include: means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI; means for receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE; means for selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE; and means for sending an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0023] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE is described. The code may include instructions executable by a processor to: receive a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI; receive a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE; select a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE; and send an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0024] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a state set includes a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the service PCI; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0025] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the selected TAG may be a second TAG, and the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media may include more operations, features, components, or instructions for: sending an initial uplink message for a random access procedure; receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a TA command associated with an indicated state, and delaying the sending of the uplink message using the second TAG based on the UE operating in an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message can be received or can be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index associated with one or more TCI states that can be associated with an additional PCI can indicate that the UE can operate in an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0026] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, sending the uplink message may include operations, features, components, or instructions for sending the uplink message according to the second TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states that may be associated with the service PCI due to activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0027] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the number of state sets can be based on a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE when a downlink message can be received or an initial uplink message of a random access procedure can be sent.

[0028] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, components, or instructions for operating a UE in an intra-cell multi-TRP mode when a downlink message can be received or an initial uplink message of a random access procedure can be sent, wherein the state set includes: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; and a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the service PCI.

[0029] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, operation of a UE in intra-cell multi-TRP mode may be indicated by associating a first CORESET pool index and a second CORESET pool index with a serving PCI.

[0030] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, components, or instructions for operating a UE in an inter-cell multi-TRP mode when a downlink message can be received or an initial uplink message of a random access procedure can be sent, wherein the state set includes: a first state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access procedure configuration associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; and one or more second states indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration procedure configuration associated with each additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0031] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, operation of a UE in inter-cell multi-TRP mode may be indicated by a first CORESET pool index being associated with a serving PCI and a second CORESET pool index being associated with an additional PCI.

[0032] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a state set includes: a first state indicating whether a random access process can be associated with an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode or an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode; a second state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0033] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting the selected TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for determining the selected TAG based on a CORESET pool index associated with a downlink message that triggers the random access procedure.

[0034] Some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein may also include operations, features, components, or instructions for: sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure; receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a TA command associated with a second CORESET pool index, and delaying the sending of the uplink message according to the selected second TAG based on the UE operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message can be received or can be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index is associated with one or more TCI states that can be associated with an additional PCI, which can indicate that the UE can operate in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0035] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, sending the uplink message may include operations, features, components, or instructions for sending the uplink message according to the second TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states that may be associated with the service PCI due to activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0036] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting a selected TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for determining a selected TAG based on an indicated state in a downlink message that triggers a random access procedure.

[0037] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, a state set includes a first state that indicates that the UE sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more second states that indicate that the UE sends an uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0038] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting the selected TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for selecting the selected TAG based on a CORESET pool index associated with a downlink message that triggers a random access procedure and based on the UE operating in an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode when a downlink message may be received or an initial uplink message of a random access procedure may be sent.

[0039] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, selecting a selected TAG may include operations, features, components, or instructions for selecting a selected TAG based on the indicated state and based on the UE operating in an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when a downlink message can be received or an initial uplink message of a random access procedure can be sent.

[0040] In some examples of the methods, apparatus, and non-transitory computer-readable media described herein, the downlink message triggering the random access procedure may be a PDCCH command DCI. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] Figure 1 An example of a wireless communication system supporting physical random access channel (PRACH) enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple transmit reception points (TRPs) between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0042] Figure 2 An example of a wireless communication system that supports PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0043] Figures 3 to 8 An example of a timing diagram supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between inter-cell and intra-cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0044] Figure 9 An example of a process flow for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between inter-cell and intra-cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0045] Figure 10 An example of a process flow for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between inter-cell and intra-cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0046] Figure 11 and Figure 12 A block diagram illustrating a device supporting PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is shown.

[0047] Figure 13 A block diagram of a communication manager supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell is illustrated in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

[0048] Figure 14A diagram illustrating a system including devices supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between inter-cell and intra-cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0049] Figure 15 and Figure 16 A flowchart illustrating a method for PRACH enhancement supporting dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between inter-cell and intra-cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Some wireless communication systems may support transmission to or from a single user equipment (UE) having multiple transmit receive points (TRPs). In addition, each TRP may be associated with the same cell (e.g., a serving cell) or with different cells (e.g., a serving cell and one or more additional cells). In some examples, each TRP may send a control message (e.g., downlink control information (DCI)) that schedules corresponding communications between the TRP and the UE. For example, a first control message sent from a first TRP may schedule communications between the UE and the first TRP, and a second control message sent from a second TRP may schedule communications between the UE and the second TRP. In some examples, the UE may determine which TRP a control message is associated with based on a corresponding control resource set (CORESET) from which the control message is received (e.g., based on a CORESET pool index associated with the control message). That is, each TRP may be associated with a CORESET pool index, and each CORESET may also be associated with a CORESET pool index, such that each TRP may be associated with a unique CORESET pool. In addition, each TRP may be associated with a physical cell identifier (PCI). In some examples, the TRPs may be associated with the same PCI, and in such cases, the UE may operate in intra-cell mode. Alternatively, the TRPs may be associated with different PCIs, and in such cases, the UE may operate in inter-cell mode. In some cases, the UE may dynamically switch between intra-cell mode and inter-cell mode.

[0051] In some examples, such as when the UE communicates with multiple TRPs, the UE may apply a different timing advance (TA) to communications with each TRP. That is, the UE may determine which TA to apply to communications with the TRP based on the relationship between the TRP and the timing advance group (TAG). In other words, the TRP may indicate the TAG to the UE during a random access channel (RACH) procedure so that the UE may apply the TA associated with the indicated TAG to communications with the TRP. In some examples, the TRP may indicate a RACH configuration associated with a given PCI, and the UE may determine the TAG based on the PCI. Alternatively, the TRP may indicate the TAG via one or more reserved bits in a random access response (RAR) message or in an absolute TA command MAC CE (e.g., during a RACH procedure). However, since there are multiple methods for indicating a TAG, there may be conflicts between the indicated TAGs. For example, some methods for indicating a TAG may be associated with a UE operating in intra-cell mode, while other methods may be associated with a UE operating in inter-cell mode. Therefore, there may be a conflict between the operating mode of the UE and the method of indicating the TAG to the UE.

[0052] Thus, the techniques described herein support specific implementations of one or more rules associated with interpreting one or more messages received by a UE to determine a TAG associated with a given TRP (e.g., based on the UE supporting dynamic switching between inter-cell mode and intra-cell mode). In some examples, the rules may indicate whether the UE may use or ignore the TAG indication via one or more reserved bits in a RAR message or an absolute TA command MAC CE. That is, in an inter-cell TRP scenario, the TRP may indicate the TAG via a RACH configuration associated with the PCI instead of one or more reserved bits, such that the UE may ignore the TAG indication in the one or more reserved bits. Alternatively, in an intra-cell TRP scenario, the TRP may indicate the TAG in one or more reserved bits, such that the UE may use the TAG indication in the one or more reserved bits. Thus, the rules may instruct the UE to determine whether to apply or ignore one or more reserved bits. For example, if the RAR or absolute TA command MAC CE is in response to a RACH procedure associated with an additional cell (e.g., a cell other than the current serving cell), the UE may ignore the one or more reserved bits. Alternatively, if the RAR or Absolute TA Command MAC CE is in response to a RACH procedure associated with the serving cell, or the RACH procedure is initiated by the UE, the UE may use one or more reserved bits in the RAR message or Absolute TA Command MAC CE to determine the corresponding TAG. In some other examples, the rule may instruct the UE to determine whether to apply or ignore one or more reserved bits based on the UE's operating mode (e.g., intra-cell mode or inter-cell mode).

[0053] Additionally or alternatively, the UE may receive a control message including a command for initiating a RACH procedure, and the command may indicate a state associated with the PCI, or may directly indicate a TAG associated with the serving PCI. Thus, the UE may apply the indicated state based on the UE's operating mode (e.g., intra-cell mode or inter-cell mode). In some examples, the control message may also indicate an operating mode in addition to the indicated state.

[0054] Various aspects of the present disclosure are first described in the context of wireless communication systems. Various aspects of the present disclosure are then described in the context of timing diagrams and process flows. Various aspects of the present disclosure are further illustrated and described by and with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flow charts relating to PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between inter-cell and intra-cell systems.

[0055] Figure 1 An example of a wireless communication system 100 supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The wireless communication system 100 may include one or more network entities 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an Advanced LTE (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, a New Radio (NR) network, or a network operating according to other systems and radio technologies, including future systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

[0056] The network entities 105 may be dispersed throughout a geographic area to form the wireless communication system 100 and may include devices in different forms or with different capabilities. In various examples, the network entities 105 may be referred to as network elements, mobility elements, radio access network (RAN) nodes, or network equipment, among other nomenclature. In some examples, the network entities 105 and the UEs 115 may communicate wirelessly via one or more communication links 125 (e.g., radio frequency (RF) access links). For example, the network entities 105 may support a coverage area 110 (e.g., a geographic coverage area) within which the UEs 115 and the network entities 105 may establish one or more communication links 125. The coverage area 110 may be an example of a geographic area within which the network entities 105 and the UEs 115 may support communication of signals according to one or more radio access technologies (RATs).

[0057] The UEs 115 may be dispersed throughout the coverage area 110 of the wireless communication system 100, and each UE 115 may be stationary or mobile or both stationary and mobile at different times. The UEs 115 may be devices that take different forms or have different capabilities. Figure 1 Some example UEs 115 are illustrated in FIG. The UEs 115 described herein may be capable of supporting communications with various types of devices, such as Figure 1 Other UEs 115 or network entities 105 are shown.

[0058] As described herein, a node of the wireless communication system 100 (which may be referred to as a network node or wireless node) may be a network entity 105 (e.g., any network entity described herein), a UE 115 (e.g., any UE described herein), a network controller, an apparatus, a device, a computing system, one or more components, or another suitable processing entity configured to perform any of the techniques described herein. For example, the node may be a UE 115. As another example, the node may be a network entity 105. As another example, a first node may be configured to communicate with a second node or a third node. In one aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE 115, the second node may be a network entity 105, and the third node may be a UE 115. In another aspect of this example, the first node may be a UE 115, the second node may be a network entity 105, and the third node may be a network entity 105. In other aspects of this example, the first node, the second node, and the third node may be different relative to these examples. Similarly, references to UE 115, network entity 105, apparatus, device, computing system, etc. may include disclosure of UE 115, network entity 105, apparatus, device, computing system, etc. as nodes. For example, a disclosure that UE 115 is configured to receive information from network entity 105 also discloses that the first node is configured to receive information from the second node.

[0059] In some examples, network entities 105 can communicate with core network 130, with each other, or both. For example, network entities 105 can communicate with core network 130 via one or more backhaul communication links 120 (e.g., according to S1, N2, N3, or other interface protocols). In some examples, network entities 105 can communicate with each other directly (e.g., directly between network entities 105) or indirectly (e.g., via core network 130) via backhaul communication links 120 (e.g., according to X2, Xn, or other interface protocols). In some examples, network entities 105 can communicate with each other via midhaul communication links 162 (e.g., according to a midhaul interface protocol) or fronthaul communication links 168 (e.g., according to a fronthaul interface protocol), or any combination thereof. Backhaul communication links 120, midhaul communication links 162, or fronthaul communication links 168 can be or include one or more wired links (e.g., electrical links, fiber optic links), one or more wireless links (e.g., radio links, wireless optical links), etc., or various combinations thereof. UE 115 may communicate with core network 130 via communication link 155 .

[0060] One or more of the network entities 105 described herein may include or may be referred to as a base station 140 (e.g., a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an NR base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a Node B, an evolved Node B (eNB), a next-generation Node B, or a gigabit Node B (any of which may be referred to as a gNB), a 5G NB, a next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), a Home Node B, a Home evolved Node B, or other suitable terminology). In some examples, the network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140) may be implemented in a converged (e.g., monolithic, stand-alone) base station architecture that may be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single network entity 105 (e.g., a single RAN node, such as the base station 140).

[0061] In some examples, the network entity 105 can be implemented in a disaggregated architecture (e.g., a disaggregated base station architecture, a disaggregated RAN architecture) that can be configured to utilize a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed between two or more network entities 105, such as an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open RAN (O-RAN) (e.g., a network configuration sponsored by the O-RAN Alliance), or a virtualized RAN (vRAN) (e.g., a cloud RAN (C-RAN)). For example, the network entity 105 can include one or more of the following: a central unit (CU) 160, a distributed unit (DU) 165, a radio unit (RU) 170, a RAN intelligent controller (RIC) 175 (e.g., a near real-time RIC (near RT RIC), a non-real-time RIC (non-RT RIC)), a service management and orchestration (SMO) 180 system, or any combination thereof. The RU 170 may also be referred to as a radio head, smart radio head, remote radio head (RRH), remote radio unit (RRU), or TRP. One or more components of the network entity 105 in the disaggregated RAN architecture may be co-located, or one or more components of the network entity 105 may be located in distributed locations (e.g., separate physical locations). In some examples, one or more network entities 105 of the disaggregated RAN architecture may be implemented as virtual units (e.g., virtual CU (VCU), virtual DU (VDU), virtual RU (VRU)).

[0062] The functional split between CU 160, DU 165, and RU 170 is flexible and can support different functions depending on which functions (e.g., network layer functions, protocol layer functions, baseband functions, RF functions, and any combination thereof) are performed at CU 160, DU 165, or RU 170. For example, a functional split of the protocol stack can be employed between CU 160 and DU 165 such that CU 160 can support one or more layers of the protocol stack and DU 165 can support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. In some examples, CU 160 can host higher protocol layer (e.g., Layer 3 (L3), Layer 2 (L2)) functions and signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC), Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)). The CU 160 may be connected to one or more DUs 165 or RUs 170, and the one or more DUs 165 or RUs 170 may host lower protocol layers, such as Layer 1 (L1) (e.g., physical (PHY) layer) or L2 (e.g., radio link control (RLC) layer, medium access control (MAC) layer) functionality and signaling, and may each be at least partially controlled by the CU 160. Additionally or alternatively, a functional split of the protocol stack may be employed between the DU 165 and the RU 170, such that the DU 165 may support one or more layers of the protocol stack and the RU 170 may support one or more different layers of the protocol stack. The DU 165 may support one or more different cells (e.g., via one or more RUs 170). In some cases, the functional split between the CU 160 and the DU 165 or between the DU 165 and the RU 170 can be within the protocol layer (e.g., some functions of the protocol layer can be performed by one of the CU 160, DU 165, or RU 170, while other functions of the protocol layer are performed by a different one of the CU 160, DU 165, or RU 170). The CU 160 can be further functionally split into CU control plane (CU-CP) and CU user plane (CU-UP) functions. The CU 160 can be connected to one or more DUs 165 via midhaul communication links 162 (e.g., F1, F1-c, F1-u), and the DU 165 can be connected to one or more RUs 170 via fronthaul communication links 168 (e.g., open fronthaul (FH) interface). In some examples, midhaul communication link 162 or fronthaul communication link 168 may be implemented according to interfaces (eg, channels) between layers of a protocol stack supported by respective network entities 105 communicating via these communication links.

[0063] In some wireless communication systems (e.g., wireless communication system 100), the infrastructure and spectrum resources for radio access may support wireless backhaul link capabilities to supplement wired backhaul connections, thereby providing an IAB network architecture (e.g., to the core network 130). In some cases, in an IAB network, one or more network entities 105 (e.g., IAB nodes 104) may be partially controlled by each other. One or more IAB nodes 104 may be referred to as a donor entity or IAB donor. One or more DUs 165 or one or more RUs 170 may be partially controlled by one or more CUs 160 associated with a donor network entity 105 (e.g., a donor base station 140). One or more donor network entities 105 (e.g., IAB donors) may communicate with one or more additional network entities 105 (e.g., IAB nodes 104) via supported access and backhaul links (e.g., backhaul communication links 120). The IAB node 104 may include an IAB mobile terminal (IAB-MT) controlled (e.g., scheduled) by the DU 165 of the coupled IAB donor. The IAB-MT may include an independent set of antennas for relaying communications with the UE 115, or may share the same antennas of the IAB node 104 (e.g., RU 170) for access via the DU 165 of the IAB node 104 (e.g., referred to as a virtual IAB-MT (vIAB-MT)). In some examples, the IAB node 104 may include a DU 165 that supports communication links with additional entities (e.g., IAB node 104, UE 115) within a relay chain or configuration (e.g., downstream) of the access network. In such cases, one or more components of the decomposed RAN architecture (e.g., one or more IAB nodes 104 or components of the IAB node 104) may be configured to operate according to the techniques described herein.

[0064] Where the techniques described herein are applied to the context of a disaggregated RAN architecture, one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture may be configured to support PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between inter-cell and intra-cell multiple TRPs as described herein. For example, some operations described as being performed by a UE 115 or a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140) may additionally or alternatively be performed by one or more components of the disaggregated RAN architecture (e.g., an IAB node 104, a DU 165, a CU 160, a RU 170, a RIC 175, a SMO 180).

[0065] UE 115 may include or may be referred to as a mobile device, a wireless device, a remote device, a handheld device, or a subscriber device, or some other suitable terminology, where "device" may also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, etc. UE 115 may also include or may be referred to as a personal electronic device, such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, UE 115 may include or may be referred to as a wireless local loop (WLL) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communication (MTC) device, etc., which may be implemented in various objects, such as appliances or vehicles, meters, etc.

[0066] The UE 115 described herein may be capable of communicating with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115, which may sometimes act as relays, as well as network entities 105 and network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, etc. Figure 1 shown.

[0067] The UE 115 and the network entity 105 may wirelessly communicate with each other via one or more communication links 125 (e.g., access links) using resources associated with one or more carriers. The term "carrier" may refer to a collection of RF spectrum resources having a physical layer structure defined for supporting the communication link 125. For example, a carrier used for the communication link 125 may include a portion of an RF spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth portion (BWP)) that operates according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel may carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling for coordinating carrier operations, user data, or other signaling. The wireless communication system 100 may support communications with the UE 115 using carrier aggregation or multi-carrier operation. Depending on the carrier aggregation configuration, the UE 115 may be configured with multiple downlink component carriers and one or more uplink component carriers. Carrier aggregation may be used for both frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD) component carriers. Communication between the network entity 105 and other devices may refer to communication between those devices and any portion (e.g., entity, sub-entity) of the network entity 105. For example, the terms "send," "receive," or "communicate" when referring to the network entity 105 may refer to any portion of the network entity 105 (e.g., base station 140, CU 160, DU 165, RU 170) of the RAN communicating with another device (e.g., directly or via one or more other network entities 105).

[0068] In some examples, such as in a carrier aggregation configuration, a carrier may also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates the operation of other carriers. A carrier may be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) Absolute RF Channel Number (EARFCN)) and may be identified based on a channel raster for discovery by UE 115. A carrier may operate in a standalone mode, in which case initial acquisition and connection may be performed by a UE 115 via the carrier, or in a non-standalone mode, in which case a different carrier (e.g., of the same or different radio access technology) is used to anchor the connection.

[0069] The communication link 125 shown in the wireless communication system 100 may include downlink transmissions (e.g., forward link transmissions) from the network entity 105 to the UE 115, uplink transmissions (e.g., return link transmissions) from the UE 115 to the network entity 105, or both, as well as other transmission configurations. A carrier may carry downlink communications or uplink communications (e.g., in FDD mode), or may be configured to carry both downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in TDD mode).

[0070] A carrier may be associated with a particular bandwidth of RF spectrum, and in some examples, the carrier bandwidth may be referred to as the "system bandwidth" of the carrier or wireless communication system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth may be one of a set of bandwidths of carriers for a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4 megahertz (MHz), 3 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz, 20 MHz, 40 MHz, or 80 MHz). A device of the wireless communication system 100 (e.g., a network entity 105, a UE 115, or both) may have a hardware configuration that supports communication using a particular carrier bandwidth, or may be capable of being configured to support communication using one of the set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, the wireless communication system 100 may include a network entity 105 or a UE 115 that supports concurrent communication using carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE 115 may be configured to operate using a portion (e.g., a subband, a BWP) or all of the carrier bandwidth.

[0071] The signal waveform transmitted via the carrier may include multiple subcarriers (e.g., using a multicarrier modulation (MCM) technique such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In a system employing MCM techniques, a resource element may refer to the resource of one symbol period (e.g., the duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, in which case the symbol period and subcarrier spacing may be inversely related. The number of bits carried by each resource element may depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation scheme, the coding rate of the modulation scheme, or both), such that a relatively high number of resource elements (e.g., in the transmission duration) and a relatively high order modulation scheme may correspond to a relatively high communication rate. Wireless communication resources may refer to a combination of RF spectrum resources, time resources, and spatial resources (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial resources may increase the data rate or data integrity used for communication with UE 115.

[0072] The time interval for the network entity 105 or the UE 115 may be expressed as a multiple of a basic time unit, which may be, for example, a sampling period T s =1 / (Δf max ·N f ) seconds, where Δf max It can represent the supported subcarrier spacing, and N f The supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size may be indicated. Time intervals of communication resources may be organized according to radio frames, each having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame may be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., in the range of 0 to 1023).

[0073] Each frame may include a plurality of consecutively numbered subframes or time slots, and each subframe or time slot may have the same duration. In some examples, a frame may be divided (e.g., in the time domain) into subframes, and each subframe may be further divided into a certain number of time slots. Alternatively, each frame may include a variable number of time slots, and the number of time slots may depend on the subcarrier spacing. Each time slot may include a certain number of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix appended in front of each symbol period). In some wireless communication systems 100, the time slot may be further divided into a plurality of mini-time slots associated with one or more symbols. Excluding the cyclic prefix, each symbol period may be associated with one or more (e.g., N f The duration of a symbol period may depend on the subcarrier spacing or the operating frequency band.

[0074] A subframe, slot, mini-slot, or symbol may be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communication system 100 and may be referred to as a Transmit Time Interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (e.g., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) may be variable. Additionally or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communication system 100 may be dynamically selected (e.g., in a burst of a shortened TTI (sTTI)).

[0075] Physical channels may be multiplexed according to various techniques for communication using a carrier. For example, physical control channels and physical data channels may be multiplexed using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM), frequency division multiplexing (FDM), or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques for signaling via a downlink carrier. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) of a physical control channel may be defined by a set of symbol periods and may extend across the system bandwidth of a carrier or a subset of that bandwidth. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) may be configured for a set of UEs 115. For example, one or more of UEs 115 may monitor or search the control region for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set may include one or more control channel candidates in one or more aggregation levels arranged in a cascaded manner. The aggregation level of a control channel candidate may refer to the amount of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with coded information for a control information format having a given payload size. The search space sets may include a common search space set configured for transmitting control information to multiple UEs 115 and a UE-specific search space set for transmitting control information to a specific UE 115 .

[0076] The network entity 105 may provide communication coverage via one or more cells (e.g., macro cells, small cells, hotspots, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof). The term "cell" may refer to a logical communication entity used to communicate with the network entity 105 (e.g., using a carrier) and may be associated with an identifier (e.g., a PCID, a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or other) used to distinguish between adjacent cells. In some examples, a cell may also refer to a coverage area 110 or a portion of a coverage area 110 (e.g., a sector) within which the logical communication entity operates. Depending on various factors (such as the capabilities of the network entity 105), such cells may range from smaller areas (e.g., structures, subsets of structures) to larger areas. For example, a cell may be or may include a building, a subset of buildings, or an external space between or overlapping coverage areas 110, etc.

[0077] A macro cell typically covers a relatively large geographic area (e.g., several kilometers in radius) and may allow unrestricted access to UEs 115 that have a service subscription with a network provider that supports the macro cell. Small cells may be associated with lower-power network entities 105 (e.g., lower-power base stations 140) than macro cells, and may operate using the same or different (e.g., licensed, unlicensed) frequency bands as the macro cells. Small cells may provide unrestricted access to UEs 115 that have a service subscription with the network provider, or may provide restricted access to UEs 115 associated with the small cell (e.g., UEs 115 in a closed subscriber group (CSG), UEs 115 associated with users in a home or office). A network entity 105 may support one or more cells and may also support communication via one or more cells using one or more component carriers.

[0078] In some examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cells may be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)) that may provide access to different types of devices.

[0079] In some examples, network entities 105 (e.g., base stations 140, RUs 170) can be mobile and, therefore, provide communication coverage for mobile coverage areas 110. In some examples, different coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies can overlap, but the different coverage areas 110 can be supported by the same network entity 105. In some other examples, overlapping coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies can be supported by different network entities 105. The wireless communication system 100 can include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of network entities 105 provide coverage for various coverage areas 110 using the same or different radio access technologies.

[0080] The wireless communication system 100 can be configured to support ultra-reliable communication or low-latency communication or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communication system 100 can be configured to support ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC). The UE 115 can be designed to support ultra-reliable or low-latency or critical functions. Ultra-reliable communication can include private communication or group communication and can be supported by one or more services (such as push-to-talk, video or data). Support for ultra-reliable, low-latency functions can include prioritization of services, and such services can be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency and ultra-reliable low-latency can be used interchangeably in this article.

[0081] In some examples, a UE 115 can be configured to support communication directly with other UEs 115 via a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 135 (e.g., according to a peer-to-peer (P2P), D2D, or sidelink protocol). In some examples, one or more UEs 115 in a group performing D2D communication can be within a coverage area 110 of a network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, a RU 170), which can support aspects of such D2D communication configured (e.g., scheduled) by the network entity 105. In some examples, one or more UEs 115 in such a group can be outside of the coverage area 110 of the network entity 105 or can otherwise be unable or not configured to receive transmissions from the network entity 105. In some examples, a group of UEs 115 communicating via D2D communication can support a one-to-many (1:M) system, in which each UE 115 transmits to each of the other UEs 115 in the group. In some examples, network entity 105 may facilitate scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In some other examples, D2D communications may be performed between UEs 115 without involving network entity 105.

[0082] The core network 130 may provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 may be an evolved packet core (EPC) or a 5G core (5GC), which may include at least one control plane entity (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) for managing access and mobility and at least one user plane entity (e.g., a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF)) for routing packets or interconnecting to external networks. The control plane entity may manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by network entities 105 (e.g., base stations 140) associated with the core network 130. User IP packets may be transferred through the user plane entity, which may provide IP address allocation and other functions. The user plane entity may be connected to the IP services 150 of one or more network operators. IP services 150 may include access to the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), or packet-switched streaming services.

[0083] The wireless communication system 100 can operate using one or more frequency bands that can range from 300 megahertz (MHz) to 300 gigahertz (GHz). Generally speaking, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is referred to as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band because the wavelengths range from about one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves can be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features (which can be referred to as clusters), but these waves can penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to a UE 115 located indoors. Communication using UHF waves can be associated with smaller antennas and a shorter range (e.g., less than 100 kilometers) than communication using the smaller frequencies and longer wavelengths of the high frequency (HF) or very high frequency (VHF) portions of the spectrum below 300 MHz.

[0084] The wireless communication system 100 can utilize both licensed and unlicensed RF spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communication system 100 can use unlicensed bands (such as the 5 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band) to employ license assisted access (LAA), LTE unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology. When operating using unlicensed RF spectrum bands, devices such as the network entity 105 and the UE 115 can employ carrier sensing for conflict detection and avoidance. In some examples, operations using the unlicensed bands can be based on a carrier aggregation configuration (e.g., LAA) in conjunction with component carriers operating using licensed bands. Operations using the unlicensed spectrum can include downlink transmissions, uplink transmissions, P2P transmissions, or D2D transmissions, among others.

[0085] A network entity 105 (e.g., a base station 140, a RU 170) or a UE 115 may be equipped with multiple antennas that can be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of the network entity 105 or UE 115 may be located within one or more antenna arrays or antenna panels, which may support MIMO operations or transmit or receive beamforming. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays may be co-located at an antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, the antennas or antenna arrays associated with the network entity 105 may be located at different geographical locations. The network entity 105 may include an antenna array having a set of multiple rows and columns of antenna ports that the network entity 105 may use to support beamforming for communications with the UE 115. Similarly, the UE 115 may include one or more antenna arrays that may support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally or alternatively, the antenna panels may support RF beamforming for signals transmitted via the antenna ports.

[0086] Beamforming (which may also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception) is a signal processing technique that can be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a network entity 105, a UE 115) to shape or steer an antenna beam (e.g., a transmit beam, a receive beam) along a spatial path between the transmitting device and the receiving device. Beamforming can be achieved by combining signals communicated via antenna elements of an antenna array so that some signals propagating in a particular direction relative to the antenna array experience constructive interference, while other signals experience destructive interference. Adjustments to signals communicated via antenna elements can include the transmitting device or the receiving device applying an amplitude offset, a phase offset, or both to signals carried via antenna elements associated with the device. The adjustments associated with each of these antenna elements can be defined by a set of beamforming weights associated with a particular direction (e.g., relative to the antenna array of the transmitting device or the receiving device or relative to some other direction).

[0087] The wireless communication system 100 may support technology that enables the UE 115 to receive an indication of one or more rules associated with interpreting one or more messages received by the UE 115 to determine a TAG associated with a given TRP (e.g., network entity 105). In some examples, the rules may indicate whether the UE 115 can use or ignore the TAG indication via one or more reserved bits in the RAR message. That is, in an inter-cell TRP scenario, the TRP may indicate the TAG via a RACH configuration associated with the PCI instead of one or more reserved bits, such that the UE 115 can ignore the TAG indication in the one or more reserved bits. Alternatively, in an intra-cell TRP scenario, the TRP may indicate the TAG in one or more reserved bits, such that the UE 115 can use the TAG indication in the one or more reserved bits. Thus, the rules may instruct the UE 115 to determine whether to apply or ignore the one or more reserved bits. For example, if the RACH associated with the RACH process is also associated with an additional cell (e.g., a cell other than the current serving cell), the UE 115 may ignore the one or more reserved bits. Alternatively, if the RACH associated with the RACH procedure is also associated with the serving cell, or the RACH procedure is initiated by the UE 115, the UE 115 may use one or more reserved bits in the RAR message to determine the corresponding TAG. In some other examples, the rule may instruct the UE 115 to determine whether to apply or ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the operating mode of the UE 115 (e.g., intra-cell mode or inter-cell mode).

[0088] Additionally or alternatively, UE 115 may receive a control message including a command to initiate a RACH procedure, and the command may indicate a state associated with the PCI or may directly indicate a TAG. UE 115 may then apply the indicated state based on an operating mode (e.g., intra-cell mode or inter-cell mode) of UE 115. In some examples, the control message may also indicate an operating mode in addition to the indicated state.

[0089] Figure 2 An example of a wireless communication system 200 that supports PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the wireless communication system 200 can implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100 or can be implemented by these aspects. For example, the wireless communication system 200 may include one or more network entities 105 (e.g., associated with one or more TRPs 205 (such as TRP 205-a and TRP 205-b)) and one or more UEs 115 (e.g., UE 115-a), which can be as described in reference Figure 1 Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115-a may implement one or more rules associated with interpreting one or more messages received by UE 115-a to determine a TAG associated with network entity 105-a or network entity 105-b.

[0090] Some wireless communication systems (such as wireless communication system 200) may support transmission to or from a single UE 115 (such as UE 115-a) having multiple TRPs (such as TRP 205-a and TRP 205-b) via multiple communication links (such as communication link 210-a and communication link 210-b), respectively (e.g., supporting multi-TRP communication). In addition, each TRP 205 may be associated with the same cell (e.g., a serving cell) or with different cells (e.g., a serving cell and an additional cell).

[0091] In some examples, each TRP 205 may transmit control messages 215 (e.g., downlink control information (DCI)) that schedule corresponding communications (e.g., multi-DCI communications) between the TRP 205 and the UE 115-a. For example, the TRP 205-a may transmit a control message 215-a to the UE 115-a that schedules a downlink message 220-a from the TRP 205-a to the UE 115-a, and the TRP 205-b may transmit a control message 215-b to the UE 115-a that schedules a downlink message 220-b from the TRP 205-b to the UE 115-a.

[0092] In some examples, the UE 115-a may determine which TRP 205 is associated with the control message 215 based on the corresponding CORESET from which the UE 115-a receives the control message 215 (e.g., associated with the control message 215). That is, each TRP 205 may be associated with a CORESET pool index 225 (e.g., a value of the CORESET pool index 225), and each CORESET (e.g., a maximum value of 5) may also be associated with a CORESET pool index 225, such that each TRP 205 may be associated with a unique CORESET pool. Thus, each control message 215 may be associated with a CORESET identifier (ID) 230, which is further associated with the CORESET pool index 225 (i.e., the TRP ID). For example, TRP 205-a can be associated with CORESET pool index 225-a (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0) such that control message 215-a can be associated with (e.g., include an indication of) CORESET ID 230-a (e.g., equal to 1) or CORESET ID 230-b (e.g., equal to 2), where CORESET ID 230-a and CORESET ID 230-b are associated with CORESET pool index 225-a. Similarly, TRP 205-b may be associated with CORESET pool index 225-b (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1) such that control message 215-b may include an indication of CORESET ID 230-c (e.g., equal to 3) or CORESET ID 230-d (e.g., equal to 4), where CORESET ID 230-c and CORESET ID 230-d are associated with CORESET pool index 225-b. In some examples, UE 115-a may receive control message 215 indicating CORESET pool index 215-a and CORESET pool index 215-b in a CORESET associated with an active bandwidth part (BWP) of a serving cell. That is, based on the UE 115-a being configured with multiple CORESET pool indices 225 in the CORESET of the active BWP for the serving cell, the UE 115-a may be configured with multi-DCI based multi-TRP communication in a given component carrier (CC) (e.g., the higher layer parameter PDCCH-Config includes two different values of the CORESET pool index 225 in the CORESET of the active BWP for the serving cell).

[0093] In some examples, such as when a UE 115-a communicates with multiple TRPs 205 (e.g., operates in a multi-TRP configuration), the UE 115-a may apply a different TA to communications with each TRP 205. That is, the UE 115-a may determine which TA to apply for communications with the TRP 205 based on a relationship between the TRP 205 and the TAG (e.g., two TAGs are configured and used). In other words, the TRP 205-a may be associated with the TAG, and the TAG may be indicated to the UE 115-a during a RACH procedure (e.g., a random access procedure) so that the UE 115-a may apply the TA associated with the indicated TAG to communications with the corresponding TRP 205. For example, the TRP 205-a may be associated with a first TAG, and the TRP 205-b may be associated with a second TAG. Thus, TRP 205-a may indicate a first TAG (e.g., TAG1) to UE 115-a during a first RACH procedure associated with TRP 205-a, and TRP 205-b may indicate a second TAG (e.g., TAG2) to UE 115-a during a second RACH procedure associated with TRP 205-b. Thus, UE 115-a may apply a first TA associated with the first TAG for communications with TRP 205-a and apply a second TA associated with the second TAG for communications with TRP 205-b.

[0094] In some examples, a CORESET pool index may be associated with one or more TCI states that may be activated in conjunction with a cell (e.g., a serving cell or an additional cell). For example, a UE 115-a may receive a first control message 215 that indicates (e.g., is RRC-configured with PDSCH-Config, including) a TCI state list (e.g., a list of up to M candidate TCI states, M=128) that includes a certain number of TCI states. In some examples, the TCI state list may be associated with a (e.g., configured / defined) physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) configuration (e.g., PDSCH-Config). Additionally, an identifier (e.g., TCI-StateID) associated with each TCI state may be associated with a CORESET, one or more resources (e.g., NZP-CSI-RS-Resources, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resources, SRS resources, etc.), or both (e.g., for configuring the CORESET, one or more resources, or both).

[0095] In some examples, UE 115-a may receive a second control message 215 (e.g., MAC-CE) that activates a number of TCI states (e.g., 2 N In some examples (e.g., multi-TRP communication based on multiple DCIs), the downlink message 220 may be associated with a given CORESET pool index 225 (e.g., the value of the given CORESET pool index 225).

[0096] In addition, each TRP 205 may be associated with a PCI. In some examples, the TRPs 205 may be associated with the same PCI, such as a first PCI (e.g., associated with a serving cell (such as the first network entity 105)), and in such cases, the UE 115-a may operate in intra-cell mode (e.g., different panels and different remote radio heads (RRHs) of the same serving cell). In other words, the TRP 205-a and the TRP 205-b may be associated with the same network entity 105 (e.g., based on the TRP 205 being associated with the same PCI). Alternatively, the TRP 205 may be associated with different PCIs, such as a first PCI and a second PCI (e.g., a first PCI associated with a serving cell (such as the first network entity 105) and a second PCI associated with an additional cell (such as the second network entity 105), and in such cases, the UE 115-a may operate in inter-cell mode. In other words, TRP 205-a can be associated with the first network entity 105, and TRP 205-b can be associated with the second network entity 105 (e.g., based on TRP 205 being associated with a different PCI). In such cases (e.g., inter-cell mode), UE 115-a can know a single PCI at a given time (e.g., the PCI that UE 115-a acquires during cell search). In some examples, UE 115-a can dynamically switch between intra-cell mode and inter-cell mode. Additionally or alternatively, a first PCI (e.g., a serving cell PCI) can be associated (e.g., always associated) with an active TCI state (e.g., activated via a second control message 215), and a second PCI (e.g., only 1 additional PCI) can be associated with an active TCI state. In some examples (e.g., for inter-cell multi-TRP), a first PCI can be associated with one or more first activated TCI states for communications (e.g., PDSCH / PDCCH) associated with a first COREST pool index 225, such as CORESET pool index 225-a (e.g., one COREST pool index 225), and a second PCI can be associated with one or more second activated TCI states for communications associated with a second COREST pool index 225, such as CORESET pool index 225-b (e.g., another COREST pool index 225).

[0097] In some cases (e.g., between cells or within a cell), the TRP 205 may indicate a TAG in a RACH configuration (e.g., a physical RACH (PRACH) configuration), where the TAG is associated with one or more TCI states that may be activated in conjunction with the cell. That is, the UE 115 may perform a RACH procedure, which may be a two-step RACH procedure or a four-step RACH procedure, and the RACH procedure may be associated with the RACH configuration. The RACH configuration may include information associated with performing the RACH procedure, such as an indication of a RACH preamble (e.g., a PRACH preamble), one or more resources associated with sending the RACH preamble, and the like. Alternatively, the UE 115 may trigger (e.g., initiate, perform) a RACH procedure based on receiving a control message 215 indicating the RACH configuration.

[0098] In some examples (e.g., for inter-cell), the TRP 205 may send a control message 215 including a command (e.g., a PDCCH command) indicating a RACH configuration associated with a PCI, and the UE 115-a may determine the TAG associated with the TRP 205 based on the TAG associated with the PCI. In another example (e.g., for intra-cell, applicable to contention-free random access (CFRA) triggered by a PDCCH command), the control message 215 including the command (e.g., the PDCCH command) may indicate the TAG (e.g., one of two TAGs) associated with the TRP 205 (e.g., to be used for the CC). In another example (e.g., for intra-cell, applicable to CFRA triggered by a PDCCH command), the control message 215 including the command may be associated with a CORESET pool index 225, and the UE 115-a may determine the TAG associated with the TRP 205 based on the TAG associated with the CORESET pool index 225 of the command.

[0099] Alternatively (e.g., for intra-cell, applicable to contention-based random access (CBRA) or initiated by UE 115, and CFRA or TRP 205 triggered), TRP 205 can indicate the TAG associated with TRP 205 via one or more reserved bits in a RAR message or an absolute TA command (e.g., an absolute TA command MAC control element (MAC-CE)) during the RACH process.

[0100] However, because there are multiple methods for indicating a TAG, such as via RACH configuration, RAR messages, or absolute TA commands, conflicts may exist between the indicated TAGs. For example, some methods for indicating a TAG may be associated with a UE 115-a operating in intra-cell mode, while other methods may be associated with a UE 115-a operating in inter-cell mode. Consequently, a conflict may exist between the current operating mode of the UE 115-a and the method for indicating a TAG to the UE 115-a.

[0101] Thus, the techniques described herein support interpreting one or more messages received by a UE 115-a to determine an indication of one or more rules associated with a TAG associated with a given TRP 205 (e.g., based on the UE 115-a supporting dynamic switching between inter-cell mode and intra-cell mode). In some examples, the rules may indicate whether the UE 115-a may use or ignore the TAG indication via one or more reserved bits in the RAR message, as described with reference to FIG. Figure 3 and Figure 4 as described. That is, in an inter-cell TRP scenario, the TRP 205 may indicate the TAG via a RACH configuration associated with the PCI instead of one or more reserved bits, such that the UE 115-a may ignore the TAG indication in the one or more reserved bits. Alternatively, in an intra-cell TRP scenario, the TRP 205 may indicate the TAG in one or more reserved bits, such that the UE 115-a may use the TAG indication in the one or more reserved bits. Thus, the rule may instruct the UE 115-a to determine whether to apply or ignore one or more reserved bits. For example, if the RAR message or absolute TA command associated with the RACH process is associated with an additional cell, the UE 115-a may ignore the one or more reserved bits, as described in reference Figure 3 Alternatively, if the RAR message or absolute TA command associated with the RACH procedure is associated with the serving cell, or the RACH procedure is initiated by the UE 115-a, the UE 115-a may use one or more reserved bits in the RAR message or absolute TA command to determine the corresponding TAG, as described in reference to Figure 3 In some other examples, the rule may instruct UE 115-a to determine whether to apply or ignore one or more reserved bits based on the operating mode of UE 115-a (e.g., intra-cell mode or inter-cell mode), as described in reference to Figure 4 described.

[0102] Additionally or alternatively, UE 115-a may receive a control message 215 including a command (e.g., a PDCCH command) for initiating a RACH procedure, and the command may indicate a status associated with the PCI, or may directly indicate the TAG, as described with reference to FIG. Figures 5 to 8 Thus, UE 115-a may apply the indicated state based on the operating mode of UE 115-a (e.g., intra-cell mode or inter-cell mode). In some examples, in addition to the indicated state, control message 215 may also indicate the operating mode, as described in reference to FIG. Figure 7 described.

[0103] In some examples, UE 115-a may receive a control message 215 indicating one or more rules associated with interpreting one or more messages received by UE 115-a. In other words, UE 115-a may be configured with one or more rules associated with interpreting one or more messages received by UE 115-a.

[0104] Figure 3 An example of a timing diagram 300 for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, aspects of wireless communication system 100 and wireless communication system 200 may be implemented or implemented by these aspects. For example, timing diagram 300 may be implemented by one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115, which may be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1 In some examples, a UE 115 may implement rules associated with applying one or more reserved bits in a RAR message or absolute TA command received by the UE 115 to determine a TAG associated with a network entity 105 from a set of network entities 105 (e.g., a TRP).

[0105] UE 115 may receive a control message 310 indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0), and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). As illustrated in timing diagram 300, UE 115 may receive control message 310 (e.g., MAC CE) to activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell PCI for the first CORESET pool index. That is, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a serving PCI. In some examples, as illustrated in timing diagram 300, UE 115 may receive a first downlink message of a first random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message (e.g., a PRACH preamble) of the random access procedure. The downlink message may be a RAR message (such as RAR 325, RAR 330-a, or RAR 330-b) or an absolute TA command (e.g., an absolute TA command MAC-CE). For illustrative purposes, RAR 325, RAR 330-a, and RAR 330-b may be used in the context of timing diagram 300; however, it should be understood that RAR 325, RAR 330-a, RAR 330-b, or any combination thereof may alternatively be an absolute TA command.

[0106] In addition, RAR 325, RAR 330-a, and RAR 330-b, or any combination thereof, may include one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG. Thus, UE 115 may select one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits, and may communicate according to the selected TAG based on the selection.

[0107] In some examples, the rule for applying one or more reserved bits can be based on the association of the random access procedure with the serving PCI or the additional PCI. That is, the UE 115 can receive a second downlink message including a command, which can be referred to as a PDCCH command 320, that triggers a random access procedure with the serving PCI or the additional PCI (e.g., different from the serving PCI). Thus, the UE can determine whether to apply or ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the association of the random access procedure with the serving cell PCI or the additional PCI based on the PDCCH command 320.

[0108] In some examples, the rule for applying one or more reserved bits may indicate that the UE 115 is to ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the random access procedure being associated with the additional PCI. For example, as depicted in scenario 305-a, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 320-a that triggers a random access procedure associated with the additional PCI (e.g., a CFRA procedure). Additionally, the UE may send an uplink message (e.g., a RACH preamble) for the random access procedure based on receiving the PDCCH command 320-a, and may receive a RAR 325 in response to the uplink message (e.g., a RAR 325 in response to the CFRA procedure associated with the additional PCI). The RAR 325 may include one or more reserved bits indicating a first TAG or a second TAG, and the UE may determine to ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the PDCCH command 320-a that triggered the random access procedure being associated with the additional PCI. In such a case, the UE may select the first TAG or the second TAG based on the configuration associated with the additional PCI (e.g., the RACH configuration).

[0109] Additionally or alternatively, the rule for applying one or more reserved bits may indicate that the UE 115 is to apply (e.g., use) the one or more reserved bits based on the random access procedure being associated with the serving PCI. That is, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 320 (such as PDCCH command 320-b or PDCCH command 320-c) that triggers a random access procedure associated with the serving PCI (e.g., a CFRA procedure), or may initiate a random access procedure associated with the serving PCI (e.g., a CBRA procedure). Additionally, the UE 115 may receive a RAR 330 associated with the random access procedure (e.g., in response to the CFRA procedure associated with the serving PCI triggered by the PDCCH command 320 or in response to the CBRA procedure initiated by the UE 115). The RAR 330 may include one or more reserved bits indicating the first TAG or the second TAG, and the UE 115 may determine to apply (e.g., use) the one or more reserved bits based on the PDCCH command 320 that triggered the random access procedure being associated with the serving PCI or based on the UE 115 initiating the random access procedure.

[0110] For example, as depicted in scenario 305-b, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 320-b that triggers a random access procedure (e.g., a CFRA procedure) associated with a serving PCI. Additionally, the UE may send an uplink message (e.g., a RACH preamble) for the random access procedure based on receiving the PDCCH command 320-b, and may receive a RAR 330-a (e.g., RAR 330 in response to the CFRA procedure associated with the serving PCI) in response to the uplink message. The RAR 330-a may include one or more reserved bits indicating a first TAG or a second TAG, and the UE 115 may determine to apply the one or more reserved bits based on the PDCCH command 320-b that triggered the random access procedure being associated with the serving PCI. In other words, the UE 115 may select the first TAG or the second TAG based on the one or more reserved bits in the RAR 330-a.

[0111] In some examples, the TAG indicated in the one or more reserved bits (e.g., TAG2) may be associated with a CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1) for which one or more active TCI states are associated with additional cells of additional PCIs, which may indicate that the UE 115 is operating in mode 335-a, which may be an inter-cell mode 335. In such cases, the UE 115 may delay communications according to the indicated TAG (e.g., the selected TAG) based on the UE 115 operating in mode 335-a when the RAR 330 is received or to be applied.

[0112] For example, UE 115 may receive a control message 310-a that activates one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell for a second CORESET pool index. Accordingly, UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell at time T1 after sending a feedback message 315-a (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to control message 310-a. In such a case, UE 115 may operate in mode 335-a based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI (e.g., at T1). Additionally, as depicted in scenario 305-b, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order 320-b that triggers a random access procedure associated with the serving PCI and may receive a RAR 330-a (e.g., of a random access procedure) indicating a TAG (e.g., TAG2) associated with the one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). Thus, UE 115 may delay communication according to the indicated TAG (e.g., the selected TAG) based on UE 115 operating in mode 335-a (e.g., associated with an additional PCI based on the second CORESET pool index, and associated with an additional PCI based on one or more TCI states of the second CORESET pool index) when RAR 330-a is received or to be applied at time T2.

[0113] Continuing with scenario 305-b, UE 115 may receive a control message 310-b that activates one or more TCI states associated with a serving PCI for a second CORESET pool index. That is, control message 310-b may switch the active PCI for the second CORESET pool index from the additional PCI to the serving cell PCI. In other words, control message 310-b may activate the second CORESET pool index with the serving PCI (e.g., the serving cell PCI may be activated for CORESETPoolIndex=1) such that one or more activated TCI states (e.g., previously associated with the additional PCI) are associated with the serving PCI. Thus, UE 115 may activate the serving cell for the second CORESET pool index (e.g., may associate CORESET pool index 1 with the serving PCI) at time T3 after sending feedback message 315-b (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to control message 310-b. In other words, the UE 115 may operate in mode 335-b, which may be the intra-cell mode 335, based on activating the serving PCI for the second CORESET pool index (e.g., based on associating one or more TCI states with the serving PCI). Thus, the UE 115 may communicate according to the TAG indicated via the RAR 330-a (e.g., at time T3) based on activation of the serving cell for the second CORESET pool index.

[0114] In another example, as depicted in scenario 305-c, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 320-c that triggers a random access procedure associated with a serving PCI, and may receive a RAR 330-b (e.g., of a random access procedure) indicating a TAG (e.g., TAG2) associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1), for which one or more TCI states are associated with the serving cell PCI. Accordingly, UE 115 may communicate according to (e.g., apply) the indicated TAG based on the UE 115 operating in mode 335-b at time T4 when RAR 330-b is applied. In other words, UE 115 may communicate according to the indicated TAG (e.g., TAG2) based on the second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1) being activated as a serving cell (e.g., associated with a serving PCI) at time T3 prior to applying the indicated TAG at time T4. In some examples, the time between reception of the RAR 330 and application of the TAG indicated in the RAR 330 may be referred to as TA application time. Additionally, application of the TAG may refer to application of a TA associated with the TAG or communication (eg, start of communication) using a TA associated with the TAG.

[0115] Figure 4 An example of a timing diagram 400 for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the timing diagram 400 may implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, and the timing diagram 300. For example, the timing diagram 400 may be implemented by one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115, which may be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1 In some examples, a UE 115 may implement rules associated with applying one or more reserved bits in a RAR message or absolute TA command received by the UE 115 to determine a TAG associated with a network entity 105 from a set of network entities 105 (e.g., a TRP).

[0116] UE 115 may receive a control message 410 indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0), and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). As illustrated in timing diagram 400, UE 115 may receive control message 410 (e.g., MAC CE) to activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell PCI for the first CORESET pool index. That is, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with the serving PCI. In some examples, as illustrated in timing diagram 400, UE 115 may receive a first downlink message of a first random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message (e.g., a PRACH preamble) of the random access procedure. The first downlink message may be a RAR message (such as RAR 425) or an absolute TA command (e.g., an absolute TA command MAC-CE). For illustrative purposes, RAR 425 may be used in the context of timing diagram 400, however, it should be understood that RAR 425 may alternatively be an absolute TA command.

[0117] In addition, the RAR 425 may include one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG. Thus, the UE 115 may select one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits, and may communicate according to the selected TAG based on the selection. In some examples, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits may be based on the mode 430 (e.g., multi-TRP communication mode 430) of the UE 115 when the RAR 425 is received or to be applied.

[0118] In some examples, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits may indicate that, based on the UE 115 operating in mode 430-a (which may be inter-cell mode 430) when the RAR 425 is received or is to be applied, the UE 115 is to ignore the one or more reserved bits. For example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 410-a that activates one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell for a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESET pool index 1). Accordingly, the UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell at time T1 after sending the feedback message 415-a (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 410-a. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 430-a based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI (e.g., at T1). Additionally, as depicted in scenario 405-a, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 420-a that triggers a random access procedure associated with a serving PCI and may receive a RAR 425-a (e.g., for a random access procedure) that includes one or more reserved bits indicating a TAG. Accordingly, UE 115 may ignore the one or more reserved bits in RAR 425-a based on the fact that UE 115 is operating in mode 430-a when RAR 425-a is received or to be applied at time T2.

[0119] Additionally or alternatively, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits may indicate that, based on the UE 115 being in mode 430-b (which may be intra-cell mode 430) when the RAR 425 is received or is to be applied, the UE 115 is to apply (e.g., use) the one or more reserved bits. For example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 410-b activating a serving cell for a second CORESET pool index (e.g., an activated TCI state associated with a serving PCI for CORESET pool index 1). Accordingly, the UE 115 may switch the active PCI for the second CORESET pool index from the additional PCI to the serving cell PCI (e.g., activate the serving PCI for the one or more activated TCI states) at time T3 after sending a feedback message 415-b (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 410-b. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 430-b based on the activation of the serving cell for the second CORESET pool index (e.g., at time T3). Additionally, as depicted in scenario 405-b, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 420-b that triggers a random access procedure associated with a serving PCI and may receive a RAR 425-b (e.g., for a random access procedure) that includes one or more reserved bits indicating a TAG. Accordingly, UE 115 may apply the one or more reserved bits in RAR 425-b based on the UE 115 operating in mode 430-b at time T4 when RAR 425-b is received or to be applied. In other words, UE 115 may communicate at time T4 using a TA associated with the TAG indicated in RAR 425-b.

[0120] Figure 5 An example of a timing diagram 500 for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the timing diagram 500 can implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, the timing diagram 300, and the timing diagram 400. For example, the timing diagram 500 can be implemented by one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115, which can be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1 Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115 can apply a state indicated via a command included in a control message based on the operating mode of UE 115.

[0121] UE 115 may receive a control message 510 indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0), and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). As illustrated in timing diagram 500, UE 115 may receive a control message 510 (e.g., a MAC CE) to activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell PCI for the first CORESET pool index. That is, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a serving PCI. In some examples, as illustrated in timing diagram 500, UE 115 may receive a downlink message including a command to trigger a random access procedure, which may be referred to as a PDCCH command 520. The PDCCH command 520 may indicate a state from a state set, and each state may be associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and may indicate a TAG to be used by the UE 115 .

[0122] In some examples (e.g., dynamic switching between mode 530-a and mode 530-b is enabled and two TAGs are enabled for mode 530-b), a state set (e.g., including x+2 states, where x is the number of additional PCIs configured for UE 115) may include: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a service PCI from a PCI set (e.g., including a service PCI and additional PCIs); a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the service PCI; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message for a random access process according to a random access process configuration (e.g., a PRACH configuration) associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0123] For example, UE 115 may receive a control message 510 indicating (e.g., configuring) two additional PCIs (e.g., a first additional PCI and a second additional PCI). Thus, the state set may include: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a serving PCI from the PCI set; a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the serving PCI; a third state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message for a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration associated with the first additional PCI from the PCI set; and a fourth state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message for a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration associated with the second additional PCI from the PCI set. In some examples, UE 115 may receive a control message 510 indicating a state set (e.g., configured via RRC).

[0124] As an illustrative example, as depicted in scenario 505-a, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 520-a that triggers a random access procedure and indicates a state from a state set. Accordingly, UE 115 may select a TAG from a first TAG and a second TAG based on the indicated state. Additionally, UE 115 may transmit an uplink message (e.g., a RACH preamble) for the random access procedure based on receiving the PDCCH command 520-a, and may receive a RAR 525-a in response to the uplink message. Furthermore, UE 115 may communicate according to the selected TAG (e.g., communicate using a TA associated with the selected TAG) at time T2 after receiving the RAR 525-a (e.g., after the TA application time).

[0125] In some examples, the TAG associated with the serving PCI indicated in the PDCCH command 520-a (e.g., TAG2) may be associated with one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell of the additional PCI (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1), which may indicate that the UE 115 is operating in mode 530-a, which may be the inter-cell mode 530. In such cases, the UE 115 may delay communications according to the indicated TAG (e.g., the selected TAG) based on the UE 115 operating in mode 530-a when the RAR 525-a is received or to be applied.

[0126] For example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 510-a that activates one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell for a second CORESET pool index value. Accordingly, the UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell for the second CORESET pool index at time T1 after sending a feedback message 515-a (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 510-a. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 530-a based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI (e.g., at T1). Additionally, as depicted in scenario 505-a, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order 520-b that triggers a random access procedure associated with the serving PCI and may receive a RAR 525-a (e.g., of a random access procedure) indicating a TAG (e.g., TAG2) associated with the second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1) for which the one or more TCI states are associated with the additional cell. Thus, the UE 115 may delay communications according to the indicated TAG (e.g., the selected TAG) based on the UE 115 operating in mode 530-a (e.g., associated with an additional PCI based on a second CORESET pool index, associated with an additional PCI based on one or more TCI states) when the RAR 525-a is received or to be applied at time T2.

[0127] Continuing with scenario 505-a, UE 115 may receive a control message 510-b that activates one or more TCI states associated with a serving PCI for a second CORESET pool index. That is, control message 510-b may activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell for the second CORESET pool index. In other words, control message 510-b may switch the active PCI for the second CORESET pool index from the additional PCI to the serving cell PCI (e.g., the serving cell PCI may be activated for CORESETPoolIndex=1), such that the one or more activated TCI states (e.g., previously associated with the additional PCI) are associated with the serving PCI. Thus, UE 115 may activate the second CORESET pool index with the serving cell PCI (e.g., may associate the second CORESET pool index with the serving PCI) at time T3 after sending feedback message 515-b (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to control message 510-b. In other words, the UE 115 may operate in mode 530-b, which may be the intra-cell mode 530, based on activating the serving PCI for the second CORESET pool index (e.g., based on associating one or more TCI states with the serving PCI). Thus, the UE 115 may communicate according to the TAG indicated via the RAR 525-a (e.g., at time T3) based on the activation of the serving cell PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0128] In another example, as depicted in scenario 505-b, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 520-b that triggers a random access procedure associated with a serving PCI, and may receive a RAR 525-b (e.g., of a random access procedure) indicating a TAG (e.g., TAG2) associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1), for which one or more TCI states are associated with an additional cell. Accordingly, UE 115 may communicate according to (e.g., apply) the indicated TAG based on the UE 115 operating in mode 530-b at time T4 at which RAR 525-b is applied. In other words, UE 115 may communicate according to the indicated TAG (e.g., TAG2) based on the second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1) being activated as a serving cell (e.g., associated with a serving PCI) at time T3 prior to applying the indicated TAG at time T4. In some examples, the time between the reception of the RAR 525 and the application of the TAG indicated in the RAR 525 can be referred to as the TA application time. In addition, the application of the TAG can refer to the application of the TA associated with the TAG or the communication (e.g., the start of communication) using the TA associated with the TAG.

[0129] In some examples (e.g., dynamic switching between mode 530-a and mode 530-b is disabled or not enabled and two TAGs are disabled or not enabled for mode 530-b), a state set (e.g., comprising x+1 states, where x is the number of additional PCIs configured for UE 115) may include: a first state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message of a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a serving PCI (e.g., a PRACH configuration); and one or more states, each state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message of a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set (e.g., a PRACH configuration).

[0130] Figure 6 An example of a timing diagram 600 supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the timing diagram 600 can implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, the timing diagram 300, the timing diagram 400, and the timing diagram 500. For example, the timing diagram 600 can be implemented by one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115, which can be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115 can apply a state indicated via a command included in a control message based on the operating mode of UE 115.

[0131] UE 115 may receive a control message 605 indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0), and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). As illustrated in timing diagram 600, UE 115 may receive a control message 610 (e.g., a MAC CE) to activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell PCI for the first CORESET pool index. That is, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a serving PCI. In some examples, as illustrated in timing diagram 600, UE 115 may receive a downlink message including a command to trigger a random access procedure, which may be referred to as a PDCCH command 615. The PDCCH command 615 may indicate a state from a state set, and each state may be associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and may indicate a TAG to be used by the UE 115 .

[0132] In some examples, the state set may be based on the mode 625 of the UE 115. For example (e.g., for the inter-cell mode 625), the state set (e.g., including x+1 states, where x is the number of additional PCIs configured for the UE 115) may include: a first state indicating that the UE 115 sends an uplink message for a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration (e.g., a PRACH configuration) associated with the serving PCI; and one or more states, each state indicating that the UE 115 sends an uplink message for a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration (e.g., a PRACH configuration) associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set based on the UE 115 operating in mode 625-a, which may be the inter-cell mode 625.

[0133] For example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 605-a that activates one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell for a second CORESET pool index. Accordingly, the UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell for the second CORESET pool index at time T1 after sending a feedback message 610-a (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 605-a. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 625-a based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI (e.g., at T1). Additionally, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order 615-a that triggers a random access procedure and indicates a state from a state set based on the UE 115 operating in mode 625-a. Accordingly, the UE 115 may select a TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state. Additionally, the UE 115 may send an uplink message, such as a PRACH 620 - a (eg, in response to a PDCCH order 615 - a ), according to the selected TAG.

[0134] In another example (e.g., for intra-cell mode 625), the state set (e.g., including 2 states) may include: a first state, which indicates a first TAG associated with a service PCI from a PCI set (e.g., including a service PCI and an additional PCI); a second state, which indicates a second TAG associated with the service PCI based on UE 115 operating in mode 625-b, which mode may be intra-cell mode 625.

[0135] For example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 605-b that activates one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell for a second CORESET pool index. Accordingly, the UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the serving cell for the second CORESET pool index at time T2 after sending a feedback message 610-b (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 605-b. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 625-b based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the serving PCI (e.g., at T2). Additionally, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order 615-b that triggers a random access procedure and indicates a state from a state set based on the UE 115 operating in mode 625-b. Accordingly, the UE 115 may select a TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state. Additionally, the UE 115 may send an uplink message, such as a PRACH 620 - b (eg, in response to a PDCCH order 615 - b ), according to the selected TAG.

[0136] In some examples, the mode 625 of the UE 115 can be determined (e.g., by the UE 115, the network entity 105, or both) based on the mode 625 of the UE 115 at a time associated with receiving the PDCCH command 615 or at a time associated with sending the PRACH 620. For example, the UE 115 can operate in mode 625-a at a time associated with receiving the PDCCH command 615-a and at a time associated with sending the PRACH 620-a. Similarly, the UE 115 can operate in mode 625-b at a time associated with receiving the PDCCH command 615-b and at a time associated with sending the PRACH 620-b.

[0137] Figure 7 An example of a timing diagram 700 for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the timing diagram 700 can implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, the timing diagram 300, the timing diagram 400, the timing diagram 500, and the timing diagram 600. For example, the timing diagram 700 can be implemented by one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115, which can be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1 Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115 can apply a state indicated via a command included in a control message based on the operating mode of UE 115.

[0138] UE 115 may receive a control message 710 indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0), and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). As illustrated in timing diagram 700, UE 115 may receive a control message 710 (e.g., a MAC CE) to activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell PCI for the first CORESET pool index. That is, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a serving PCI. In some examples, as illustrated in timing diagram 700, UE 115 may receive a downlink message including a command to trigger a random access procedure, which may be referred to as a PDCCH command 720. The PDCCH command 720 may indicate a state from a state set, and each state may be associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and may indicate a TAG to be used by the UE 115 .

[0139] In some examples, a state set (e.g., comprising x+2 states, where x is the number of additional PCIs configured for UE 115) may include: a first state indicating that the random access process is associated with intra-cell mode 735; a second state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration (e.g., a PRACH configuration) associated with a service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that UE 115 sends an uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0140] As an illustrative example, as depicted in scenario 705-a, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 720-a that triggers a random access procedure and indicates a state from a state set. Accordingly, UE 115 may select a TAG from a first TAG or a second TAG based on the indicated state. Additionally, UE 115 may transmit an uplink message (e.g., a RACH preamble) for the random access procedure, such as PRACH 725-a, based on receiving the PDCCH command 720-a, and may receive a RAR 730-a in response to the PRACH 725-a. Furthermore, UE 115 may communicate according to the selected TAG (e.g., communicate using a TA associated with the selected TAG) at time T2 after receiving the RAR 730-a (e.g., after the TA application time).

[0141] In some cases (e.g., PRACH 725-a is associated with mode 735-b), the UE may select the first TAG or the second TAG based on the CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESET pool index value) associated with the PDCCH command 720-a. In some examples, the TAG (e.g., TAG2) associated with the PDCCH command 520-a (e.g., determined based on the CORESET pool index associated with the PDCCH command) may be associated with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI, which may indicate that the UE 115 is operating in mode 735-a. In such cases, the UE 115 may delay communications according to the indicated TAG (e.g., the selected TAG) based on the fact that the UE 115 is operating in mode 735-a when the RAR 730-a is received or is to be applied (e.g., at time T2).

[0142] For example, UE 115 may receive a control message 710-a that activates one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell for a second CORESET pool index. Accordingly, UE 115 may activate one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell for the second CORESET pool index at time T1 after sending feedback message 715-a (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to control message 710-a. In such a case, UE 115 may operate in mode 735-a based on the activation of one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell (e.g., at T1). Additionally, as depicted in scenario 705-a, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 720-a that triggers a random access procedure associated with the serving PCI and indicates that the PRACH procedure is associated with intra-cell mode 735-b, and may receive a RAR 730-a (e.g., of the random access procedure) indicating a TAG (e.g., TAG2) associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1), for which one or more TCI states are associated with the additional cell. Accordingly, the UE 115 may delay communications according to the indicated TAG (e.g., the selected TAG) based on the UE 115 operating in mode 735-a (e.g., based on the additional cell being associated with the additional PCI and based on the one or more TCI states being associated with the additional PCI) when the RAR 730-a is received or to be applied at time T2.

[0143] Continuing with scenario 705-a, UE 115 may receive a control message 710-b that activates one or more TCI states associated with a serving PCI for a second CORESET pool index. That is, control message 710-b may activate one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell for the second CORESET pool index. In other words, control message 710-b may switch the active PCI for the second CORESET pool index from the additional PCI to the serving cell PCI (e.g., the serving cell PCI may be activated for CORESETPoolIndex=1), such that the one or more activated TCI states (e.g., previously associated with the additional PCI) are associated with the serving PCI. Thus, UE 115 may activate the serving cell for the second CORESET pool index (e.g., may associate the second CORESET pool index with the serving PCI) at time T3 after sending feedback message 715-b (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to control message 710-b. In other words, UE 115 may operate in mode 735-b based on activating the serving PCI for the second CORESET pool index (e.g., based on associating one or more TCI states with the serving PCI). Thus, UE 115 may communicate according to the TAG indicated via RAR 730-a (e.g., at time T3) based on activating the additional cell as a serving cell.

[0144] In another example, as depicted in scenario 705-b, UE 115 may receive a PDCCH command 720-b that triggers a random access procedure associated with a serving PCI and indicates a state from a state set. Accordingly, UE 115 may select a TAG from the first TAG and the second TAG based on the indicated state. Additionally, UE 115 may transmit an uplink message (e.g., a RACH preamble) for the random access procedure, such as PRACH 725-b, based on receiving PDCCH command 720-b, and may receive RAR 730-b in response to PRACH 725-b. In such a case, the TA in RAR 730-b (e.g., for the random access procedure) may be associated with the second CORESET pool index based on the CORESET pool index value of PDCCH command 720-b. Accordingly, UE 115 may communicate according to (e.g., applying) the indicated TAG based on the time T4 at which RAR 730-b is applied, at which UE 115 operates in mode 735-b. In other words, UE 115 may communicate according to the indicated TAG (e.g., TAG2) based on the second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1) being activated as a serving cell (e.g., associated with a serving PCI) at time T3 before the indicated TAG is applied at time T4. In some examples, the time between the reception of RAR 730 and the application of the TAG indicated in RAR 730 may be referred to as a TA application time. Furthermore, application of a TAG may refer to application of a TA associated with the TAG or communication (e.g., initiation of communication) using a TA associated with the TAG.

[0145] In some cases (e.g., PRACH 725 is associated with mode 735-a), the UE may select the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indication in the PDCCH order 720 (e.g., and ignoring the CORESET pool index value associated with the PDCCH order 720).

[0146] Figure 8 An example of a timing diagram 800 supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the timing diagram 800 can implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, the timing diagram 300, the timing diagram 400, the timing diagram 500, the timing diagram 600, and the timing diagram 700. For example, the timing diagram 800 can be implemented by one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115, which can be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115 can apply a state indicated via a command included in a control message based on the operating mode of UE 115.

[0147] 815. The UE 115 may receive a control message 805 indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=0), and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET (e.g., CORESETPoolIndex=1). In some examples, as illustrated in timing diagram 800, the UE 115 may receive a downlink message that triggers a random access procedure. The downlink message may include a command indicating a state from a state set, which may be referred to as a PDCCH command 815. Each state may be associated with a PCI from a PCI set and may indicate a TAG to be used by the UE 115.

[0148] In some examples, the state set (e.g., including x+1 states, where x is the number of additional PCIs configured for UE 115) may include: a first state indicating that UE 115 transmits an uplink message of a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a serving PCI (e.g., a PRACH configuration); and one or more states, each of which indicates that UE 115 transmits an uplink message of a random access procedure according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set (e.g., a PRACH configuration). In addition, UE 115 may determine whether to use the value of the CORESET pool index associated with the PDCCH order 815 to select the first TAG or the second TAG, or to use the indicated state, based on the mode 825 of UE 115.

[0149] For example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 805-a that activates one or more TCI states associated with an additional cell for a second CORESET pool index. Accordingly, the UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the additional cell for the second CORESET pool index at time T1 after sending a feedback message 810-a (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 805-a. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 825-a, which may be an inter-cell mode 825, based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI (e.g., at T1). Additionally, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order 815-a that triggers a random access procedure and indicates a state from a state set (e.g., where the state set is based on the UE 115 operating in mode 825-a). Accordingly, the UE 115 may select a TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state (e.g., and based on the UE 115 operating in mode 825-a).

[0150] In another example, the UE 115 may receive a control message 805-b that activates one or more TCI states associated with a serving cell for a second CORESET pool index. Accordingly, the UE 115 may activate the one or more TCI states associated with the serving cell for the second CORESET pool index at time T2 after sending a feedback message 810-b (e.g., an acknowledgment message) in response to the control message 805-b. In such a case, the UE 115 may operate in mode 825-b, which may be the intra-cell mode 825, based on the activation of the one or more TCI states associated with the serving PCI (e.g., at T2). Additionally, the UE 115 may receive a PDCCH order 815-b that triggers a random access procedure, wherein the PDCCH order is received in mode 825-b or a random access preamble is sent in mode 825-b. Thus, the UE 115 may select a TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the value of the CORESET pool index associated with the PDCCH command 815 - b (eg, and based on the UE 115 operating in mode 825 - b ).

[0151] In some examples, the mode 825 of the UE 115 can be determined (e.g., by the UE 115, the network entity 105, or both) based on the mode 825 of the UE 115 at a time associated with receiving the PDCCH command 815 or at a time associated with sending the PRACH 820. For example, the UE 115 can operate in mode 825-a at a time associated with receiving the PDCCH command 815-a and at a time associated with sending the PRACH 820-a. Similarly, the UE 115 can operate in mode 825-b at a time associated with receiving the PDCCH command 815-b and at a time associated with sending the PRACH 820-b.

[0152] Figure 9 An example of a process flow 900 for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the process flow 900 can implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, the timing diagram 300, the timing diagram 400, the timing diagram 500, the timing diagram 600, the timing diagram 700, and the timing diagram 800. For example, the process flow 900 can include one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115 (e.g., UE 115-b), which can be as described in reference to FIG. Figure 1 Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115-b may implement rules associated with applying one or more reserved bits in a RAR message or absolute TA command received by UE 115-b to determine a TAG associated with network entity 105-c or network entity 105-d.

[0153] At 910, UE 115-b may receive a control message indicating a TAG set from TRP 905-a (e.g., a first TRP associated with a first CORESET pool index value), from TRP 905-b (e.g., a second TRP associated with a second CORESET pool index value), or both, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESET pool index = 0) and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESET pool index = 1). In some examples, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a service PCI.

[0154] In some examples, at 915, UE 115-b may receive a first downlink message (e.g., a PDCCH command) from TRP 905 (such as TRP 905-b in the context of process flow 900) that triggers the random access procedure and associates the random access procedure with the serving PCI or an additional PCI that is different from the serving PCI.

[0155] In some cases, at 920, UE 115-b may send an initial uplink message (e.g., a PRACH preamble) of the random access procedure to TRP 905-b.

[0156] At 925, UE 115-b may receive a second downlink message (e.g., a RAR message or an absolute TA command MAC-CE) from TRP 905-b in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure (e.g., a PRACH preamble), the second downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0157] At 930, UE 115-b may select one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits. In some examples, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits may be associated with the serving PCI or the additional PCI based on the random access procedure. For example, the random access procedure may be associated with the additional PCI, and the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that UE 115-b is to ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the random access procedure being associated with the additional PCI. In such a case, UE 115-b may select the selected TAG based on the configuration associated with the additional PCI.

[0158] In some examples, the rules for applying one or more reserved bits may be based on the multi-TRP communication mode (e.g., inter-cell mode or intra-cell mode) of UE 115-b when the second downlink message is received or is to be applied. For example, the multi-TRP communication mode of UE 115-b may be inter-cell mode, and the rules for applying one or more reserved bits may indicate that UE 115-b is to ignore the one or more reserved bits based on UE 115-b being in inter-cell mode, as indicated by at least one active TCI state of UE 115-b being associated with an additional PCI that is different from the service PCI. In another example, the multi-TRP communication mode of UE 115-b may be intra-cell mode, and the rules for applying one or more reserved bits may indicate that UE 115-b is to use the one or more reserved bits to select a selected TAG based on UE 115-b being in intra-cell mode, as indicated by all active TCI states of UE 115-b being associated with the service PCI.

[0159] In some examples, UE 115-b may select a selected TAG based on an indication of one or more reserved bits.

[0160] In some examples, at 935, UE 115-b may delay communication according to the selected TAG based on the UE 115-b operating in inter-cell mode when the second downlink message is received or applied. In such a case, the association of the second CORESET pool index with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI may indicate that UE 115-b is operating in inter-cell mode.

[0161] At 940, the UE 115-b may communicate (e.g., with the TRP 905-b) according to the selected TAG (e.g., one of the first TAG or the second TAG) based on the selection. In some examples, the UE 115-b may communicate according to the selected TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the serving PCI due to activation of the serving PCI for the second CORESET pool index. In some other examples, the UE 115-b may communicate according to the selected TAG based on the UE 115-b being operating in intra-cell mode when the second downlink message is received or is to be applied. In such cases, the association of both the first CORESET pool index and the second CORESET pool index with one or more TCI states associated with the serving PCI may indicate that the UE 115-b is operating in intra-cell mode.

[0162] Figure 10 An example of a process flow 1000 for supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. In some examples, the process flow 1000 can implement or be implemented by aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, the timing diagram 300, the timing diagram 400, the timing diagram 500, the timing diagram 600, the timing diagram 700, the timing diagram 800, and the process flow 900. For example, the process flow 1000 can include one or more network entities 105 and one or more UEs 115 (e.g., UE 115-c), which can be as described in reference Figure 1 Examples of corresponding devices described. In some examples, UE 115-c can apply a state indicated via a command included in a control message based on the operating mode of UE 115-c.

[0163] At 1010, UE 115-c may receive a control message indicating a TAG set from TRP 1005-a (e.g., a first TRP associated with a first CORESET pool index value), from TRP 1005-b (e.g., a second TRP associated with a second CORESET pool index value), or both, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG1) is associated with a first CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESET pool index = 0) and a second TAG from the TAG set (e.g., TAG2) is associated with a second CORESET pool index (e.g., CORESET pool index = 1). In some examples, the first CORESET pool index may be associated with a service PCI.

[0164] At 1015, UE 115-c may receive a first downlink message (e.g., a PDCCH order) triggering a random access procedure from TRP 1005, such as TRP 1005-b in the context of process flow 1000. The first downlink message may indicate a state from a state set, where each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicate a TAG to be used by UE 115-c.

[0165] In some examples, the state set may include: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a service PCI from the PCI set; a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the service PCI; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0166] Additionally or alternatively, the number of state sets may be based on the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE 115-c when the first downlink message is received or the initial uplink message of the random access procedure is sent. For example, the UE 115-c may be operating in the intra-cell multi-TRP mode when the first downlink message is received or the initial uplink message of the random access procedure is sent. In such a case, the state set may include: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a serving PCI from a PCI set; and a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the serving PCI. In some cases, the operation of the UE 115-c in the intra-cell multi-TRP mode may be indicated by the first CORESET pool index and the second CORESET pool index being associated with the serving PCI.

[0167] In another example, UE 115-c may operate in inter-cell multi-TRP mode when receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure. In such a case, the state set includes: a first state indicating that UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a first random access procedure configuration associated with a serving PCI from the PCI set; and one or more second states indicating that UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration procedure configuration associated with each additional PCI from the PCI set. In some cases, operation of UE 115-c in inter-cell multi-TRP mode may be indicated by a first CORESET pool index associated with the serving PCI and a second CORESET pool index associated with the additional PCI.

[0168] In some examples, the state set may include: a first state indicating whether the random access process is associated with an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode or an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode; a second state indicating that the UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0169] In some examples, the state set may include: a first state indicating that UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more second states indicating that UE 115-c sends an uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0170] In some examples, at 1020, UE 115-c may send (e.g., to TRP 1005-b) an initial uplink message (e.g., a PRACH preamble) for the random access procedure.

[0171] At 1025, UE 115-b may receive a second downlink message (e.g., a RAR or absolute TA command) from TRP 1005-b in response to the initial uplink message of the random access procedure. The second downlink message may include a TA command associated with the indicated state.

[0172] At 1030, the UE 115-c may select a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated status and the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE 115-c. In some examples, the UE 115-c may determine the selected TAG based on a CORESET pool index associated with the first downlink message that triggered the random access procedure. Additionally or alternatively, the UE 115-c may determine the selected TAG based on the indicated status in the first downlink message that triggered the random access procedure.

[0173] In some examples, the UE 115-c may select the selected TAG based on a CORESET pool index associated with a first downlink message triggering the random access procedure and based on the UE 115-c operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when receiving the first downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure. In such cases, the downlink message triggering the random access procedure may indicate a status that further indicates that the random access procedure is associated with a PCI for the inter-cell mode.

[0174] In some examples, UE 115-c can select the selected TAG based on the indicated state and based on UE 115-c operating in an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode when receiving the first downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure.

[0175] In some cases, at 1035, the selected TAG may be a second TAG, and the UE 115-c may delay sending of the uplink message of the random access procedure based on the UE 115-c operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied. In such cases, the association of the selected CORESET pool index with the one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI may indicate that the UE 115-c is operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0176] At 1040, UE 115-c may send an uplink message (e.g., to TRP 1005-b) using the selected TAG (e.g., using the TA associated with the selected TAG) (e.g., after the random access procedure). In some examples, UE 115-c may send the uplink message according to the selected TAG (e.g., the second TAG) after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the serving PCI due to activation of the serving PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0177] Figure 11A block diagram 1100 illustrates a device 1105 that supports PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1105 may be an example of aspects of the UE 115 as described herein. The device 1105 may include a receiver 1110, a transmitter 1115, and a communication manager 1120. The device 1105 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0178] The receiver 1110 may provide means for receiving information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels related to PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells), data channels, information channels. The information may be delivered to other components of the device 1105. The receiver 1110 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

[0179] The transmitter 1115 may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1105. For example, the transmitter 1115 may transmit information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels related to PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells), data channels, information channels, such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter 1115 may be co-located with the receiver 1110 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1115 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

[0180] The communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations thereof, or various components thereof, may be examples of means for performing various aspects of PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between inter-cell and intra-cell multiple TRPs as described herein. For example, the communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations thereof, or components thereof, may support methods for performing one or more of the functions described herein.

[0181] In some examples, the communication manager 1120, the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in hardware (e.g., in a communication management circuit). The hardware may include a processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a central processing unit (CPU), an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, a microcontroller, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof configured as or otherwise supporting components for performing the functions described herein. In some examples, the processor and a memory coupled to the processor may be configured to perform one or more of the functions described herein (e.g., by executing instructions stored in the memory by the processor).

[0182] Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the communication manager 1120, receiver 1110, transmitter 1115, or various combinations or components thereof may be implemented in code executed by a processor (e.g., as communication management software or firmware). If implemented in code executed by a processor, the functionality of the communication manager 1120, receiver 1110, transmitter 1115, or various combinations or components thereof may be performed by a general-purpose processor (e.g., configured as or otherwise supporting means for performing the functions described in this disclosure), a DSP, a CPU, an ASIC, an FPGA, a microcontroller, or any combination of these or other programmable logic devices.

[0183] In some examples, communication manager 1120 can be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, transmit) using or otherwise cooperating with receiver 1110, transmitter 1115, or both. For example, communication manager 1120 can receive information from receiver 1110, transmit information to transmitter 1115, or be integrated with receiver 1110, transmitter 1115, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

[0184] According to examples disclosed herein, the communications manager 1120 may support wireless communications at a UE. For example, the communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI. The communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG. The communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits. The communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for communicating according to the selected TAG based on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0185] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communications manager 1120 may support wireless communications at a UE. For example, the communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI. The communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE. The communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE. The communications manager 1120 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for sending an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0186] By including or configuring a communication manager 1120 according to the examples described herein, the device 1105 (e.g., a processor controlling the receiver 1110, the transmitter 1115, the communication manager 1120, or a combination thereof or otherwise coupled thereto) may support techniques for TAG indications associated with dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell, which may result in reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, and other advantages.

[0187] Figure 12 A block diagram 1200 illustrates a device 1205 that supports PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The device 1205 may be an example of aspects of the device 1105 or UE 115 as described herein. The device 1205 may include a receiver 1210, a transmitter 1215, and a communication manager 1220. The device 1205 may also include a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0188] The receiver 1210 may provide means for receiving information (such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof) associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels related to PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells), data channels, information channels. The information may be delivered to other components of the device 1205. The receiver 1210 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

[0189] The transmitter 1215 may provide means for transmitting signals generated by other components of the device 1205. For example, the transmitter 1215 may transmit information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels related to PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells), data channels, information channels, such as packets, user data, control information, or any combination thereof. In some examples, the transmitter 1215 may be co-located with the receiver 1210 in a transceiver module. The transmitter 1215 may utilize a single antenna or a set of multiple antennas.

[0190] The device 1205 or its various components may be examples of components for performing various aspects of PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell as described herein. For example, the communication manager 1220 may include a configuration component 1225, a random access procedure component 1230, a TAG component 1235, a state component 1240, or any combination thereof. The communication manager 1220 may be an example of various aspects of the communication manager 1120 as described herein. In some examples, the communication manager 1220 or its various components may be configured to use or otherwise cooperate with the receiver 1210, the transmitter 1215, or both to perform various operations (e.g., receive, obtain, monitor, output, transmit). For example, the communication manager 1220 may receive information from the receiver 1210, transmit information to the transmitter 1215, or be integrated with the receiver 1210, the transmitter 1215, or both to obtain information, output information, or perform various other operations as described herein.

[0191] According to examples disclosed herein, a communications manager 1220 can support wireless communications at a UE. A configuration component 1225 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI. A random access procedure component 1230 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of a first TAG or a second TAG. A TAG component 1235 can be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits. The TAG component 1235 can be configured as or otherwise support means for communicating according to a selected TAG based on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0192] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, communications manager 1220 can support wireless communications at a UE. Configuration component 1225 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI. State component 1240 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE. TAG component 1235 can be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE. Random access procedure component 1230 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0193] Figure 13 A block diagram 1300 illustrates a communication manager 1320 that supports PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure. The communication manager 1320 can be an example of aspects of the communication manager 1120, the communication manager 1220, or both, as described herein. The communication manager 1320 or its various components can be examples of means for performing various aspects of PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells, as described herein. For example, the communication manager 1320 can include a configuration component 1325, a random access procedure component 1330, a TAG component 1335, a state component 1340, a mode component 1345, or any combination thereof. Each of these components can communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0194] According to examples disclosed herein, a communications manager 1320 can support wireless communications at a UE. A configuration component 1325 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI. A random access procedure component 1330 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of a first TAG or a second TAG. A TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits. In some examples, the TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for communicating according to a selected TAG based on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0195] In some examples, the random access process component 1330 may be configured as or otherwise support a component for receiving a second downlink message that triggers a random access process and associates the random access process with a serving PCI or an additional PCI different from the serving PCI, wherein the rules for applying one or more reserved bits are associated with the serving PCI or the additional PCI based on whether the random access process is associated with the serving PCI or the additional PCI.

[0196] In some examples, the random access procedure is associated with an additional PCI. In some examples, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE is to ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the random access procedure being associated with the additional PCI.

[0197] In some examples, to support selection of one of the first TAG or the second TAG, TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting the selected TAG based on a configuration associated with the additional PCI.

[0198] In some examples, to support selection of one of the first TAG or the second TAG, TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting the selected TAG based on an indication of one or more reserved bits.

[0199] In some examples, the selected TAG is a second TAG, and the mode component 1345 can be configured as or otherwise support means for delaying communication according to the second TAG based on the UE operating in inter-cell mode when the first downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index is associated with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI indicating that the UE is operating in inter-cell mode.

[0200] In some examples, to support communication according to the selected TAG, TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for communicating according to the second TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI due to activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0201] In some examples, to support communication in accordance with the selected TAG, mode component 1345 may be configured as or otherwise support means for communicating in accordance with the selected TAG based on the UE operating in intra-cell mode when the first downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein both the first CORESET pool index and the second CORESET pool index are associated with one or more TCI states associated with the serving PCI indicating that the UE is operating in intra-cell mode.

[0202] In some examples, the rules for applying one or more reserved bits are based on the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE when the first downlink message is received or is to be applied.

[0203] In some examples, the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE is an inter-cell mode. In some examples, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE is to ignore the one or more reserved bits based on the UE being in inter-cell mode, as indicated by at least one active TCI state of the UE being associated with an additional PCI different from the serving PCI.

[0204] In some examples, the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE is an intra-cell mode. In some examples, the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE is to use the one or more reserved bits to select a selected TAG based on the UE being in intra-cell mode, as indicated by all active TCI states of the UE being associated with a serving PCI.

[0205] In some examples, the first downlink message of the random access procedure is a RAR message or an absolute TA command MACE-CE.

[0206] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1320 can support wireless communications at the UE. In some examples, the configuration component 1325 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI. The state component 1340 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE. In some examples, the TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE. In some examples, random access procedure component 1330 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an uplink message using a selected TAG.

[0207] In some examples, the state set includes: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the service PCI; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0208] In some examples, the selected TAG is a second TAG, and the random access procedure component 1330 may be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure. In some examples, the selected TAG is a second TAG, and the random access procedure component 1330 may be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a TA command associated with the indicated state. In some examples, the selected TAG is a second TAG, and the mode component 1345 may be configured as or otherwise support means for delaying the sending of the uplink message using the second TAG based on the UE operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index associated with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI indicates that the UE is operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0209] In some examples, to support sending an uplink message, TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an uplink message according to a second TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI due to activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0210] In some examples, the number of state sets is based on the UE's multi-TRP communication mode when receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure.

[0211] In some examples, mode component 1345 may be configured as or otherwise support components for operating the UE in an intra-cell multi-TRP mode upon receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure, wherein the state set includes: a first state indicating a first TAG associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; and a second state indicating a second TAG associated with the service PCI.

[0212] In some examples, operation of the UE in intra-cell multi-TRP mode is indicated by associating a first CORESET pool index and a second CORESET pool index with a serving PCI.

[0213] In some examples, mode component 1345 may be configured as or otherwise support a component for operating a UE in an inter-cell multi-TRP mode upon receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of a random access process, wherein the set of states includes: a first state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; and one or more second states indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration process configuration associated with each additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0214] In some examples, operation of the UE in inter-cell multi-TRP mode is indicated by a first CORESET pool index being associated with a serving PCI and a second CORESET pool index being associated with an additional PCI.

[0215] In some examples, the state set includes: a first state indicating whether the random access process is associated with an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode or an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode; a second state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from a PCI set; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0216] In some examples, to support selection of a selected TAG, TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for determining a selected TAG based on a CORESET pool index associated with a downlink message that triggers the random access procedure.

[0217] In some examples, the random access procedure component 1330 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure. In some examples, the random access procedure component 1330 can be configured as or otherwise support means for receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a TA command associated with a second CORESET pool index. In some examples, the mode component 1345 can be configured as or otherwise support means for delaying transmission of the uplink message according to a selected TAG based on the UE operating in inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index is associated with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI indicating that the UE is operating in inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0218] In some examples, to support sending an uplink message, TAG component 1335 can be configured as or otherwise support means for sending an uplink message according to a second TAG after a delay based on the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI due to activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index.

[0219] In some examples, to support selection of a selected TAG, TAG component 1335 may be configured as or otherwise support means for determining a selected TAG based on an indicated status in a downlink message that triggers a random access procedure.

[0220] In some examples, the state set includes: a first state indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with a service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more second states indicating that the UE sends an uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0221] In some examples, to support selection of a selected TAG, the TAG component 1335 may be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting a selected TAG based on a CORESET pool index associated with a downlink message that triggers the random access procedure and based on the UE operating in an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode when receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure.

[0222] In some examples, to support selection of a selected TAG, the TAG component 1335 may be configured as or otherwise support means for selecting a selected TAG based on an indicated state and based on the UE operating in an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of a random access procedure.

[0223] In some examples, the downlink message that triggers the random access procedure is a PDCCH command DCI.

[0224] Figure 14 A diagram of a system 1400 including a device 1405 supporting PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells, in accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, is illustrated. The device 1405 may be an example of a device 1105, a device 1205, or a UE 115 as described herein, or include components thereof. The device 1405 may communicate (e.g., wirelessly) with one or more network entities 105, one or more UEs 115, or any combination thereof. The device 1405 may include components for two-way voice and data communications, including components for sending and receiving communications, such as a communication manager 1420, an input / output (I / O) controller 1410, a transceiver 1415, an antenna 1425, a memory 1430, code 1435, and a processor 1440. These components may be in electronic communication or otherwise coupled (e.g., operatively, communicatively, functionally, electronically, electrically) via one or more buses (e.g., a bus 1445).

[0225] I / O controller 1410 can manage input and output signals for device 1405. I / O controller 1410 can also manage peripheral devices that are not integrated into device 1405. In some cases, I / O controller 1410 can represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, I / O controller 1410 can utilize an operating system, such as Additionally or alternatively, the I / O controller 1410 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touch screen, or similar device.

[0226] In some cases, I / O controller 1410 may be implemented as part of a processor, such as processor 1440. In some cases, a user may interact with device 1405 via I / O controller 1410 or via hardware components controlled by I / O controller 1410.

[0227] In some cases, device 1405 may include a single antenna 1425. However, in some other cases, device 1405 may have more than one antenna 1425, which may be capable of concurrently transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions. Transceiver 1415 may communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas 1425, wired, or wireless links, as described herein. For example, transceiver 1415 may represent a wireless transceiver and may communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. Transceiver 1415 may also include a modem for modulating packets, providing the modulated packets to one or more antennas 1425 for transmission, and demodulating packets received from one or more antennas 1425. Transceiver 1415, or transceiver 1415 and one or more antennas 1425, may be examples of transmitter 1115, transmitter 1215, receiver 1110, receiver 1210, or any combination thereof, or components thereof, as described herein.

[0228] Memory 1430 may include random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Memory 1430 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1435 including instructions that, when executed by processor 1440, cause device 1405 to perform the various functions described herein. Code 1435 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium (such as system memory) or another type of memory. In some cases, code 1435 may not be directly executable by processor 1440, but may (e.g., when compiled and executed) cause a computer to perform the functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1430 may include, among other things, a basic I / O system (BIOS) that may control basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0229] The processor 1440 may include an intelligent hardware device (e.g., a general-purpose processor, a DSP, a CPU, a microcontroller, an ASIC, an FPGA, a programmable logic device, a discrete gate or transistor logic element, a discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof). In some cases, the processor 1440 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into the processor 1440. The processor 1440 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory (e.g., memory 1430) to cause the device 1405 to perform various functions (e.g., various functions or tasks supporting PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell). For example, the device 1405 or a component of the device 1405 may include a processor 1440 and a memory 1430 coupled to or coupled to the processor 1440, the processor 1440 and the memory 1430 being configured to perform the various functions described herein.

[0230] According to examples disclosed herein, the communication manager 1420 may support wireless communications at a UE. For example, the communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI. The communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG. The communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits. The communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for communicating according to the selected TAG based on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0231] Additionally or alternatively, according to examples as disclosed herein, the communication manager 1420 may support wireless communications at a UE. For example, the communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a serving PCI. The communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE. The communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE. The communication manager 1420 may be configured as, or otherwise support, means for sending an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0232] By including or configuring a communication manager 1420 according to the examples as described herein, the device 1405 may support techniques for TAG indications associated with dynamic switching between multiple TRPs between cells and within a cell, which may result in improved communication reliability, reduced latency, an improved user experience associated with reduced processing, reduced power consumption, more efficient utilization of communication resources, improved coordination between devices, longer battery life, improved utilization of processing power, and other advantages.

[0233] In some examples, the communication manager 1420 may be configured to perform various operations (e.g., receive, monitor, transmit) using or otherwise coordinating with the transceiver 1415, one or more antennas 1425, or any combination thereof. Although the communication manager 1420 is illustrated as a separate component, in some examples, one or more functions described with reference to the communication manager 1420 may be supported or performed by the processor 1440, the memory 1430, the code 1435, or any combination thereof. For example, the code 1435 may include instructions executable by the processor 1440 to cause the device 1405 to perform various aspects of PRACH enhancements for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells as described herein, or the processor 1440 and the memory 1430 may be otherwise configured to perform or support such operations.

[0234] Figure 15 A flow chart illustrating a method 1500 for supporting PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The operations of the method 1500 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1500 may be implemented by a UE as described herein. Figures 1 to 14 The described functions may be performed by the UE 115. In some examples, the UE may execute an instruction set to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the described functions.

[0235] At 1505, the method may include receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI. The operations of 1505 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1505 may be performed as described with reference to Figure 13 The configuration component 1325 described is executed.

[0236] At 1510, the method may include receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of a first TAG or a second TAG. The operations of 1510 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1510 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 13 The random access process component 1330 is described as performing.

[0237] At 1515, the method may include selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based on a rule for applying one or more reserved bits. The operations of 1515 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1515 may be implemented as described in reference to Figure 13 The described TAG component 1335 performs.

[0238] At 1520, the method may include communicating according to a selected TAG based on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG. The operations of 1520 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1520 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 13 The described TAG component 1335 performs.

[0239] Figure 16 A flow chart illustrating a method 1600 for supporting PRACH enhancement for dynamic switching between multiple TRPs within and between cells according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure is illustrated. The operations of the method 1600 may be implemented by a UE or components thereof as described herein. For example, the operations of the method 1600 may be implemented by a UE as described herein. Figures 1 to 14 The described functions may be performed by the UE 115. In some examples, the UE may execute an instruction set to control the functional elements of the UE to perform the described functions. Additionally or alternatively, the UE may use dedicated hardware to perform various aspects of the described functions.

[0240] At 1605, the method may include receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI. The operations of 1605 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1605 may be performed as described with reference to Figure 13 The configuration component 1325 described is executed.

[0241] At 1610, the method may include receiving a downlink message that triggers a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE. The operations of 1610 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1610 may be performed as described with reference to Figure 13 The described state component 1340 is executed.

[0242] At 1615, the method may include selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based on the indicated state and the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE. The operations of 1615 may be performed according to the examples disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1615 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 13 The described TAG component 1335 performs.

[0243] At 1620, the method may include sending an uplink message using the selected TAG. The operations of 1620 may be performed according to examples as disclosed herein. In some examples, aspects of the operations of 1620 may be performed as described in reference to Figure 13 The random access process component 1330 is described as performing.

[0244] The following provides an overview of various aspects of the disclosure:

[0245] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index, and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI; receiving a first downlink message of the random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message including one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first TAG or the second TAG; selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG based at least in part on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; and communicating according to the selected TAG based at least in part on the selection, the selected TAG being one of the first TAG or the second TAG.

[0246] Aspect 2: The method according to Aspect 1 further includes: receiving a second downlink message, which triggers the random access process and associates the random access process with the service PCI or an additional PCI different from the service PCI, wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits is at least partially based on associating the random access process with the service PCI or the additional PCI.

[0247] Aspect 3: A method according to Aspect 2, wherein the random access procedure is associated with the additional PCI, and the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE will ignore the one or more reserved bits at least in part based on the random access procedure being associated with the additional PCI.

[0248] Aspect 4: The method of aspect 3, wherein selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG comprises selecting the selected TAG based on a configuration associated with the additional PCI.

[0249] Aspect 5: The method of aspect 2, wherein the random access procedure is associated with the serving PCI, and wherein selecting one of the first TAG or the second TAG comprises selecting the selected TAG based at least in part on an indication of the one or more reserved bits.

[0250] Aspect 6: A method according to Aspect 5, wherein the selected TAG is the second TAG, and the method further includes: delaying the communication according to the second TAG based at least in part on the UE operating in inter-cell mode when the first downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index is associated with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI, indicating that the UE is operating in the inter-cell mode.

[0251] Aspect 7: The method of aspect 6, wherein communicating according to the selected TAG comprises: communicating according to the second TAG after the delay based at least in part on activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index, the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI.

[0252] Aspect 8: A method according to any one of Aspects 5 to 7, wherein communicating according to the selected TAG includes: communicating according to the selected TAG based at least in part on the UE operating in intra-cell mode when the first downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein both the first CORESET pool index and the second CORESET pool index are associated with one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI, indicating that the UE is operating in the intra-cell mode.

[0253] Aspect 9: A method according to aspect 1, wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits is at least partially based on the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE when the first downlink message is received or to be applied.

[0254] Aspect 10: A method according to Aspect 9, wherein the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE is an inter-cell mode, and the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE will ignore the one or more reserved bits at least in part based on the UE being in the inter-cell mode, as indicated by at least one active TCI state of the UE being associated with an additional PCI different from the service PCI.

[0255] Aspect 11: A method according to Aspect 9, wherein the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE is an intra-cell mode, and the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE will use the one or more reserved bits to select the selected TAG at least in part based on the UE being in the intra-cell mode, as indicated by all active TCI states of the UE being associated with the service PCI.

[0256] Aspect 12: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the first downlink message of the random access procedure is a RAR message or an absolute TA command MAC-CE.

[0257] Aspect 13: A method for wireless communication at a UE, comprising: receiving a control message indicating a TAG set, wherein a first TAG from the TAG set is associated with a first CORESET pool index and a second TAG from the TAG set is associated with a second CORESET pool index, and wherein the first CORESET pool index is associated with a service PCI; receiving a downlink message that triggers a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a state set, wherein each state from the state set is associated with a PCI from a PCI set, and indicating a TAG to be used by the UE; selecting a selected TAG from the first TAG or the second TAG based at least in part on the indicated state and a multi-TRP communication mode of the UE; and sending an uplink message using the selected TAG.

[0258] Aspect 14: A method according to Aspect 13, wherein the state set includes: a first state, the first state indicating the first TAG associated with the service PCI from the PCI set; a second state, the second state indicating the second TAG associated with the service PCI; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a random access process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0259] Aspect 15: A method according to Aspect 14, wherein the selected TAG is the second TAG, the method further comprising: sending an initial uplink message of the random access procedure; receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a timing advance command associated with the indicated state; and delaying the sending of the uplink message using the second TAG based at least in part on the UE operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index is associated with one or more TCI states associated with the additional PCI, indicating that the UE operates in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0260] Aspect 16: The method of aspect 15, wherein sending the uplink message comprises sending the uplink message according to the second TAG after the delay based at least in part on activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index, the second CORESET pool index being associated with the one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI.

[0261] Aspect 17: A method according to any one of Aspects 13 to 16, wherein the number of state sets is at least partially based on the multi-TRP communication mode of the UE when receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure.

[0262] Aspect 18: The method according to Aspect 17 further includes: operating the UE in intra-cell multi-TRP mode when receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access process, wherein the state set includes: a first state, the first state indicating the first TAG associated with the service PCI from the PCI set; and a second state, the second state indicating the second TAG associated with the service PCI.

[0263] Aspect 19: The method according to aspect 18, wherein the operation of the UE in the intra-cell multi-TRP mode is indicated by the first CORESET pool index and the second CORESET pool index being associated with the service PCI.

[0264] Aspect 20: The method according to Aspect 17 further includes: operating the UE in an inter-cell multi-TRP mode when receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access process, wherein the state set includes: a first state, the first state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with the service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more second states, the one or more second states indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration process configuration associated with each additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0265] Aspect 21: The method according to aspect 20, wherein the operation of the UE in the inter-cell multi-TRP mode is indicated by the first CORESET pool index being associated with the serving PCI and the second CORESET pool index being associated with an additional PCI.

[0266] Aspect 22: A method according to Aspect 13, wherein the state set includes: a first state, the first state indicating whether the random access process is associated with the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode or the intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode; a second state, the second state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to the first random access process configuration associated with the service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to the random access process configuration associated with the corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0267] Aspect 23: A method according to Aspect 22, wherein the downlink message that triggers the random access process indicates the first state, and wherein the first state indicates that the random access process is associated with the intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode, wherein selecting the selected TAG includes: determining the selected TAG at least in part based on a CORESET pool index associated with the downlink message that triggers the random access process.

[0268] Aspect 24: The method according to Aspect 23 further includes: sending an initial uplink message of the random access procedure; receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a timing advance command associated with the second CORESET pool index; and delaying the sending of the uplink message according to the selected TAG based at least in part on the UE operating in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second CORESET pool index is associated with one or more TCI states associated with an additional PCI, indicating that the UE operates in the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode.

[0269] Aspect 25: A method according to aspect 24, wherein sending the uplink message includes: sending the uplink message according to the second TAG after the delay based at least in part on activation of the service PCI for the second CORESET pool index, the second CORESET pool index being associated with one or more TCI states associated with the service PCI.

[0270] Aspect 26: A method according to any one of Aspects 22 to 25, wherein the downlink message indication that triggers the random access process further indicates a state in which the random access process is associated with the PCI used for the inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode, and wherein selecting the selected TAG includes: determining the selected TAG at least in part based on the indicated state in the downlink message that triggers the random access process.

[0271] Aspect 27: A method according to Aspect 13, wherein the state set includes: a first state, the first state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access process configuration associated with the service PCI from the PCI set; and one or more second states, the one or more second states indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration process configuration associated with a corresponding additional PCI from the PCI set.

[0272] Aspect 28: A method according to Aspect 27, wherein selecting the selected TAG includes: selecting the selected TAG based at least in part on a CORESET pool index associated with the downlink message that triggers the random access procedure and at least in part on the UE operating in an intra-cell multi-TRP communication mode when receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure.

[0273] Aspect 29: A method according to Aspect 27, wherein selecting the selected TAG includes: selecting the selected TAG at least in part based on the indicated state and at least in part based on the UE operating in an inter-cell multi-TRP communication mode when receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of the random access process.

[0274] Aspect 30: The method according to any one of aspects 13 to 29, wherein the downlink message triggering the random access procedure is a PDCCH command DCI.

[0275] Aspect 31: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to any one of aspects 1 to 12.

[0276] Aspect 32: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, the apparatus comprising at least one component for performing the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 12.

[0277] Aspect 33: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to any one of aspects 1 to 12.

[0278] Aspect 34: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform a method according to any one of aspects 13 to 30.

[0279] Aspect 35: An apparatus for wireless communication at a UE, the apparatus comprising at least one component for performing the method according to any one of aspects 13 to 30.

[0280] Aspect 36: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a UE, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to perform the method according to any one of aspects 13 to 30.

[0281] It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and that the operations and steps may be rearranged or otherwise modified and that other implementations are possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more methods may be combined.

[0282] Although aspects of LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR systems may be described for example purposes, and LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR terminology may be used throughout much of the description, the techniques described herein may also be applicable to networks other than LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR networks. For example, the techniques described may be applicable to various other wireless communication systems, such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, and other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

[0283] The information and signals described herein may be represented using any of a variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips referred to throughout the specification may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0284] The various illustrative blocks and components described in conjunction with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed using a general purpose processor, a DSP, an ASIC, a CPU, an FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the alternative, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in combination with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0285] The functions described herein may be implemented using hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented using software executed by a processor, the functions may be stored as one or more instructions or codes of a computer-readable medium, or sent using one or more instructions or codes of a computer-readable medium. Other examples and specific implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein may be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hard wiring, or a combination of any of these. Features that implement the functions may also be physically located at different locations, including being distributed so that various parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations.

[0286] Computer readable medium includes both non-transient computer storage medium and communication medium, and this communication medium includes any medium that promotes computer program to be transferred from one location to another location.Non-transient storage medium can be any available medium that can be accessed by general or special-purpose computer.By way of example and not limitation, non-transient computer readable medium can include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, compact disc (CD) ROM or other optical disc storage device, magnetic disk storage device or other magnetic storage device or can be used for carrying or storing desired program code components and any other non-transient medium that can be accessed by general or special-purpose computer or general or special-purpose processor in the form of instruction or data structure.Moreover, any connection is appropriately referred to as computer readable medium.For example, if software is to be sent from website, server or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL) or wireless technology such as infrared, radio and microwave, then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL or wireless technology such as infrared, radio and microwave are included in the definition of computer readable medium. As used herein, disks and optical discs include CDs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs. Magnetic disks can reproduce data magnetically, and optical discs can reproduce data optically using lasers. Combinations of the above are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0287] As used herein (including in the claims), "or" used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items followed by a phrase such as "at least one of" or "one or more of") indicates an inclusive list, so that, for example, a list of at least one of A, B, or C means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). In addition, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be interpreted as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an example step described as "based on condition A" can be based on both condition A and condition B without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "based at least in part on."

[0288] The term "determining" encompasses a variety of actions, and thus, "determining" may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (such as via looking up in a table, database, or other data structure), ascertaining, and the like. Furthermore, "determining" may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data stored in a memory), etc. Furthermore, "determining" may include parsing, retrieving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and other such similar actions.

[0289] In the drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference label. In addition, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a dash and a second label to distinguish between similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description can apply to any of the similar components having the same first reference label, regardless of the second reference label or other subsequent reference labels.

[0290] The description set forth herein in conjunction with the accompanying drawings describes example configurations and does not represent all examples that may be implemented or within the scope of the claims. The term "example" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," rather than "preferred" or "having advantages over other examples." The detailed description includes specific details to provide an understanding of the described techniques. However, these techniques can be practiced without these specific details. In some cases, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concepts of the described examples.

[0291] The description herein is provided to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but should be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receiving a control message indicating a set of timing advance groups, wherein a first timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a first control resource set pool index, and a second timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a second control resource set pool index, and wherein the first control resource set pool index is associated with a serving physical cell identifier; receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, wherein the first downlink message includes one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group; selecting one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group based at least in part on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; as well as Communicating according to a selected timing advance group based at least in part on the selecting, the selected timing advance group being one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receiving a second downlink message that triggers the random access procedure and associates the random access procedure with the serving physical cell identifier or an additional physical cell identifier different from the serving physical cell identifier, wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits is based at least in part on associating the random access procedure with the serving physical cell identifier or the additional physical cell identifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the random access procedure is associated with the additional physical cell identifier, and wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE is to ignore the one or more reserved bits based at least in part on the random access procedure being associated with the additional physical cell identifier.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the instructions for selecting one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected timing advance group is selected based on a configuration associated with the additional physical cell identifier.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the instructions for selecting one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected timing advance group is selected based at least in part on an indication of the one or more reserved bits.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the selected timing advance group is the second timing advance group, and the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: Delaying the communication according to the second timing advance group based at least in part on the operation of the UE in inter-cell mode when the first downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second control resource set pool index is associated with one or more transmit configuration indicator states associated with an additional physical cell identifier indicating that the UE is operating in the inter-cell mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the instructions for communicating according to the selected timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: Communicating according to the second timing advance group after the delay is based at least in part on activation of the serving physical cell identifier for the second control resource set pool index, the second control resource set pool index being associated with one or more transmit configuration indicator states associated with the serving physical cell identifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the instructions for communicating according to the selected timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: Communicating according to the selected timing advance group is based at least in part on the operation of the UE in the intra-cell mode when the first downlink message is received or is to be applied, wherein both the first control resource set pool index and the second control resource set pool index are associated with one or more transmit configuration indicator states associated with the serving physical cell identifier to indicate the operation of the UE in the intra-cell mode.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits is based at least in part on a multiple transmission reception point communication mode of the UE when the first downlink message is received or is to be applied.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the multi-transmission-reception point communication mode of the UE is an inter-cell mode, and wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE will ignore the one or more reserved bits at least in part based on the UE being in the inter-cell mode, as indicated by at least one active transmission configuration indicator state of the UE being associated with an additional physical cell identifier that is different from the serving physical cell identifier.

11. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the multi-transmission reception point communication mode of the UE is an intra-cell mode, and wherein the rule for applying the one or more reserved bits indicates that the UE will use the one or more reserved bits to select the selected timing advance group based at least in part on the UE being in the intra-cell mode, as indicated by the association of all active transmission configuration indicator states of the UE with the serving physical cell identifier.

12. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: receiving a control message indicating a set of timing advance groups, wherein a first timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a first control resource set pool index, and a second timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a second control resource set pool index, and wherein the first control resource set pool index is associated with a serving physical cell identifier; receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, wherein the downlink message indicates a state from a state set, and wherein each state from the state set is associated with a physical cell identifier from a set of physical cell identifiers and indicates a timing advance group to be used by the UE; selecting a selected timing advance group from the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group based at least in part on the indicated status and a multi-transmission-reception-point communication mode of the UE; as well as An uplink message is sent using the selected timing advance group.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the state set comprises: a first state indicating the first timing advance group associated with the serving physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers; a second state indicating the second timing advance group associated with the serving physical cell identifier; and One or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a corresponding additional physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the selected timing advance group is the second timing advance group, and the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: sending an initial uplink message of the random access procedure; receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a timing advance command associated with the indicated state; and The transmission of the uplink message is delayed using the second timing advance group based at least in part on the operation of the UE in the inter-cell multi-transmission reception point communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second control resource set pool index is associated with one or more transmission configuration indicator states associated with the additional physical cell identifier to indicate the operation of the UE in the inter-cell multi-transmission reception point communication mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the instructions for sending the uplink message are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: At least in part based on activation of the serving physical cell identifier for the second control resource set pool index, the second control resource set pool index being associated with the one or more transmit configuration indicator states associated with the serving physical cell identifier, sending the uplink message according to the second timing advance group after the delay.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the number of the state sets is based at least in part on the multiple transmission and reception point communication mode of the UE when the downlink message is received or the initial uplink message of the random access procedure is sent.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: When receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure, operating the UE in an intra-cell multiple transmission and reception point mode, wherein the state set includes: a first state indicating the first timing advance group associated with the serving physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers; and a second state indicating the second timing advance group associated with the serving physical cell identifier.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the operation of the UE in the intra-cell multiple transmission and reception point mode is indicated by associating the first control resource set pool index and the second control resource set pool index with the serving physical cell identifier.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: When receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access procedure, operating the UE in an inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point mode, wherein the state set includes: a first state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access procedure configuration associated with the serving physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers; and one or more second states indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration procedure configuration associated with each additional physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers.

20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the operation of the UE in the inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point mode is indicated by the first control resource set pool index being associated with the serving physical cell identifier and the second control resource set pool index being associated with an additional physical cell identifier.

21. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the state set comprises: a first state indicating whether the random access procedure is associated with an inter-cell multi-transmission-reception-point communication mode or an intra-cell multi-transmission-reception-point communication mode; a second state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access procedure configuration associated with the serving physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers; and one or more third states, each third state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a random access procedure configuration associated with a corresponding additional physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the instructions for selecting the selected timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected timing advance group is determined based at least in part on a control resource set pool index associated with the downlink message that triggered the random access procedure.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: sending an initial uplink message of the random access procedure; receiving a second downlink message in response to the initial uplink message, wherein the second downlink message includes a timing advance command associated with the second control resource set pool index; and The sending of the uplink message is delayed according to the selected timing advance group based at least in part on the operation of the UE in the inter-cell multi-transmission reception point communication mode when the second downlink message is received or to be applied, wherein the second control resource set pool index is associated with one or more transmission configuration indicator states associated with the additional physical cell identifier to indicate the operation of the UE in the inter-cell multi-transmission reception point communication mode.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the instructions for sending the uplink message are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: At least in part based on activation of the serving physical cell identifier for the second control resource set pool index, the second control resource set pool index being associated with one or more transmit configuration indicator states associated with the serving physical cell identifier, sending the uplink message according to the second timing advance group after the delay.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the instructions for selecting the selected timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected timing advance group is determined based at least in part on an indicated status in the downlink message that triggered the random access procedure.

26. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the state set comprises: a first state indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a first random access procedure configuration associated with the serving physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers; and one or more second states indicating that the UE sends the uplink message according to a corresponding random access configuration procedure configuration associated with a corresponding additional physical cell identifier from the set of physical cell identifiers.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the instructions for selecting the selected timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected timing advance group is selected at least in part based on a control resource set pool index associated with the downlink message that triggers the random access process and at least in part based on the operation of the UE in an intra-cell multi-transmission reception point communication mode when receiving the downlink message or sending the initial uplink message of the random access process.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the instructions for selecting the selected timing advance group are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to: The selected timing advance group is selected based at least in part on the indicated status and at least in part on operation of the UE in an inter-cell multiple transmission and reception point communication mode when receiving a downlink message or sending an initial uplink message of the random access procedure.

29. A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a control message indicating a set of timing advance groups, wherein a first timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a first control resource set pool index, and a second timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a second control resource set pool index, and wherein the first control resource set pool index is associated with a serving physical cell identifier; receiving a first downlink message of a random access procedure in response to an initial uplink message of the random access procedure, the first downlink message comprising one or more reserved bits indicating one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group; selecting one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group based at least in part on a rule for applying the one or more reserved bits; as well as Communicating according to a selected timing advance group based at least in part on the selecting, the selected timing advance group being one of the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group.

30. A method for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a control message indicating a set of timing advance groups, wherein a first timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a first control resource set pool index, and a second timing advance group from the set of timing advance groups is associated with a second control resource set pool index, and wherein the first control resource set pool index is associated with a serving physical cell identifier; receiving a downlink message triggering a random access procedure, the downlink message indicating a state from a set of states, wherein each state from the set of states is associated with a physical cell identifier from a set of physical cell identifiers and indicates a timing advance group to be used by the UE; selecting a selected timing advance group from the first timing advance group or the second timing advance group based at least in part on the indicated status and a multi-transmission-reception-point communication mode of the UE; as well as An uplink message is sent using the selected timing advance group.

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