Apparatuses and methods for configuration of random access response window

Abstract

Apparatuses, methods, and computer-readable storage media for configuration of random access response windows are provided for receiving (such as by a terminal device) configuration information including at least one of: one or more durations of respective beams; or one or more resource configurations for respective random access search spaces corresponding to the respective beams. Based on the configuration information, one or more of the respective search spaces are determined to be invalid and one or more other of the respective search spaces are determined to be to be used for communication. Based on the determination, one or more random access responses are monitored during one or more respective random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The various example implementations generally relate to the configuration of the Random Access (RA) Response (RAR) window, and more specifically, to downlink (DL) coverage enhancement. Background Technology

[0002] In non-terrestrial network (NTN) systems, new radio (NR) systems, and / or other types of systems, a cell can be divided into one or more beams. For example, one type of beam can be a satellite beam coverage area; this beam can be a radio beam transmitted by a satellite. A satellite beam coverage area can correspond to a complete cell, at least a portion of a cell, or an NR beam. In at least some technologies, all beam parameters can be configured at the cell level, resulting in inefficient operation of terminal equipment. For example, a satellite may have power limitations that prevent it from simultaneously enabling communication with multiple (e.g., all) satellite beams associated with it. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to one aspect, an apparatus is provided, comprising: at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least perform: receiving configuration information from a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or resource configuration for one or more resources of a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam. The apparatus is further configured to: determine, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determine that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication. The apparatus is further configured to: based on the determination, monitor one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

[0004] In the example embodiment, the determination further includes: determining one or more start points of one or more corresponding random access response windows. A corresponding duration in one or more durations may be defined by a corresponding start point in one or more start points and a corresponding end point in one or more end points. The configuration information may also include: information indicating one or more sharing factors between corresponding beams. In the example embodiment, determining that one or more search spaces in a corresponding search space are invalid is also based on the fact that one or more search spaces in a corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device. The terminal device in the example embodiment receives configuration information from the network device.

[0005] In another aspect, a method is provided, comprising: receiving configuration information by a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or one or more resource configurations for a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam. The method further comprises: determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determining that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication. The method further comprises: based on the determination, monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

[0006] In an example embodiment, the determination further includes: determining one or more start points of one or more corresponding random access response windows. A corresponding duration in one or more durations may be defined by a corresponding start point in one or more start points and a corresponding end point in one or more end points. The configuration information may also include information indicating one or more sharing factors between corresponding beams. The method in the example embodiment further includes: determining that one or more search spaces in a corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of a corresponding beam associated with a terminal device. The method may also include: receiving configuration information from a network device.

[0007] In another aspect, an apparatus is provided, comprising: a component for receiving configuration information by a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or one or more resource configurations for a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam. The apparatus further comprises: a component for determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determining that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication. The apparatus further comprises: a component for, based on the determination, monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

[0008] In the example embodiment, the determining component further includes: a component for determining one or more start points of one or more corresponding random access response windows. The corresponding duration of one or more durations may be defined by a corresponding start point of one or more start points and a corresponding end point of one or more end points. The configuration information may also include: information indicating one or more sharing factors between corresponding beams. The apparatus of the example embodiment further includes: a component for determining that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device. The apparatus may also include: a component for receiving configuration information from the network device.

[0009] In another aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is provided, comprising computer instructions that, when executed by a device, cause the device to at least: receive configuration information from a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or one or more resource configurations for a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam. When executed by the device, the computer instructions also cause the device to: determine, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determine that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication, and based on the determination, monitor one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of one or more other configured search spaces.

[0010] In the example embodiment, the determination further includes: determining one or more start points of one or more corresponding random access response windows. A corresponding duration of one or more durations may be defined by a corresponding start point of one or more start points and a corresponding end point of one or more end points. The configuration information may also include information indicating one or more sharing factors between corresponding beams. When executed by the device, the computer instructions further cause the device of the example embodiment to determine that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device. When executed by the device, the computer instructions may cause the device to receive configuration information from the network device. Attached Figure Description

[0011] In the following description, certain embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0012] Figure 1 Examples of communication networks to which the examples disclosed herein can be applied are shown;

[0013] Figure 2 Examples of cells with various beams are shown;

[0014] Figure 3 Examples of cells with various beams are shown;

[0015] Figure 4 Examples of cells with various beams are shown;

[0016] Figure 5 Examples of cells with various beams are shown;

[0017] Figure 6 An example of a method according to an example embodiment is shown;

[0018] Figure 7An example of a method according to another example embodiment is shown;

[0019] Figure 8 An example of a method according to another example embodiment is shown; and

[0020] Figure 9 An example of a configurable device according to an example embodiment is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The following embodiments are exemplary. Although this specification may refer to "a," "an," or "some" embodiments in various places throughout the text, this does not necessarily mean that each reference is for the same embodiment(s), or that a particular feature applies only to a single embodiment. Individual features of different embodiments may also be combined to provide other embodiments. Furthermore, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, the application of such a feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with the embodiment (whether explicitly described or not) is within the knowledge of those skilled in the art. It should be understood that although the terms "first," "second," and / or similar terms may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another.

[0022] For the purposes of this disclosure, the phrases "at least one of A or B", "at least one of A and B", and "A and / or B" mean (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of this disclosure, the phrases "A, B, and / or C" mean (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B, and C).

[0023] Some of the described embodiments can be implemented in a communication network, such as any of the following radio access technologies (RATs): Global Microwave Access Interoperability (WiMAX), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM, 2G), GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System based on Basic Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) (UMTS, 3G), High-Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced, and Enhanced LTE (eLTE), 5G (also known as NR), or any future RAT, such as 6G. Furthermore, communication within the communication network can utilize any suitable wireless communication technology, including but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM), and / or Discrete Fourier Transform Extended OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM).

[0024] As used herein, the term "network device" or "network node" refers to a node in a communication network through which user equipment can access the network and / or through which the node can control radio communications and manage radio resources within the cell. A network node or network device may be referred to as a base station (BS), access point (AP), or access node. Network devices can be, depending on the technology applied, such as Node B (NodeB or NB), evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB), NR NB (also known as gNB), Remote Radio Unit (RRU), Radio Header Terminal (RH), Remote Radio Header Terminal (RRH), relay, Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, low-power node, non-terrestrial network (NTN), or non-terrestrial network equipment such as satellite network equipment, low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites and geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites, or spacecraft network equipment.

[0025] Furthermore, in a separated Radio Access Network (RAN) connection, network devices can refer to a Central Unit (CU) or a base station and / or a Distribution Unit (DU) of a base station. The interface between the CU and the DU may be referred to as the F1 interface in NR. In a separated RAN architecture, node operations can be performed at least partially in a central / centralized unit (CU) (e.g., a server, host, or node) that is operatively coupled to a DU (e.g., a radio headend / node). A CU can control one or more DUs, at least acting as a transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) node. In some embodiments, a DU may include, for example, a Radio Link Control (RLC), a Media Access Control (MAC) layer, and a Physical (PHY) layer, while a CU may include layers above the RLC layer, such as a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Radio Resource Control (RRC), and an Internet Protocol (IP) layer. Other functional separations are also possible. In practice, any processing task can be performed in a CU or a DU, and the boundary of responsibility transfer between the CU and the DU can depend on the implementation applied.

[0026] The term "terminal device" refers to any terminal device capable of wireless communication. As examples, a terminal device can refer to a communication device, user equipment (UE), subscriber station (SS), or mobile station (MS). Terminal devices can include: mobile phones, cellular phones, smartphones, Voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, tablets, wearable terminal devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computers, desktop computers, image acquisition terminal devices (such as digital cameras), gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback devices, in-vehicle wireless terminal devices, USB dongles, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, watches or other wearable devices, head-mounted displays (HMDs), vehicles, drones, medical devices and applications (e.g., remote surgery), industrial devices and applications (e.g., robots and / or other wireless devices operating in industrial and / or automated processing chain environments), consumer electronics devices, devices operating on commercial and / or industrial networks, and / or similar devices.

[0027] As used herein, the term "resource" can refer to radio resources in the time domain, frequency domain, spatial domain, and / or code domain. Some examples of resources include, for example, physical resource blocks (PRBs), radio frames, subframes, time slots, subbands, frequency regions, subcarriers, beams, and / or similar resources. The terms "transmit" and / or "receive" can refer to wireless transmission and / or reception via a radio propagation channel on a radio resource.

[0028] Figure 1 The illustration shows an example of a communication network to which the examples disclosed herein can be applied. The communication network, or cellular communication network, may include a network node 110 providing one or more cells (such as cell 100) and a network node 112 providing one or more other cells (such as cell 102). For example, each cell may be, for example, a macro cell, micro cell, femtocell, or picocell. A cell may define the coverage area or service area of ​​a corresponding access node.

[0029] Network node 110 can provide radio access to a communication network to user equipment (UE) 120 (one or more UEs). Radio access may include downlink (DL) communication from the network node to UE 120 and uplink (UL) communication from UE 120 to the network node. Examples of uplink channels include a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) for transmitting control information and a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) for transmitting data to the network. Examples of downlink channels include a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for transmitting control information and a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) for transmitting data to the user equipment.

[0030] Multiple UEs 120 and 122 can exist in the system. Each UE can be served by the same or different network nodes 110 and 112. UEs can be configured with dual connectivity (DC), where a UE (e.g., UE 120) can be connected to multiple network nodes 110 and 112. They can communicate with each other when a device-to-device (D2D) communication interface is established between UEs 120 and 122 via a so-called side link (SL). This D2D communication can be referred to as, for example, machine-to-machine, peer-to-peer (P2P) communication, or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication.

[0031] In a communication network with multiple network nodes, these nodes can connect to each other via interfaces. The LTE specification refers to this interface as the X2 interface. The interface between an LTE node and a 5G node, or between two 5G nodes, can be called the Xn interface.

[0032] Network nodes 110 and 112 can also be connected to the core network 116 of the communication network via another interface. The LTE specification designates the core network as the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), and the core network may include, for example, a Mobility Management Entity (MME) and gateway nodes. The MME can handle the mobility of terminal devices in a tracking area containing multiple cells and handle signaling connections between the terminal devices and the core network. Gateway nodes can handle data routing in the core network and to / from terminal devices. The 5G specification designates the core network as the 5G Core (5GC). The 5G Core may include, for example, Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMF) and User Plane Functions / Gateways (UPF), as well as other functions. The AMF can handle the termination of Non-Access Stratum (NAS) signaling, NAS encryption and integrity protection, registration management, connection management, mobility management, access authentication and authorization, security context management, and / or similar functions. For example, a UPF node can support packet routing and forwarding, packet inspection, and Quality of Service (QoS) processing.

[0033] In at least some technologies, the terminal device assumes that all control resource sets (CORESET) and / or search spaces of a beam are available, e.g., at the cell level. Some satellites experience power limitations, which, for example, can prevent them from simultaneously enabling communication in multiple (e.g., all) of their satellite beams. To at least partially address these and other issues, solutions have been proposed for configuring random access (RA) response (RAR) windows, more specifically, for downlink (DL) coverage enhancement, e.g., in NTN. In some embodiments, the network device (e.g., a satellite) can be configured to determine which search spaces are outside of active periods. In some embodiments, the network device can indicate to the terminal device the duration of a corresponding beam and / or its configuration (e.g., its (multiple) start points and / or (multiple) end points). In various embodiments, the network device can provide the terminal device with information related to a corresponding sharing factor (e.g., included in information indicating the duration of the corresponding available search space). In some embodiments, the terminal device can identify the presence of search spaces active in various beams (e.g., including beams outside the beam where the terminal device is located). The terminal device can determine that one or more search spaces are invalid (e.g., those search spaces associated with other beams). In various embodiments, the search spaces may overlap several time instance sets of the same beam. In various embodiments, the search space may be common to multiple beams. In some embodiments, the network device may utilize a dedicated set of resources for a given beam and / or utilize common resources for multiple beams to configure the terminal device.

[0034] Figure 2 Examples of cell 212 with various beams are shown. Figure 2 As shown, a representative timeline is provided illustrating the repetition of beam activity configured and / or initiated by network devices (such as satellites). This repetition may have a period of X ms (e.g., X = 160 ms). During this repetition, a wide beam (main beam 202) may be active, and one or more narrow beams (beams 202, 204, 206, and 208) may be active. The individual beams may be active sequentially. Figure 2 As shown, cell 212 includes beams 202, 204, 206, and 208. In Figure 2In the example, cell 212 (which may be an NR cell) can be broadcast via a wide beam with a large coverage area. The main beam 200 may carry multiple master information blocks (MIBs), system information blocks (SIBs), reference signals (RS), and / or other information for use by a terminal device (e.g., a UE) to perform a search for and / or (re)selection of cell 212. The terminal device can acquire any information carried by the main beam 200. In some embodiments, the terminal device in "connected mode" can be reassigned to resources covered by one or more narrow beams.

[0035] Figure 3 It shows Figure 2 Examples of cells with various search spaces. A satellite can be configured with multiple search spaces, such as search space 300 (corresponding to beam 202) and search space 302 (corresponding to beam 304). In various embodiments, the satellite can be configured with multiple potential CORESETs, search spaces, and the duration of each search space. For a given time period / repetition (e.g., repetition over X ms), the satellite can dynamically change the configuration of the corresponding beam. For example, the satellite can use a bitmap pointing to various configurations to indicate changes in configuration.

[0036] Figure 4 It shows Figure 2 The community provides examples of various search spaces. Figure 4 In this example, the network device is configured with one or more dedicated search spaces 300, one or more common search spaces 400, or both (e.g., multiple beams shared). In this example, the terminal device can monitor random access responses in one or more dedicated search spaces 300, one or more common search spaces 400, or both. Configuring one or more common search spaces 400 increases the flexibility and / or load management of the network scheduler.

[0037] For example, if a terminal device transmits random access transmissions in narrow beam 202, the terminal device can monitor random access responses in one or more dedicated search spaces 300 associated with beam 202, and / or in one or more common search spaces 400. The one or more common search spaces 400 can also be valid for terminal devices on any other beam (e.g., beam 204, beam 206, beam 208).

[0038] In some embodiments, the terminal device may be configured to monitor random access responses in a dedicated search space, a public search space, or both. In some embodiments, at least two different random access response windows may be considered. In some embodiments, the duration of the random access response window may be extended, for example, to account for monitoring of the public search space.

[0039] In some embodiments, network devices can indicate via beam resources (e.g., for each terminal device and / or for each beam) whether any public resources (e.g., a public search space) will be used, allowing terminal devices to conserve energy if the network device does not intend to use the public resources. For example, unallocated portions of the network device's transmissions can be used as flexible portions of the spectrum, which can be temporarily allocated to any one or more narrow beams (e.g., to improve the efficiency of the network device).

[0040] Figure 5 An example of network device transmission across various cells using different search spaces is shown. This transmission can span multiple cells, including cell 500, cell 502, cell 504, and cell 506. The transmission can have a total duration of Y ms (e.g., Y = 160 ms). Figure 5 In the example, network devices can configure different search spaces for different cells, instead of configuring a single search space that repeats periodically. Different search spaces... Figure 5 The search spaces are shown as search spaces 508, 510, 512, and 514.

[0041] Figure 6 An example of method 600 is shown. Method 600 can be implemented by a computer. Method 600 can be executed by a device 10 embodied by a terminal device, such as... Figure 9 The apparatus 10, as shown in block 610, may include components such as processor 12, radio interface 16, or similar components for receiving configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or resource configurations for one or more resource spaces corresponding to a corresponding random access search space. As shown in block 620, the apparatus 10 may include components such as processor 12 or similar components for determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determining that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication. As shown in block 630, the apparatus 10 may include components such as processor 12, radio interface 16, or similar components for monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of one or more configured other search spaces, based on the determination.

[0042] Figure 7 An example of method 700 is shown. Method 700 can be implemented by a computer. Method 700 can be executed by means 10 embodied by a terminal device, such as the following regarding... Figure 9 The described apparatus 10. As shown in block 710, apparatus 10 may include components, such as processor 12, radio interface 16, or similar components, for receiving configuration information including: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; one or more start points defining a corresponding search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; one or more end points defining the corresponding search space; and one or more dedicated search spaces for each corresponding beam, one or more common search spaces for the corresponding beam, or both one or more dedicated search spaces and one or more common search spaces. As shown in block 720, apparatus 10 may include components, such as processor 12, or similar components, for determining, based on the configuration information, to monitor one or more dedicated search spaces, one or more common search spaces, or both one or more dedicated search spaces and one or more common search spaces. As shown in block 730, apparatus 10 may include components, such as processor 12, radio interface 16, or similar components, for determining, to monitor one or more dedicated search spaces, one or more common search spaces, or both one or more dedicated search spaces and one or more common search spaces.

[0043] Figure 8 An example of method 800 is shown. Method 800 can be implemented by a computer. Method 800 can be executed by a device embodied by a terminal device, such as... Figure 9 The device 10. As shown in block 810, the device 10 may include components, such as processor 12, radio interface 16, or similar components, for receiving configuration information, which includes which search space among a plurality of search spaces is associated with which corresponding beam. As shown in block 820, the device 10 may include components, such as processor 12, or similar components, for determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces among the plurality of search spaces are invalid, and determining that one or more other search spaces among the plurality of search spaces will be used for communication. As shown in block 830, the device 10 may include components, such as processor 12, radio interface 16, or similar components, for monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of one or more configured other search spaces, based on the determination.

[0044] Figure 9A block diagram of apparatus 10 is shown by way of example. Apparatus 10 includes, for example, at least one processor 12 and at least one memory 14 storing instructions 15, which, when executed by at least one processor 12, cause apparatus 10 to perform at least one or more methods and any embodiments thereof disclosed herein. In the example, at least one memory 14 and instructions 15 (e.g., computer programs, code, software, and / or the like) are configured, together with at least one processor 12, to cause apparatus 10 to perform one or more methods as disclosed herein (such as regarding...). Figures 6-8 The method and any of its embodiments.

[0045] Processor 12 may include, or be configured as, one or more circuit systems configured to perform stages of the methods according to certain example embodiments described herein. As used herein, the term “circuit system” may refer to one or more of the following: (a) a hardware circuit implementation only, such as an implementation of an analog and / or digital circuit system only; and (b) a combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (if applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or multiple digital hardware circuitry with software / firmware; and (ii) any portion of multiple hardware processors (including multiple digital signal processors), software, and multiple memories having software, which work together to enable a device (such as a mobile phone or server) to perform various functions; and (c) multiple hardware circuitry and / or multiple processors, such as multiple microprocessors or portions thereof, which require software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but may be absent when software is not required for operation. This definition of circuit system applies to all uses of the term herein, including in any claim. As another example, as used herein, the term "circuit system" also encompasses only hardware circuitry or a processor (or multiple processors) or portions thereof, and their accompanying software and / or firmware implementations. For instance, if applicable to certain claim elements, the term "circuit system" also encompasses baseband integrated circuits or processor integrated circuits for mobile devices, or similar integrated circuits in servers, cellular network devices, or other computing or network devices.

[0046] The memory 14 can be implemented using any suitable data storage technology. The memory may include a database for storing data. The memory 14 may be at least partially external to the device 10, but may be accessible to the device 10.

[0047] Instruction 15 may be included in a computer-readable medium or a non-transitory computer-readable medium. As used herein, the term “non-transitory” refers to a limitation on the medium itself (e.g., tangible, not signaling), rather than a limitation on the persistence of data storage (e.g., random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM)).

[0048] For example, device 10 is a terminal device, such as Figure 9 The UE. As another example, a device is included in such a terminal device, for example, as a chipset configured to control the terminal device. Device 10 can be made or configured to at least perform Figures 6-8 The method and / or any one or more embodiments described in the examples.

[0049] As another example, device 10 is a network node, for example, Figure 1 A network node. In another embodiment, the device is included in such a network node, for example, as a chipset configured to control the network node. The device 10 can be made or configured to at least perform Figures 6-8 The methods and / or any one or more embodiments described herein.

[0050] The apparatus may include one or more entities of any protocol layer, such as a MAC entity, RRC entity, RLC entity, PDCP entity, PHY entity, and / or similar entities. In some embodiments, the entities are configured to at least perform Figures 6-8 The method and / or any one or more embodiments described in the examples.

[0051] Device 10 includes a radio interface 16. Radio interface 16 can provide communication capabilities to device 10. Radio interface 16 may include a receiver configured to receive information according to at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Radio interface 16 may include a transmitter configured to transmit information according to at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Receivers may include more than one receiver. Transmitters may include more than one transmitter. Radio interface 16 may include a transceiver configured to receive and transmit information according to at least one cellular or non-cellular standard. Transceivers may include more than one transceiver.

[0052] Device 10 may include a user interface 18, which includes at least one of, for example, a keyboard, microphone, touch display, monitor, speaker, and / or the like. User interface 18 can be used to control the device by a user. User interface 18 may be external to device 10. For example, device 10 may be connected to another device (such as a computer) via a wireless or wired connection, and device 10 may be controlled by a user via the computer.

[0053] In embodiments, at least some of the processes described herein may be performed by means including components for performing at least some of the processes described herein. Components for performing the methods disclosed herein may include software and / or hardware components of means 10. For example, at least one processor 12, memory 14, and instructions 15 (e.g., computer program code) form components for performing one or more methods disclosed herein and any embodiments thereof. As used herein, the term “component” should be interpreted as either singular (e.g., referring to a single element) or plural (e.g., referring to a combination of single elements). Thus, the term “component for [performing A, B, C]” should be interpreted to encompass means in which only one component for performing A, B, and C is present, or means in which separate components for performing A, B, and C are present, or components for performing A, B, and C partially or completely overlap. Furthermore, the terms "component for performing A, component for performing B, component for performing C" should be interpreted as encompassing an apparatus in which only one component for performing A, B, and C exists, or an apparatus in which separate components for performing A, B, and C exist, or components for performing A, B, and C partially or completely overlap.

[0054] Although certain embodiments have been described above with reference to examples in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is apparent that this disclosure is not limited thereto, but can be modified in various ways within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, all terms and expressions should be interpreted broadly and are intended to illustrate rather than limit the embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the concepts of the invention can be implemented in various ways as technology advances. Furthermore, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the described embodiments can, but must, be combined with other embodiments in various ways.

[0055] As explained above and repeated below, this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following example implementations.

[0056] Clause 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to at least: receive configuration information from a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or resource configurations for one or more resource spaces corresponding to a corresponding random access search space; based on the configuration information, determine that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determine that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; and based on the determination, monitor one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

[0057] Clause 2. The apparatus according to Clause 1, wherein determining further includes: determining one or more starting points of one or more corresponding random access response windows.

[0058] Clause 3. An apparatus according to any one of Clauses 1 or 2, wherein a respective duration of one or more durations is defined by a respective start point of one or more start points and a respective end point of one or more end points.

[0059] Clause 4. The apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the configuration information further includes: information indicating one or more sharing factors between the respective beams.

[0060] Clause 5. The apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein determining that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid is also based on: one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space being outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device.

[0061] Clause 6. An apparatus according to any of the preceding clauses, wherein the terminal device receives configuration information from the network device.

[0062] Clause 7. A method comprising: receiving configuration information by a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or one or more resource configurations for a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determining that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; and based on the determination, monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

[0063] Clause 8. The method according to Clause 7, wherein determining further includes: determining one or more starting points of one or more corresponding random access response windows.

[0064] Clause 9. The method according to any one of Clauses 7 or 8, wherein the corresponding duration of one or more durations is defined by the corresponding start point of one or more start points and the corresponding end point of one or more end points.

[0065] Clause 10. The method according to any one of Clauses 7 to 9, wherein the configuration information further includes: information indicating one or more sharing factors between the respective beams.

[0066] Clause 11. The method according to any one of Clauses 7 to 10 further includes: determining that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device.

[0067] Clause 12. The method according to any one of Clauses 7 to 11 further includes: receiving configuration information from the network device.

[0068] Clause 13. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving configuration information by a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or one or more resource configurations for a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; means for determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determining that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; and means for monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces, based on the determination.

[0069] Clause 14. The apparatus according to Clause 13 further includes components for performing the method according to any one of Clauses 8 to 12.

[0070] Clause 15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to at least: receive configuration information by a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: one or more durations of a corresponding beam; or configuration of one or more resources for a corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; based on the configuration information, determine that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and determine that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; and based on the determination, monitor one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows of the configured one or more other search spaces.

[0071] Clause 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium pursuant to Clause 15, wherein computer instructions, when executed by a device, cause the device to perform at least the method pursuant to any one of Clauses 8 to 12.

Claims

1. A device for communication, comprising: At least one processor; as well as At least one memory stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the device to perform at least the following: The terminal device receives configuration information, which includes at least one of the following: One or more durations of the corresponding beam; or One or more resource configurations for the corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; Based on the configuration information, it is determined that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and it is determined that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; as well as Based on the determination, one or more random access responses are monitored during one or more corresponding random access response windows in the configured one or more other search spaces.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determination further comprises: Determine one or more starting points for one or more corresponding random access response windows.

3. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the respective duration of the one or more durations is defined by a respective start point of the one or more start points and a respective end point of the one or more end points.

4. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the configuration information further includes: Information indicating one or more shared factors between the respective beams.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the determination that the one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid is also based on: the one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device.

6. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the terminal device receives the configuration information from the network device.

7. A method for communication, comprising: The terminal device receives configuration information, which includes at least one of the following: One or more durations of the corresponding beam; or One or more resource configurations for the corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; Based on the configuration information, it is determined that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and it is determined that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; as well as Based on the determination, one or more random access responses are monitored during one or more corresponding random access response windows in the configured one or more other search spaces.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the determination further comprises: Determine one or more starting points for one or more corresponding random access response windows.

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, further comprising: Determine that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are outside one or more activity periods of the corresponding beam associated with the terminal device.

10. An apparatus for communication, comprising: A component for receiving configuration information by a terminal device, the configuration information including at least one of the following: One or more durations of the corresponding beam; or One or more resource configurations for the corresponding random access search space corresponding to the corresponding beam; A component for determining, based on the configuration information, that one or more search spaces in the corresponding search space are invalid, and that one or more other search spaces in the corresponding search space are configured for communication; as well as A component for monitoring one or more random access responses during one or more corresponding random access response windows in one or more configured other search spaces, based on the determination.

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