Power control for aggregated wireless transmit / receive units

Abstract

Procedures, methods, architectures, apparatuses, systems, devices, and computer program products for power control for wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, aggregation. A WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, receives information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs, determines, for at least one of the first WTRU and at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, a respective power adjustment amount based on the information indicative of transmission power availability, and sends, to a second WTRU of the at least one second WTRU for which a non-zero power adjustment amount has been determined, the non-zero power adjustment amount corresponding to the second WTRU.

Description

METHODS, ARCHITECTURES, APPARATUSES AND SYSTEMS FOR POWER CONTROL FOR AGGREGATED WIRELESS TRANSMIT / RECEIVE UNITSCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 556,989, filed February 23, 2024, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure is generally directed to the fields of communications, software and encoding, including, for example, to methods, architectures, apparatuses, systems directed to power control for aggregated wireless transmit / receive units (WTRUs).SUMMARY

[0003] In a first aspect, the present principles are directed to a method at a wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the method comprising receiving information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs, determining, for at least one of the first WTRU and at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, a respective power adjustment amount based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability, and sending, to a (e.g., each) second WTRU of the at least one second WTRU for which a non-zero power adjustment amount has been determined, the non-zero power adjustment amount corresponding to the second WTRU.

[0004] In embodiments, the method comprises receiving, from at least one second WTRU, respective information indicative of transmission power availability.

[0005] In embodiments, the information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs is received from a base station.

[0006] In embodiments, the method comprises, in case a non-zero power adjustment value has been determined for the first WTRU, adjusting a transmission power of the first WTRU according to the power adjustment value, and transmitting, using the adjusted transmission power, information to the base station.

[0007] In a second aspect, the present principles are directed to a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated further WTRUs, determine, for at least one of the first WTRU and at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, a respective power adjustment amount based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability, and send, to a (e.g., each) second WTRU of the at least one second WTRU for whicha non-zero power adjustment amount has been determined, the non-zero power adjustment amount corresponding to the second WTRU.

[0008] In embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to receive, from at least one second WTRU, respective information indicative of transmission power availability.

[0009] In embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to receive the information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs is received from a base station.

[0010] In embodiments, the at least one processor is configured to, in case a non-zero power adjustment value has been determined for the first WTRU, adjust a transmission power of the first WTRU according to the power adjustment value, and transmit, using the adjusted transmission power, information to the base station.

[0011] In a third aspect, the present principles are directed to a method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated further WTRUs, the method comprising receiving a resource grant for an aggregated uplink transmission, receiving transmission power information from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, determining a transmission power of the first WTRU based on an expected received power at a base station receiving the aggregated WTRU uplink transmission, and on the received transmission power information, and performing the aggregated uplink transmission using the determined transmission power.

[0012] In embodiments, the transmission power is further determined based on a pathloss to the base station.

[0013] In a fourth aspect, the present principles are directed to a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to receive a resource grant for an aggregated uplink transmission, receive transmission power information from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, determine a transmission power of the first WTRU based on an expected received power at a base station receiving the aggregated WTRU uplink transmission, and on the received transmission power information, and perform the aggregated uplink transmission using the determined transmission power.

[0014] In embodiments, the transmission power is further determined based on a pathloss to the base station.

[0015] In a fifth aspect, the present principles are directed to a method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the method comprising receiving, from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, respective informationindicative of transmission power availability, determining a transmission power availability for the first WTRU based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability, determining a group transmission power availability for the group of aggregated WTRUs based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability, and in case at least one of the transmission power availabilities and the group transmission power availability satisfies a condition, transmitting to a network information indicative of at least one of the transmission power availability of the first WTRU, transmission power availability of the at least one second WTRU, and the group transmission power availability.

[0016] In a sixth aspect, the present principles are directed to a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to receive, from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, respective information indicative of transmission power availability, determine a transmission power availability for the first WTRU based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability, determine a group transmission power availability for the group of aggregated WTRUs based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability, and in case at least one of the transmission power availabilities and the group transmission power availability satisfies a condition, transmit to a network information indicative of at least one of the transmission power availability of the first WTRU, respective transmission power availability of the at least one second WTRU, and the group transmission power availability.

[0017] In a seventh aspect, the present principles are directed to a method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the method comprising receiving a resource grant for uplink transmission, and performing the uplink transmission using a first set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is part of a WTRU aggregated transmission and a second set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is not part of the WTRU aggregated transmission.

[0018] In an eighth aspect, the present principles are directed to a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to receive a resource grant for uplink transmission, and perform the uplink transmission using a first set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is part of a WTRU aggregated transmission and a second set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is not part of the WTRU aggregated transmission.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] A more detailed understanding may be had from the detailed description below, given by way of example in conjunction with drawings appended hereto. Figures in such drawings, like thedetailed description, are examples. As such, the Figures (FIGs.) and the detailed description are not to be considered limiting, and other equally effective examples are possible and likely. Furthermore, like reference numerals ("ref.") in the FIGs. indicate like elements, and wherein:

[0020] FIG. 1 A is a system diagram illustrating an example communications system;

[0021] FIG. IB is a system diagram illustrating an example wireless transmit / receive unit (WTRU) that may be used within the communications system illustrated in FIG. 1 A;

[0022] FIG. 1C is a system diagram illustrating an example radio access network (RAN) and an example core network (CN) that may be used within the communications system illustrated in FIG. 1A;

[0023] FIG. ID is a system diagram illustrating a further example RAN and a further example CN that may be used within the communications system illustrated in FIG. 1 A;

[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a first example environment with a set of aggregated user equipment (UEs) and a base station (e.g., a gNode-B (gNB));

[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a second example environment with a set of aggregated UEs and a base station (e.g., a gNB);

[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates a method for Open Loop Power Control (OLCP) for UE aggregation according to an embodiment of the present principles;

[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for determination of transmission parameters according to an embodiment of the present principles;

[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for Close-Loop Power Control (CLPC) for UE aggregation according to an embodiment of the present principles; and

[0029] FIG. 7 illustrates a method for PHR reporting for UE aggregation group according to an embodiment of the present principles.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments and / or examples disclosed herein. However, it will be understood that such embodiments and examples may be practiced without some or all of the specific details set forth herein. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail, so as not to obscure the following description. Further, embodiments and examples not specifically described herein may be practiced in lieu of, or in combination with, the embodiments and other examples described, disclosed or otherwise provided explicitly, implicitly and / or inherently (collectively "provided") herein. Although various embodiments are described and / or claimed herein in which an apparatus, system, device, etc. and / or any element thereof carries out an operation, process, algorithm, function, etc. and / or anyportion thereof, it is to be understood that any embodiments described and / or claimed herein assume that any apparatus, system, device, etc. and / or any element thereof is configured to carry out any operation, process, algorithm, function, etc. and / or any portion thereof.

[0031] Example Communications System

[0032] The methods, apparatuses and systems provided herein are well-suited for communications involving both wired and wireless networks. An overview of various types of wireless devices and infrastructure is provided with respect to FIGs. 1A-1D, where various elements of the network may utilize, perform, be arranged in accordance with and / or be adapted and / or configured for the methods, apparatuses and systems provided herein.

[0033] FIG. 1A is a system diagram illustrating an example communications system 100 in which one or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. The communications system 100 may be a multiple access system that provides content, such as voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc., to multiple wireless users. The communications system 100 may enable multiple wireless users to access such content through the sharing of system resources, including wireless bandwidth. For example, the communications systems 100 may employ one or more channel access methods, such as code division multiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), singlecarrier FDMA (SC-FDMA), zero-tail (ZT) unique-word (UW) discreet Fourier transform (DFT) spread OFDM (ZT UW DTS-s OFDM), unique word OFDM (UW-OFDM), resource block- filtered OFDM, filter bank multicarrier (FBMC), and the like.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 1A, the communications system 100 may include wireless transmit / receive units (WTRUs) 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, a radio access network (RAN) 104 / 113, a core network (CN) 106 / 115, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110, and other networks 112, though it will be appreciated that the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number of WTRUs, base stations, networks, and / or network elements. Each of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may be any type of device configured to operate and / or communicate in a wireless environment. By way of example, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, any of which may be referred to as a "station" and / or a "STA", may be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals and may include (or be) a user equipment (UE), a mobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a subscription-based unit, a pager, a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a laptop, a netbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor, a hotspot or Mi- Fi device, an Internet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / oran automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. Any of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and 102d may be interchangeably referred to as a UE.

[0035] The communications systems 100 may also include a base station 114a and / or a base station 114b. Each of the base stations 114a, 114b may be any type of device configured to wirelessly interface with at least one of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, e.g., to facilitate access to one or more communication networks, such as the CN 106 / 115, the Internet 110, and / or the networks 112. By way of example, the base stations 114a, 114b may be any of a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node-B (NB), an eNode-B (eNB), a Home Node-B (HNB), a Home eNode-B (HeNB), a gNode-B (gNB), a NR Node-B (NR NB), a site controller, an access point (AP), a wireless router, and the like. While the base stations 114a, 114b are each depicted as a single element, it will be appreciated that the base stations 114a, 114b may include any number of interconnected base stations and / or network elements.

[0036] The base station 114a may be part of the RAN 104 / 113, which may also include other base stations and / or network elements (not shown), such as a base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), relay nodes, etc. The base station 114a and / or the base station 114b may be configured to transmit and / or receive wireless signals on one or more carrier frequencies, which may be referred to as a cell (not shown). These frequencies may be in licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or a combination of licensed and unlicensed spectrum. A cell may provide coverage for a wireless service to a specific geographical area that may be relatively fixed or that may change over time. The cell may further be divided into cell sectors. For example, the cell associated with the base station 114a may be divided into three sectors. Thus, in an embodiment, the base station 114a may include three transceivers, i.e., one for each sector of the cell. In an embodiment, the base station 114a may employ multiple-input multiple output (MIMO) technology and may utilize multiple transceivers for each or any sector of the cell. For example, beamforming may be used to transmit and / or receive signals in desired spatial directions.

[0037] The base stations 114a, 114b may communicate with one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d over an air interface 116, which may be any suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF), microwave, centimeter wave, micrometer wave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, etc.). The air interface 116 may be established using any suitable radio access technology (RAT).

[0038] More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may be a multiple access system and may employ one or more channel access schemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and the like. For example, the base station 114a in the RAN 104 / 113and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), which may establish the air interface 116 using wideband CDMA (WCDMA). WCDMA may include communication protocols such as High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) and / or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and / or High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).

[0039] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface 116 using Long Term Evolution (LTE) and / or LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) and / or LTE-Advanced Pro (LTE-A Pro).

[0040] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement a radio technology such as NR Radio Access, which may establish the air interface 116 using New Radio (NR).

[0041] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement multiple radio access technologies. For example, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement LTE radio access and NR radio access together, for instance using dual connectivity (DC) principles. Thus, the air interface utilized by WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be characterized by multiple types of radio access technologies and / or transmissions sent to / from multiple types of base stations (e.g., an eNB and a gNB).

[0042] In an embodiment, the base station 114a and the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (i.e., Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (i.e., Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000, CDMA2000 IX, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), Interim Standard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), and the like.

[0043] The base station 114b in FIG. 1 A may be a wireless router, Home Node-B, Home eNode- B, or access point, for example, and may utilize any suitable RAT for facilitating wireless connectivity in a localized area, such as a place of business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, an industrial facility, an air corridor (e.g., for use by drones), a roadway, and the like. In an embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wireless local area network (WLAN). In an embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In an embodiment, the base station 114b and the WTRUs 102c, 102d may utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000,GSM, LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR, etc.) to establish any of a small cell, picocell or femtocell. As shown in FIG. 1 A, the base station 114b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110. Thus, the base station 114b may not be required to access the Internet 110 via the CN 106 / 115.

[0044] The RAN 104 / 113 may be in communication with the CN 106 / 115, which may be any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications, and / or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services to one or more of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d. The data may have varying quality of service (QoS) requirements, such as differing throughput requirements, latency requirements, error tolerance requirements, reliability requirements, data throughput requirements, mobility requirements, and the like. The CN 106 / 115 may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-based services, pre-paid calling, Internet connectivity, video distribution, etc., and / or perform high-level security functions, such as user authentication. Although not shown in FIG. 1 A, it will be appreciated that the RAN 104 / 113 and / or the CN 106 / 115 may be in direct or indirect communication with other RANs that employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 / 113 or a different RAT. For example, in addition to being connected to the RAN 104 / 113, which may be utilizing an NR radio technology, the CN 106 / 115 may also be in communication with another RAN (not shown) employing any of a GSM, UMTS, CDMA 2000, WiMAX, E-UTRA, or Wi-Fi radio technology.

[0045] The CN 106 / 115 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and / or other networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include circuit-switched telephone networks that provide plain old telephone service (POTS). The Internet 110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks and devices that use common communication protocols, such as the transmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP) and / or the internet protocol (IP) in the TCP / IP internet protocol suite. The networks 112 may include wired and / or wireless communications networks owned and / or operated by other service providers. For example, the networks 112 may include another CN connected to one or more RANs, which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 / 114 or a different RAT.

[0046] Some or all of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d in the communications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities (e.g., the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d may include multiple transceivers for communicating with different wireless networks over different wireless links). For example, the WTRU 102c shown in FIG. 1A may be configured to communicate with the base station 114a, which may employ a cellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114b, which may employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

[0047] FIG. IB is a system diagram illustrating an example WTRU 102. As shown in FIG. IB, the WTRU 102 may include a processor 118, a transceiver 120, a transmit / receive element 122, a speaker / microphone 124, a keypad 126, a display / touchpad 128, non-removable memory 130, removable memory 132, a power source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136, and / or other elements / peripherals 138, among others. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 may include any sub-combination of the foregoing elements while remaining consistent with an embodiment.

[0048] The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purpose processor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a plurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in association with a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine, and the like. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, data processing, power control, input / output processing, and / or any other functionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wireless environment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120, which may be coupled to the transmit / receive element 122. While FIG. IB depicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separate components, it will be appreciated that the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 may be integrated together, e.g., in an electronic package or chip.

[0049] The transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signals to, or receive signals from, a base station (e.g., the base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in an embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmit and / or receive RF signals. In an embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be an emitter / detector configured to transmit and / or receive IR, UV, or visible light signals, for example. In an embodiment, the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive both RF and light signals. It will be appreciated that the transmit / receive element 122 may be configured to transmit and / or receive any combination of wireless signals.

[0050] Although the transmit / receive element 122 is depicted in FIG. IB as a single element, the WTRU 102 may include any number of transmit / receive elements 122. For example, the WTRU 102 may employ MIMO technology. Thus, in an embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include two or more transmit / receive elements 122 (e.g., multiple antennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the air interface 116.

[0051] The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate the signals that are to be transmitted by the transmit / receive element 122 and to demodulate the signals that are received by the transmit / receive element 122. As noted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities.Thus, the transceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers for enabling the WTRU 102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as NR and IEEE 802.11, for example.

[0052] The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to, and may receive user input data from, the speaker / microphone 124, the keypad 126, and / or the display / touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) display unit or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit). The processor 118 may also output user data to the speaker / microphone 124, the keypad 126, and / or the display / touchpad 128. In addition, the processor 118 may access information from, and store data in, any type of suitable memory, such as the non-removable memory 130 and / or the removable memory 132. The non-removable memory 130 may include random-access memory (RAM), readonly memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storage device. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card, and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may access information from, and store data in, memory that is not physically located on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (not shown).

[0053] The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and may be configured to distribute and / or control the power to the other components in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitable device for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 may include one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion), etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

[0054] The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which may be configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude and latitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In addition to, or in lieu of, the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU 102 may receive location information over the air interface 116 from a base station (e.g., base stations 114a, 114b) and / or determine its location based on the timing of the signals being received from two or more nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 may acquire location information by way of any suitable location-determination method while remaining consistent with an embodiment.

[0055] The processor 118 may further be coupled to other elements / peripherals 138, which may include one or more software and / or hardware modules / units that provide additional features, functionality and / or wired or wireless connectivity. For example, the elements / peripherals 138 may include an accelerometer, an e-compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera (e.g., for photographs and / or video), a universal serial bus (USB) port, a vibration device, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, a Bluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digital music player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internet browser, a virtualreality and / or augmented reality (VR / AR) device, an activity tracker, and the like. The elements / peripherals 138 may include one or more sensors, the sensors may be one or more of a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a hall effect sensor, a magnetometer, an orientation sensor, a proximity sensor, a temperature sensor, a time sensor; a geolocation sensor; an altimeter, a light sensor, a touch sensor, a magnetometer, a barometer, a gesture sensor, a biometric sensor, and / or a humidity sensor.

[0056] The WTRU 102 may include a full duplex radio for which transmission and reception of some or all of the signals (e.g., associated with particular subframes for both the uplink (e.g., for transmission) and downlink (e.g., for reception) may be concurrent and / or simultaneous. The full duplex radio may include an interference management unit to reduce and or substantially eliminate self-interference via either hardware (e.g., a choke) or signal processing via a processor (e.g., a separate processor (not shown) or via processor 118). In an embodiment, the WTRU 102 may include a half-duplex radio for which transmission and reception of some or all of the signals (e.g., associated with particular subframes for either the uplink (e.g., for transmission) or the downlink (e.g., for reception)).

[0057] FIG. 1C is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 104 and the CN 106 according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ an E-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, and 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communication with the CN 106.

[0058] The RAN 104 may include eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c, though it will be appreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNode-Bs while remaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. In an embodiment, the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may implement MIMO technology. Thus, the eNode-B 160a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to, and receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102a.

[0059] Each of the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c may be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of users in the uplink (UL) and / or downlink (DL), and the like. As shown in FIG. 1C, the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may communicate with one another over an X2 interface.

[0060] The CN 106 shown in FIG. 1C may include a mobility management entity (MME) 162, a serving gateway (SGW) 164, and a packet data network (PDN) gateway (PGW) 166. While each of the foregoing elements are depicted as part of the CN 106, it will be appreciated that any one of these elements may be owned and / or operated by an entity other than the CN operator.

[0061] The MME 162 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, and 160c in the RAN 104 via an SI interface and may serve as a control node. For example, the MME 162 may be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, bearer activation / deactivation, selecting a particular serving gateway during an initial attach of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and the like. The MME 162 may provide a control plane function for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radio technologies, such as GSM and / or WCDMA.

[0062] The SGW 164 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c in the RAN 104 via the SI interface. The SGW 164 may generally route and forward user data packets to / from the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. The SGW 164 may perform other functions, such as anchoring user planes during inter-eNode-B handovers, triggering paging when DL data is available for the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, managing and storing contexts of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, and the like.

[0063] The SGW 164 may be connected to the PGW 166, which may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to packet-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices.

[0064] The CN 106 may facilitate communications with other networks. For example, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, to facilitate communications between the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and traditional land-line communications devices. For example, the CN 106 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between the CN 106 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the CN 106 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to the other networks 112, which may include other wired and / or wireless networks that are owned and / or operated by other service providers.

[0065] Although the WTRU is described in FIGs. 1A-1D as a wireless terminal, it is contemplated that in certain representative embodiments that such a terminal may use (e.g., temporarily or permanently) wired communication interfaces with the communication network.

[0066] In representative embodiments, the other network 112 may be a WLAN.

[0067] A WLAN in infrastructure basic service set (BSS) mode may have an access point (AP) for the BSS and one or more stations (STAs) associated with the AP. The AP may have an access or an interface to a distribution system (DS) or another type of wired / wireless network that carries traffic into and / or out of the BSS. Traffic to STAs that originates from outside the BSS may arrive through the AP and may be delivered to the STAs. Traffic originating from STAs to destinations outside the BSS may be sent to the AP to be delivered to respective destinations. Traffic betweenSTAs within the BSS may be sent through the AP, for example, where the source STA may send traffic to the AP and the AP may deliver the traffic to the destination STA. The traffic between STAs within a BSS may be considered and / or referred to as peer-to-peer traffic. The peer-to-peer traffic may be sent between (e.g., directly between) the source and destination STAs with a direct link setup (DLS). In certain representative embodiments, the DLS may use an 802. l ie DLS or an 802.1 Iz tunneled DLS (TDLS). A WLAN using an Independent BSS (IBSS) mode may not have an AP, and the STAs (e.g., all of the STAs) within or using the IBSS may communicate directly with each other. The IBSS mode of communication may sometimes be referred to herein as an "ad-hoc" mode of communication.

[0068] When using the 802.1 lac infrastructure mode of operation or a similar mode of operations, the AP may transmit a beacon on a fixed channel, such as a primary channel. The primary channel may be a fixed width (e.g., 20 MHz wide bandwidth) or a dynamically set width via signaling. The primary channel may be the operating channel of the BSS and may be used by the STAs to establish a connection with the AP. In certain representative embodiments, Carrier sense multiple access with collision avoidance (CSMA / CA) may be implemented, for example in in 802.11 systems. For CSMA / CA, the STAs (e.g., every STA), including the AP, may sense the primary channel. If the primary channel is sensed / detected and / or determined to be busy by a particular STA, the particular STA may back off. One STA (e.g., only one station) may transmit at any given time in a given BSS.

[0069] High throughput (HT) STAs may use a 40 MHz wide channel for communication, for example, via a combination of the primary 20 MHz channel with an adjacent or nonadj acent 20 MHz channel to form a 40 MHz wide channel.

[0070] Very high throughput (VHT) STAs may support 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and / or 160 MHz wide channels. The 40 MHz, and / or 80 MHz, channels may be formed by combining contiguous 20 MHz channels. A 160 MHz channel may be formed by combining 8 contiguous 20 MHz channels, or by combining two non-contiguous 80 MHz channels, which may be referred to as an 80+80 configuration. For the 80+80 configuration, the data, after channel encoding, may be passed through a segment parser that may divide the data into two streams. Inverse fast fourier transform (IFFT) processing, and time domain processing, may be done on each stream separately. The streams may be mapped on to the two 80 MHz channels, and the data may be transmitted by a transmitting STA. At the receiver of the receiving STA, the above-described operation for the 80+80 configuration may be reversed, and the combined data may be sent to a medium access control (MAC) layer, entity, etc.

[0071] Sub 1 GHz modes of operation are supported by 802.1 laf and 802.11 ah. The channel operating bandwidths, and carriers, are reduced in 802.1 laf and 802.1 lah relative to those used in802.1 In, and 802.1 lac. 802.1 laf supports 5 MHz, 10 MHz and 20 MHz bandwidths in the TV white space (TVWS) spectrum, and 802.1 lah supports 1 MHz, 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, and 16 MHz bandwidths using non-TVWS spectrum. According to a representative embodiment,802.1 lah may support meter type control / machine-type communications (MTC), such as MTC devices in a macro coverage area. MTC devices may have certain capabilities, for example, limited capabilities including support for (e.g., only support for) certain and / or limited bandwidths. The MTC devices may include a battery with a battery life above a threshold (e.g., to maintain a very long battery life).

[0072] WLAN systems, which may support multiple channels, and channel bandwidths, such as802.1 In, 802.1 lac, 802.1 laf, and 802.1 lah, include a channel which may be designated as the primary channel. The primary channel may have a bandwidth equal to the largest common operating bandwidth supported by all STAs in the BSS. The bandwidth of the primary channel may be set and / or limited by a STA, from among all STAs in operating in a BSS, which supports the smallest bandwidth operating mode. In the example of 802.1 lah, the primary channel may be 1 MHz wide for STAs (e.g., MTC type devices) that support (e.g., only support) a 1 MHz mode, even if the AP, and other STAs in the BSS support 2 MHz, 4 MHz, 8 MHz, 16 MHz, and / or other channel bandwidth operating modes. Carrier sensing and / or network allocation vector (NAV) settings may depend on the status of the primary channel. If the primary channel is busy, for example, due to a STA (which supports only a 1 MHz operating mode), transmitting to the AP, the entire available frequency bands may be considered busy even though a majority of the frequency bands remains idle and may be available.

[0073] In the United States, the available frequency bands, which may be used by 802.1 lah, are from 902 MHz to 928 MHz. In Korea, the available frequency bands are from 917.5 MHz to 923.5 MHz. In Japan, the available frequency bands are from 916.5 MHz to 927.5 MHz. The total bandwidth available for 802.1 lah is 6 MHz to 26 MHz depending on the country code.

[0074] FIG. ID is a system diagram illustrating the RAN 113 and the CN 115 according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 113 may employ an NR radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 113 may also be in communication with the CN 115.

[0075] The RAN 113 may include gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c, though it will be appreciated that the RAN 113 may include any number of gNBs while remaining consistent with an embodiment. The gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with theWTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c over the air interface 116. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement MIMO technology. For example, gNBs 180a, 180b may utilize beamforming to transmit signals to and / or receive signals from the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. Thus, the gNB 180a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmit wireless signals to, and / or receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102a. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement carrier aggregation technology. For example, the gNB 180a may transmit multiple component carriers to the WTRU 102a (not shown). A subset of these component carriers may be on unlicensed spectrum while the remaining component carriers may be on licensed spectrum. In an embodiment, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may implement Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) technology. For example, WTRU 102a may receive coordinated transmissions from gNB 180a and gNB 180b (and / or gNB 180c).

[0076] The WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using transmissions associated with a scalable numerology. For example, OFDM symbol spacing and / or OFDM subcarrier spacing may vary for different transmissions, different cells, and / or different portions of the wireless transmission spectrum. The WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using subframe or transmission time intervals (TTIs) of various or scalable lengths (e.g., including a varying number of OFDM symbols and / or lasting varying lengths of absolute time).

[0077] The gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may be configured to communicate with the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c in a standalone configuration and / or a non- standalone configuration. In the standalone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c without also accessing other RANs (e.g., such as eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c). In the standalone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may utilize one or more of gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c as a mobility anchor point. In the standalone configuration, WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c using signals in an unlicensed band. In a non- standalone configuration WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may communicate with / connect to gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c while also communicating with / connecting to another RAN such as eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c. For example, WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may implement DC principles to communicate with one or more gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c and one or more eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c substantially simultaneously. In the non- standalone configuration, eNode-Bs 160a, 160b, 160c may serve as a mobility anchor for WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may provide additional coverage and / or throughput for servicing WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c.

[0078] Each of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may be associated with a particular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radio resource management decisions, handover decisions,scheduling of users in the UL and / or DL, support of network slicing, dual connectivity, interworking between NR and E-UTRA, routing of user plane data towards user plane functions (UPFs) 184a, 184b, routing of control plane information towards access and mobility management functions (AMFs) 182a, 182b, and the like. As shown in FIG. ID, the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c may communicate with one another over an Xn interface.

[0079] The CN 115 shown in FIG. ID may include at least one AMF 182a, 182b, at least one UPF 184a, 184b, at least one session management function (SMF) 183a, 183b, and at least one Data Network (DN) 185a, 185b. While each of the foregoing elements are depicted as part of the CN 115, it will be appreciated that any of these elements may be owned and / or operated by an entity other than the CN operator.

[0080] The AMF 182a, 182b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c in the RAN 113 via an N2 interface and may serve as a control node. For example, the AMF 182a, 182b may be responsible for authenticating users of the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c, support for network slicing (e.g., handling of different protocol data unit (PDU) sessions with different requirements), selecting a particular SMF 183a, 183b, management of the registration area, termination of NAS signaling, mobility management, and the like. Network slicing may be used by the AMF 182a, 182b, e.g., to customize CN support for WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c based on the types of services being utilized WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c. For example, different network slices may be established for different use cases such as services relying on ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC) access, services relying on enhanced massive mobile broadband (eMBB) access, services for MTC access, and / or the like. The AMF 162 may provide a control plane function for switching between the RAN 113 and other RANs (not shown) that employ other radio technologies, such as LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, and / or non-3GPP access technologies such as WiFi.

[0081] The SMF 183a, 183b may be connected to an AMF 182a, 182b in the CN 115 via an N11 interface. The SMF 183a, 183b may also be connected to a UPF 184a, 184b in the CN 115 via an N4 interface. The SMF 183a, 183b may select and control the UPF 184a, 184b and configure the routing of traffic through the UPF 184a, 184b. The SMF 183a, 183b may perform other functions, such as managing and allocating UE IP address, managing PDU sessions, controlling policy enforcement and QoS, providing downlink data notifications, and the like. A PDU session type may be IP -based, non-IP based, Ethernet-based, and the like.

[0082] The UPF 184a, 184b may be connected to one or more of the gNBs 180a, 180b, 180c in the RAN 113 via an N3 interface, which may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to packet-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, e.g., to facilitate communications betweenthe WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c and IP-enabled devices. The UPF 184, 184b may perform other functions, such as routing and forwarding packets, enforcing user plane policies, supporting multihomed PDU sessions, handling user plane QoS, buffering downlink packets, providing mobility anchoring, and the like.

[0083] The CN 115 may facilitate communications with other networks. For example, the CN 115 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g., an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interface between the CN 115 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the CN 115 may provide the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c with access to the other networks 112, which may include other wired and / or wireless networks that are owned and / or operated by other service providers. In an embodiment, the WTRUs 102a, 102b, 102c may be connected to a local Data Network (DN) 185a, 185b through the UPF 184a, 184b via the N3 interface to the UPF 184a, 184b and an N6 interface between the UPF 184a, 184b and the DN 185a, 185b.

[0084] In view of FIGs. 1 A-1D, and the corresponding description of FIGs. 1 A-1D, one or more, or all, of the functions described herein with regard to any of: WTRUs 102a-d, base stations 114a- b, eNode-Bs 160a-c, MME 162, SGW 164, PGW 166, gNBs 180a-c, AMFs 182a-b, UPFs 184a- b, SMFs 183a-b, DNs 185a-b, and / or any other element(s) / device(s) described herein, may be performed by one or more emulation elements / devices (not shown). The emulation devices may be one or more devices configured to emulate one or more, or all, of the functions described herein. For example, the emulation devices may be used to test other devices and / or to simulate network and / or WTRU functions.

[0085] The emulation devices may be designed to implement one or more tests of other devices in a lab environment and / or in an operator network environment. For example, the one or more emulation devices may perform the one or more, or all, functions while being fully or partially implemented and / or deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network in order to test other devices within the communication network. The one or more emulation devices may perform the one or more, or all, functions while being temporarily implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. The emulation device may be directly coupled to another device for purposes of testing and / or may performing testing using over-the-air wireless communications.

[0086] The one or more emulation devices may perform the one or more, including all, functions while not being implemented / deployed as part of a wired and / or wireless communication network. For example, the emulation devices may be utilized in a testing scenario in a testing laboratory and / or a non-deployed (e.g., testing) wired and / or wireless communication network in order to implement testing of one or more components. The one or more emulation devices may be testequipment. Direct RF coupling and / or wireless communications via RF circuitry (e.g., which may include one or more antennas) may be used by the emulation devices to transmit and / or receive data.

[0087] Application for 5G and beyond is expanding in vertical directions such as, e.g., Extended Reality (XR), industrial Internet of Things (loT), and intelligent transportation systems. The new scenarios impose new service requirements with reasonable resource and power efficiency such as such as ultra-high UL data rate, ultra-low latency, and high reliability. Some services such as XR, Virtual Reality (VR) / Augmented Reality (AR) may even require tight synchronization between data flows from different devices (e.g., gloves and glasses) running a single application layer. The conventional cellular network managing a service per UE basis may not be sufficient to guarantee the more stringent requirement of multiple devices simultaneously. To overcome such challenges, UE aggregation, in which multiple UEs collaborate for uplink transmission and downlink reception to boost the capability of the system can be considered.

[0088] Regarding UE aggregation, in release 18 (R18) of 3GPP technical specifications, multipath relay is being specified, in which a UE may connect to the network via Uu and a single U2N relay. However, in R18 multipath relay, PDCP layer aggregation is adopted, in which the UE may primarily use the Uu path for uplink transmission. An indirect path via U2N relay plays a role as a supplementary link to support uplink transmission when the amount of data in the buffer is sufficiently large. Lower layer conditions such as channel gain, transmission layer, etc., are not considered in higher layer aggregation as Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP).

[0089] For UE aggregation uplink transmission and downlink reception, it is assumed that one UE can perform uplink transmission and downlink reception with the support of one or multiple assistant UE to take advantage of UE diversity gain in transmission / reception.

[0090] For UE aggregation in a group, the network may be able to take advantage of multiple Uu links and sidelinks among UEs to route the uplink and downlink data dynamically considering different conditions such as transmission power, channel condition, QoS of the data to manage the group efficiently with an aim to guarantee the Quality of Service (QoS) / Quality of Experience (QoE) of the service.

[0091] Lower layer (e.g., MAC, PHY) aggregation allows the network to take advantage of combining gain at lower layer to boost the system's performance. Moreover, Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) / Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) can be transmitted on the same resources to reduce resource overhead and enhance UE antenna capability. As a result, decoding performance can be improved due to combining gain at lower layer. Moreover, HybridAutomatic Repeat Request (HARQ) retransmission is not needed as long as transmission on one UE succeeds, which can reduce the latency and avoid unnecessary re-transmission.

[0092] For UE aggregation, where UEs transmit using the same resources, the gNB may be unaware of the individual contribution of each UE. In such a scenario, the gNB may need to control the transmission power of multiple UEs as a group. It will be appreciated that there is a desire for a solution for power control for a group of aggregated UEs.

[0093] In addition, Power Headroom Report (PHR) of a UE, which indicates the power remaining for each transmission of a UE, is one aspect to consider for power control. For UE aggregation, the PHR for the group can be considered to facilitate the power control for the group.

[0094] In brief, a UE (e.g., source UE) may first monitor Downlink Control Information (DCI) conveying transmission power adjustment indication for the group of aggregated UEs. It then determines a transmission power adjustment value for each UE based the reported PHR of each UE, the number of UEs in the group for UE aggregation. The UE may then indicate the adjusted transmission power to member UEs.

[0095] The UE (e.g., the source UE) is configured with UE aggregation transmissions (e.g., Subframe Number (SFN)-based transmission) and a group of aggregated UEs (e.g., itself and a set of assistant UEs). The UE receives PHRs from the set of assistant UEs, monitors Transmit Power Control (TPC) DCI for a group of UEs for UE aggregation transmission, receives an indication from the network (e.g., TPC DCI) to adjust transmission power for the group. The UE then determines the amount of transmission power adjustment for itself and the set of aggregated UEs based on the number of aggregated UEs and PHR of each UE. For example, if the network requests the group of two UEs to increases transmission power of 2 dBm, each UE increases its transmission power of 1 dBm if no UE having PHR or if the assistant UE has negative PHR, the source UE increases transmission power of 2 dBm. The UE adjusts its transmission power the determined value for UE aggregation transmission and sends the determined transmission power adjustment value for the member UEs to adjust the transmission power for UE aggregation.

[0096] PDU: herein, a Protocol PDU Unit (PDU) may refer to a PDU at any protocol layer. For example, a PDU may refer to a Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) PDU, a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) PDU, a Radio Link Control (RLC) PDU, a Medium Access Control (MAC) PDU, or a Physical layer (PHY) PDU, a Transport Block (TB), a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) RV. For example, a PDU may refer to a PDU of a new adaptation layer introduced to support UE aggregation.

[0097] QoS of a PDU: herein, Quality of Service (QoS) of a PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) may refer to one or any combination of one or more the 5G QoS Identifier (5QI) parameters associated witha Resource Block (RB) / Logical Channel (LCH) and control information (e.g., MAC CE) included in the PDU such as priority, PDB, reliability (e.g., Packet Error Rate, PER), and Maximum Data Burst Volume (MDBV), and one or more configuration parameters associated with an RB / LCH included in the PDU (e.g., MAC PDU), for example, whether the RB / LCH is configured with UE aggregation enabled / disabled, the number of aggregated UEs associated with the RB / LCH, the HARQ retransmission mode associated with the RB / LCH.

[0098] QoS of a PDU consisting of multiple higher layer PDUs: herein, the QoS of a PDU consisting of multiple higher PDUs may refer to one or more of the following QoS.

[0099] The maximum / minimum of one 5QI parameter of all RB / LCH or control information (e.g., MAC CE) included in the PDU such as the maximum of the priority, the minimum of PDB, the minimum PER, the maximum MDBV.

[0100] One or more configuration parameter of an RB / LCH included in the PDU (e.g., MAC PDU), for example, whether the PDU include one RB / LCH is configured with UE aggregation enabled / disabled, the maximum number of aggregated UEs associated with one RB / LCH included in the PDU and the HARQ retransmission mode associated with one RB / LCH included in the PDU.

[0101] Type of UEs: herein, "Source UE" may refer to an initiator of a PDU to transmit to another node such as gNB or another UE, "Destination UE" may refer to an end receiver of a PDU, which may be transmitted from gNB or another UE, "Assistant UE" may refer to a UE supporting another UE (e.g., source UE or destination UE) in transmitting and receiving a PDU, "Group coordinator (GC)" may refer to a UE supporting the gNB to perform one or more functions such as scheduling for one or more UEs, which may belong to a group (e.g., group of UEs), and "Member UE" may refer to one UE in a group, which may interact with the group GC and / or other member UE to perform one or more procedures under the coordination of the group coordinator UE. A member UE may refer to one UE in a group, which coordinates with other UEs in the group to perform a group-related application.

[0102] UE aggregation: herein, "UE aggregation" may refer to a scenario in which two or more UEs transmit and / or receive a PDU for a UE. For UE aggregation transmission, two or more UEs transmit a PDU for a source UE. In this UE aggregation, the source UE may or may not be one of the transmitting UEs. For UE aggregation reception, two or more UEs may receive a PDU from gNB for a destination UE. For this UE aggregation, the destination UE may or may not be one of the receivers from the gNB.

[0103] Beam: A UE may transmit or receive a physical channel or reference signal according to at least one spatial domain filter. The term "beam" may be used to refer to a spatial domain filter used to transmit / receive signals.

[0104] The UE may transmit a physical channel or signal using the same spatial domain filter as the spatial domain filter used for receiving a Reference Signal (RS) (such as CSI-RS) or a Synchronization Signal (SS) block. The UE transmission may be referred to as "target", and the received RS or SS block may be referred to as "reference" or "source". In such case, the UE may be said to transmit the target physical channel or signal according to a spatial relation with a reference to such RS or SS block.

[0105] The UE may transmit a first physical channel or signal according to the same spatial domain filter as the spatial domain filter used for transmitting a second physical channel or signal. The first and second transmissions may be referred to as "target" and "reference" (or "source"), respectively. In such case, the UE may be said to transmit the first (target) physical channel or signal according to a spatial relation with a reference to the second (reference) physical channel or signal.

[0106] A spatial relation may be implicit, configured by RRC or signaled by MAC CE or DCI. For example, a UE may implicitly transmit PUSCH and DM-RS of PUSCH according to the same spatial domain filter as an SRS indicated by an SRS resource indicator (SRI) indicated in DCI or configured by RRC. In another example, a spatial relation may be configured by RRC for an SRI or signaled by MAC CE for a PUCCH. Such spatial relation may also be referred to as a "beam indication".

[0107] The UE may receive a first (target) downlink channel or signal according to the same spatial domain filter or spatial reception parameter as a second (reference) downlink channel or signal. For example, such an association may exist between a physical channel such as PDCCH or PDSCH and its respective DM-RS. At least when the first and second signals are reference signals, such association may exist when the UE is configured with a quasi-colocation (QCL) assumption type D between corresponding antenna ports. Such association may be configured as a Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state. A UE may be indicated an association between a CSI-RS or SS block and a Demodulation Reference Signal (DM-RS) by an index to a set of TCI states configured by RRC and / or signaled by MAC CE. Such an indication may also be referred to as a "beam indication".

[0108] Configuration: herein, the UE being "configured with" may refer to that the UE receives information indicative of a configuration from the gNB or another node (e.g., group coordinator UE). For the case that the UE receives the information indicative of a configuration from the gNB,the UE may receive information indicative of a dedicated RRC configuration or SIB from the gNB. For the case that the UE receives the information indicative of a configuration from another node, the UE may receive the information indicative of a configuration via sidelink communication (e.g., PC5 RRC, SL MAC CE, SCI).

[0109] Link quality between two nodes: herein, the radio link quality between two nodes (e.g., between a source and assistant UEs, between two assistant UEs, between the group coordinator and member UEs, between two member UEs, or between a UE and gNB) may refer to one or any combination of the ones mentioned below.

[0110] Radio Link Failure (REF) status between two nodes. For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to whether RLF is detected / declared by the evaluating node (e.g., evaluating UE).

[0111] Synchronization status between two nodes. For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to whether the evaluating node (e.g., evaluating UE) is synchronized with the peer node (e.g., gNB or the peer UE).

[0112] Beam management status between two nodes. For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to whether beam failure is detected / declared by the evaluating node (e.g., evaluating UE).

[0113] Layer 1 (LI) or Layer 3 (L3) measurements of transmission(s) between two nodes, which may include but not limited to Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Received Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RS SI), Pathloss, Block Error Rate (BLER), etc. In one approach, the LI or L3 measurement may be performed at the evaluating node (e.g., evaluating UE). In another approach, the LI or L3 measurement may be perform at the peer node (e.g., gNB) and sent to the evaluating node (e.g., evaluating UE). For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to the L3 RSRP of transmission from the peer node.

[0114] Distance between two nodes. For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to the distance between the two nodes; the UE may determine the link quality between two nodes as good if the distance between the nodes is smaller than a configured threshold and otherwise determine the link quality between two nodes as not good.

[0115] Channel busy ratio (CBR) of the resource pool used to exchange PDUs between two nodes. For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to the CBR of the resource pool used to transmit data between the source and the assistant UEs.

[0116] The transmission latency of a PDU between the two nodes. For example, the link quality between two nodes may refer to the maximum / minimum latency requirement to transmit a PDUbetween the two nodes. The link quality between two nodes may be considered as good if the latency is smaller than a configured threshold and otherwise be considered not good.

[0117] Uplink channel to transmit a PDU: herein, either the Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) or Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) may be used for transmission of a PDU. A solution described for PUSCH transmission may be applicable for PUCCH transmission and vice versa.

[0118] UE aggregation uplink transmission

[0119] A UE can perform UE aggregation uplink transmission, e.g., as will now be described.

[0120] The UE (e.g., source UE, assistant UE) may collaborate with one or more other UEs (e.g., assistant UEs) to transmit its PDU to the gNB. The set of UEs transmitting the PDU may be called a set of aggregated UEs. The PDU transmitted by the set of aggregated UEs may originate from one of the aggregated UEs or from a UE that does not belong to the set of aggregated UEs. The set of aggregated UEs may perform one or more of the following UE aggregation uplink transmission schemes.

[0121] A first scheme involves PHY layer SFN combining using the same resource. The set of aggregated UEs (e.g., source UE) may transmit the same PDU using the same resource. All UEs may use the same HARQ Redundancy Version (RV) and Modulating and Coding Scheme (MCS) to transmit in the resource. The gNB may then combine, e.g., SFN combining, the transmission of all UEs and decode the PDU. This UE aggregation scheme may be motivated to help the gNB obtain the channel diversity from all UEs transmitting in the resource.

[0122] In one example, a source UE may have one assistant UE to perform UE aggregation transmission. For this UE aggregation scheme, the source UE may receive an uplink grant for UE aggregation transmission. The source UE may forward a PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) to the assistant UE and indicate the scheduled resource for the assistant UE. The source UE may then perform transmission of the PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) in the scheduled resource. The assistant UE may receive the PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) and the uplink grant from the source UE. The assistant UE may then transmit the forwarded PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) in the indicated uplink grant to support the source UE in uplink PDU transmission. Both the source and the assistant UEs may transmit the same PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) in the same resource.

[0123] In another example, a source UE may have two assistant UEs to perform uplink transmission. In this example, the source UE may not perform uplink transmission. Instead, the source UE may forward its PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) to two assistant UEs. The source UE may indicate the resource for the two assistant UEs to transmit the PDU (e.g., MAC PDU). The two assistant UEs may transmit the PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) in the indicated resource. As a result, bothassistant UEs may transmit the same PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) from the source UE in the same resource.

[0124] A second scheme involves PHY layer SFN combining using different resources). The set of aggregated UEs may transmit the same PDU using different resources. All UEs may use the same RV and MCS to transmit the PDU in the resource.

[0125] A third scheme involves PHY layer HARQ combining. The set of aggregated UEs may transmit the same PDU in different resources. Each UE may use the same or different RV, MCS to transmit the PDU. The gNB may decode the PDU transmitted by all UEs by performing HARQ combining.

[0126] A fourth scheme involves layer 2 / layer 3 (L2 / L3) aggregation. The source UE may send its PDU (e g., PDCP PDU, RLC PDU, or MAC PDU) to the set of aggregated UEs. The source UE may be one of the aggregated UEs or a UE that does not belong to the set of aggregated UEs. The set of aggregated UEs may then transmit the PDU to the gNB in uplink. Each aggregated UE may individually transmit the PDU for the source UE without PHY coordination.

[0127] In an example, a source UE may have one assistant UE to support it in uplink transmission. The source and assistant UE may aggregate in the PDCP layer. Specifically, for each PDCP PDU with UE aggregation transmission disabled, the UE may not forward PDCP PDU to the assistant UE but may transmit the PDCP PDU by itself. Alternatively, for each PDCP PDU with UE aggregation transmission enabled, the UE may forward the PDCP PDU to the assistant UE and both the source and assistant UEs may transmit the PDCP PDU. The assistant UE may request its own uplink resource to transmit the PDCP PDU from the source UE. The assistant UE may multiplex the PDCP PDUs from multiple UEs in a PDU (e.g., MAC PDU) to transmit in a resource.

[0128] In another example, a source UE may have two assistant UEs to perform uplink transmission. The three UEs may aggregate uplink transmission in PDCP layer. The source UE may have a primary and a secondary assistant UE, in which the UE may forward the non-UE aggregation PDCP PDU to the primary assistant UE and the UE aggregation PDCP PDU to both assistant UEs. Each assistant UE may request its own uplink resource to transmit the PDCP PDU from the source UE and each assistant UE may multiplex the PDCP PDUs from multiple UEs (e.g., its own PDU and the source UEs PDU) in a PDU to transmit in a resource.

[0129] FIG. 2 illustrates a first example environment with a set of aggregated UEs and a base station (gNB). The gNB 210 has Uu interfaces with the UEs in the set of aggregated UEs 220, a source UE 230 and an assistant UE 240, between which there is a link over which the two UEs cantransmit a sufficiently large amount data to each other in a sufficiently short time. One example of such a link is wired connection between two UEs.

[0130] For PHY layer UE aggregation, the UEs may use the first scheme of UE aggregation, in which both the assistant and the source UE transmit the same PDU in the same resource using the same MCS and RV. Alternatively, the two UEs may also use the second or third scheme of UE aggregation, in which the source UE and the assistant UE may transmit the PDU using different resources.

[0131] FIG. 3 illustrates a second example environment with a set of aggregated UEs and a base station (gNB). The gNB 310 has Uu interfaces with a first assistant UE 332 and a second assistant UE 334 in the set of aggregated UEs that further includes a source UE 320. There are links (see FIG. 2) between the UEs in the set of aggregated UEs.

[0132] For PHY layer UE aggregation, the UEs may perform the first scheme of UE aggregation, in which both assistant UEs transmit the same PDU in the same resource using the same MCS, RV. Alternatively, the two assistant UEs may also perform the second or third scheme of UE aggregation, in which the assistant UEs may transmit the PDU using different resources.

[0133] Open loop power control for UE aggregation

[0134] It will be appreciated that it is desired to have a solution for Open Loop Power Control (OLPC) for UE aggregation transmission to enable the network to receive the uplink transmission with an expected received power.

[0135] In a first embodiment, the UE is configured for open loop power control. The UE (e.g., source UE) may receive (e.g., via SIB and / or RRC) configuration information for open loop power control, for example one or more of Pmax (Maximum transmission power of the UE), Pcmax (a maximum transmission for serving cell c), P0 (a nominal transmission, e.g., a nominal target received power at the receiver), and alpha (a scalar of pathloss).

[0136] In a second embodiment, the UE is configured with a plurality of sets of transmission parameters corresponding to different transmission schemes. Each set of transmission parameters may include one or more of Power control parameters (e.g., Pmax, Pcmax, P0, alpha, delta reTx), MCS, transmission beam, and RS patterns (such as Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), Phase-Tracking Reference Signal (PTRS) pattern).

[0137] Each set of transmission parameters may be used for one uplink transmission mode, in which each uplink transmission mode may be associated with one or more of an uplink transmission scheme, UE aggregation transmission scheme, the set of aggregated UEs in a UE aggregation transmission scheme, whether the UE transmits a PDU or reference signal, andwhether the UE transmits a normal Sounding Reference Signal (SRS), a SRS for positioning or a SR for sensing purposes, each of which will now be described.

[0138] Uplink transmission scheme, e.g., whether the UE is performing non-UE aggregation or UE aggregation transmission. For example, the UE may be configured with multiple sets of transmission parameters, in which the one set of transmission parameters may be associated with non-UE aggregation transmission and another set of transmission parameters may be associated with UE aggregation transmission.

[0139] UE aggregation transmission scheme. For example, the UE may be configured with multiple sets of transmission parameters for UE aggregation transmission, in which each set of transmission parameters may be associated with one UE aggregation transmission scheme. For example, the UE may be configured with one set of transmission parameters for the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using the same resource). The UE may be further configured with another set of transmission parameters for the second scheme for UE aggregation transmission (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using different resources).

[0140] The set of aggregated UEs in a UE aggregation transmission scheme. For example, the UE may be configured with the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using the same resource). The UE may then be configured with multiple sets of transmission parameters, in which each set of transmission parameters may be associated with one set of aggregated UEs. The UE may be configured with one set of transmission parameters for a first set of aggregated UEs and with another set of transmission parameters for a second set of aggregated UEs. In one example, the first set of aggregated UEs may be the source UE and the first assistant UE, and the second set of aggregated UEs may be the source UE and the second assistant UE. In another example, the first set of aggregated UEs may be the source UE and the first assistant UE and the second set of aggregated UEs may be the source UE and both the first and second assistant UEs.

[0141] Whether the UE transmits PDU or Reference- Signal (e.g., SRS, SRS for positioning). For example, the UE may be configured with multiple sets of transmission parameters, in which one set of transmission parameters may be associated with PDU transmission, and another set of transmission parameters may be associated Reference- Signal transmission.

[0142] Whether the UE transmit normal SRS, SRS for positioning, or SRS for sensing purposes. For example, the UE may be configured with multiple sets of transmission parameters, in which one set of transmission parameters may be associated with SRS transmission, another set of transmission parameters may be associated with SRS for positioning, and yet another set of transmission parameters may be associated with SRS for sensing purpose.

[0143] The UE may then determine which set of transmission parameters to use based on which its uplink transmission mode.

[0144] For example, the UE may be configured to perform either non-UE aggregation transmission or the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may be configured with two nominal target received power at the receiver (e.g., P0), in which the first P0 may be associated with non-UE aggregation transmission and the second P0 may be associated with the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may then determine which nominal target received power at the receiver to use based on which uplink transmission mode it is performing. Specifically, the UE may use the first P0 if it performs non-UE aggregation transmission and the second P0 if it performs the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission.

[0145] For example, the UE may be configured with two Pcmax, in which the first Pcmax may be associated with non-UE aggregation transmission and the second Pcmax may be associated with the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may then determine which Pcmax to use based on its uplink transmission mode. Specifically, the UE may use the first Pcmax for non-UE aggregation transmission and the second Pcmax for the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission.

[0146] For example, the UE may be configured with two transmission beams in which the first beam may be associated with the non-UE aggregation transmission mode and the second beam may be associated with the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission mode (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using the same resource). The UE may then determine which beam to use based on its uplink transmission mode. Specifically, the UE may use the first beam for non-UE aggregation transmission and the second beam for the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission.

[0147] For example, the UE may be configured with multiple DMRS patterns for its uplink transmission modes, in which a first DMRS pattern may be associated with non-UE aggregation transmission, a second DMRS pattern may be associated with the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using the same resource), and a third DMRS pattern may be associated with the second scheme for UE aggregation transmission (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using different resources). The UE may then determine which DMRS pattern to use based on its uplink transmission mode. Specifically, the UE may use the first DMRS pattern for non-UE aggregation transmission, the second DMRS pattern for the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission and the third DMRS pattern for the second scheme for UE aggregation transmission.

[0148] In a third embodiment, the UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) receives an indication regarding the link quality between another UE (e.g., a member UE, an assistant UE) and the gNB. For example, the group coordinator may receive from a member UE information indicative of pathloss (PL) between the member UE and the gNB. The source UE may receive the information indicative of pathloss from the assistant UE.

[0149] In a fourth embodiment, the UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) receives power transmission reporting from at least one UE of the set of aggregated UEs.

[0150] For example, the group coordinator may receive transmission power information from the UEs in the set of aggregated UEs. For example, the source UE may receive transmission power information from the assistant UEs in the set of aggregated UE for UE aggregation uplink transmission. In each transmission power report, the reporting UE (e.g., assistant UE, member UE) may include one or more of UE capability such as its maximum transmission power (e.g., Pmax, Pcmax), the power headroom of the UE, P0 for the assistant UE (e.g., the nominal target received power at the receiver for the assistant UE), Alpha (the scalar of pathloss), the transmission power of the UE (for example, the assistant UE may use a fixed transmission power to transmit for UE aggregation and report its transmission power to the source UE; for example, an assistant UE may use a set of open loop power control parameters (e.g., P0, alpha, Pcmax, PL, etc.) to derive its transmission power and report its transmission power to the source UE), and the link quality between the reporting UE (e.g., assistant UE, member UE) and the gNB (for example, the assistant UE may report the PL to the source UE, or a member UE may report the PL to the group coordinator).

[0151] The UE (e.g., member UE, assistant UE) may use SCI, PC5 MAC CE, and / or PC5 RRC to report its power transmission information. For example, the UE (assistant UE, member UE) may use PC5 RRC to report the UE capability (e.g., Pcmax) and may use PC5 MAC CE to report the power headroom to another UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE).

[0152] In a fifth embodiment, the UE receives configuration of open loop power control for a group of aggregated UEs. The UE may be configured for UE aggregation transmission with a set of aggregated UEs. The UE may be configured with a set of open loop power control parameters for the group of aggregated UEs. The set of open loop power control parameters may include one or more of Pmax aggregated (which may be used to indicate the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs), Pcmax aggregated (which may be used to indicate the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs for serving cell c), PO aggregated (which may be used to indicate a nominal target received power at the receiver (e.g., gNB) of the set of aggregated UEs), alpha aggregated (which may be used to indicate the scalar of pathloss used by the set ofaggregated UEs), and pathloss aggregated (which may be used by the set of aggregated UEs for open loop power control).

[0153] In a sixth embodiment, the UE derives the PL for a group of aggregated UEs. In the set of aggregated UEs, a UE (e.g., source UE) may measure the PL between itself and the gNB. The UE may then indicate its measured PL to the set of aggregated UEs to use for open loop power control. Alternatively, the source UE may measure the PL and it may then report its measured PL to the gNB. The gNB may then indicate the value of PL to be used by the group for the set of aggregated UEs. In another approach, each UE in the set of aggregated UEs may measure its own PL and uses its own PL for open loop power control of UE aggregation transmission.

[0154] In a seventh embodiment, the UE determines the open loop power control for the other UE. The UE may coordinate transmission power among the set of aggregated UEs for UE aggregation transmission (e.g., the first scheme for UE aggregation). The UE may determine the transmission power for each UE in the set of aggregated UEs. The UE may determine the transmission power for each UE such that the nominal target received power at the gNB is satisfied. Specifically, the UE may determine one or any combination of the following open loop power control parameters for each UE in the set of aggregated UEs: Pmax assistant (which may be used to indicate the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs), Pcmax assistant (which may be used to indicate the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs for serving cell c), PO assistant (which may be used to indicate a nominal target received power at the receiver (e.g., gNB) for transmission at the assistant UE), Alpha_assistant (which may be used to indicate the scalar of pathloss used by the assistant UE), Pathloss assistant (which may be used by the group of UEs for open loop power control), and P assistant (which may be used to indicate the transmission power of the assistant UE).

[0155] The source UE may determine the transmission power of each assistant UE (e.g., P assistant). The UE may determine the value of one or more open loop power control parameters for each assistant UE. The assistant UE may then use such indicated values to calculate its own transmission power. Upon determination of the one or more open loop power control parameters, the UE may then indicate these parameters to the set of aggregated UEs. The UE may use one or any combination of SCI, PC5 MAC CE, and / or PC5 RRC to convey such the power control parameter to the UEs in the set of aggregated UEs.

[0156] In an eighth embodiment, the UE determines the open loop power control for itself. The UE (e.g., source UE) may receive the transmission power information reporting from the set of assistant UEs for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may then determine its transmission power based on the nominal target received power at gNB for UE aggregation transmission(PO aggregated), the reported transmission power information of the assistant UEs, and the measured pathloss. Specifically, the UE may determine its transmission power such that the nominal target received power at gNB for UE aggregation transmission is satisfied.

[0157] FIG. 4 illustrates a method for Open Loop Power Control (OLPC) for UE aggregation according to an embodiment of the present principles. In brief, a UE (e.g., source UE) may determine its transmission power for UE aggregation based on the indicated transmission power information from assistant UEs, the configured target reception power for UE aggregation from the network, and pathloss to the gNB.

[0158] In step S402, the UE is configured with UE aggregation transmissions (e.g., SFN-based transmission), a group of aggregated UEs (e.g., itself and a set of assistant UEs), and target reception power for UE aggregation at the gNB (e.g., PO aggr egated). The UE can be preconfigured or receive information indicative of the configuration and adapt to the information.

[0159] In step S404, the UE receives a resource grant for UE aggregation-based uplink transmission.

[0160] In step S406, the UE receives transmission power information reporting from its assistant UEs for UE aggregation transmission. For example, the UE may receive the open loop power control parameters from each assistant UEs (e.g., Pcmax assistant, PO assistant, PL assistant, P assistant). For example, the UE may receive the transmission power P assistant of each assistant UE.

[0161] In step S408, the UE determines its transmission power based on the expected received power at gNB, the reported transmission power information of the assistant UEs, and measured pathloss. For example, the transmission power is calculated so the total contribution of the received power at the gNB is equal to a given (e.g., configured) value.

[0162] In step S410, the UE performs UE aggregation uplink transmission using the determined transmission power.

[0163] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for determination of transmission parameters according to an embodiment of the present principles. The transmission parameters can include one or more of power control parameters, MCS, Tx beam, and RS pattern. In brief, a UE (e.g., source UE, assistant UE) may be configured with multiple set of transmission parameters, in which each set of transmission parameters may be used by one uplink transmission mode, in which each uplink transmission mode may be associated with the uplink transmission scheme (e.g., non-UE aggregation vs. UE aggregation transmission), the UE aggregation transmission scheme (e.g., the first scheme for UE aggregation vs. the second scheme for UE aggregation), the set of aggregated UEs, and the type of uplink transmission (e.g., PDU vs. Reference- Signal), and may thendetermine the set of uplink transmission parameters to use based on its associated uplink transmission mode.

[0164] In step S502, the UE receives information indicative of a configuration of the set of UL transmission schemes and associated set of transmission parameters (e.g., transmission power, MCS, Tx beam). The UL transmission schemes may include non-UE aggregation transmission and UE aggregation transmission with one set of aggregated UEs.

[0165] In step S504, the UE is scheduled a resource for UL transmission.

[0166] In step S506, the UE transmits using the resource and determined transmission parameters. If the UE performs UE aggregation transmission, it uses the set of transmission parameters associated with UE aggregation transmission; if the UE performs non-UE aggregation transmission, it uses the set of transmission parameters associated with non-UE aggregation transmission.

[0167] Close-Loop Power Control (CLPC) for UE aggregation

[0168] It will be appreciated that it is desired to have a solution for Close-Loop Power Control (CLPC) for UE aggregation transmission assuming that the network may control transmission power of the group via one UE (e.g., group coordinator or the source UE).

[0169] In a first embodiment, the UE is configured with a common DCI to monitor power adjustment for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may be configured to act as a given type of UE (e.g., source UE, assistant UE) in the set of aggregated UEs. The UE may be configured to monitor a DCI for transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmission. Specifically, the UE may determine whether a DCI is used to convey transmission power adjustment indication for itself based on or more of a RNTI (e.g., UEaggregation PC RNTI) scrambled in a scheduling DCI (for example, the UE may be configured with a RNTI (e.g., UEaggregation PC RNTI) to monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for its UE aggregation transmission and may then determine that the DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication for its UE aggregation transmission if the DCI is scrambled by the configured RNTI (e.g., UEaggregation PC RNTI)), a search space of the DCI (for example, the UE may be configured with a search space to monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmission and may then determine that the DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmission if a DCI is detected in the configured search space, a CORESET to decode DCI (for example, the UE may be configured with a CORESET to monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmission and may then determine that a DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmission from the gNB if the DCI is detected in the configuredCORESET), and a DCI format (for example, the UE may be configured to monitor a DCI format conveying a transmission power adjustment indication for its UE aggregation transmission and may determine that the DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmission if the configured DCI is detected).

[0170] In a second embodiment, the UE is configured to receive transmission power adjustment indication for a set of UEs. The UE (e.g., the source UE, group coordinator) may be configured to monitor transmission power adjustment indication for a set of UEs that may include one or more of the group coordinator, an assistant UE, the source UE, and a member UE in the group.

[0171] Specifically, the UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) may monitor transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB for one or more of a set of aggregated UEs, in which the UE may be one of the UEs in the set of aggregated UE such as the source UE and assistant UE (for example, in a set of aggregated UEs, the source UE may monitor transmission power adjustment indication for itself and the set of assistant UE(s) for UE aggregation transmission), and a configured / established group of UEs (for example, a UE may be configured with a group of UEs (e.g., the set of UEs in proximity), which may have one group coordinator and one or more member UEs and the group coordinator may be configured to monitor transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB for itself and one or more member UEs in the group).

[0172] In a third embodiment, the UE receives an indication for transmission power adjustment from the gNB.

[0173] The UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) may receive transmission power adjustment indication for a set of UEs. The group coordinator may receive a transmission power adjustment indication for the member UEs in the group. The source UE may receive a transmission power adjustment indication for the set of aggregated UEs for UE aggregation uplink transmission. The UE may receive one message (e.g., one DCI) for transmission power adjustment indication for the whole set of UEs, but the UE may also receive multiple messages conveying the transmission power adjustment indication for the whole set of UEs.

[0174] The transmission power adjustment indication for the a of UEs may include one or more of an identifier of the UE(s) that should adjust the transmission power, whether each subset of UEs should increase or reduce the transmission power, the amount of power to increase / reduce, the effective duration of the transmission power adjustment, the set of transmission resources associated with transmission power adjustment indication, and the transmission scheme associated with the transmission power adjustment indication, each of which will now be described in detail.

[0175] The identifier of the UE(s) that should adjust the transmission power.

[0176] In one example, the UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) may receive, from the gNB in one or more message, information indicative of the UE(s) (i.e., the UE identifier) that should adjust the transmission power and the amount of transmission power to be adjusted. This approach may be useful in the scenario that the gNB may need to control the transmission power of each individual UE in the group and the indication of transmission power adjustment may be monitored by one group coordinator. Upon reception of the transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB for other UEs, the group coordinator may then forward the indication to the other UE(s).

[0177] In another example, a UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) may receive from the gNB an indication that the group of aggregated UEs should adjust the transmission power for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may then determine the UE(s) in the set of aggregated UEs that should adjust transmission power. This approach may be useful in the scenario where the gNB may no need to control transmission power of each individual UE for UE aggregation transmission (SFN-based UE aggregation transmission). Specifically, the gNB may need to control the reception power transmitted by the group of aggregated UEs.

[0178] Whether each subset of UEs should increase or reduce the transmission power.

[0179] In one example, a UE may receive one message to indicate whether the whole set of UEs should increase or decrease the transmission power. For example, the source UE or the group coordinator may receive one message to indicate whether the whole set of aggregated UEs should increase or decrease the transmission power.

[0180] In another example, a UE may receive a message conveying the transmission power adjustment indication of multiple UEs, wherein the message may indicate the UE (e.g., UE ID, member UE ID in the group) and the associated transmission power adjustment decision (e.g., whether the associated UE should increase or decrease the transmission power). For example, the group coordinator may receive transmission power adjustment for the group, wherein the message may indicate for each member UE (e.g., member UE ID) whether it should increase or decrease transmission power. For example, the source UE may receive a transmission power adjustment message for the set of aggregated UEs, the message indicating whether each assistant UE and / or the source UE should increase / decrease transmission power.

[0181] In another example, a UE may receive multiple messages conveying the transmission power adjustment of the set of UEs, wherein each message may indicate transmission power adjustment for one UE. Specifically, the message may identify the UE (e.g., UE ID, member UE ID) and its associated transmission power adjustment decision (e.g., whether the UE increase / decrease transmission power).

[0182] The amount of power may be increased / reduced. In one example, a UE (e.g., source UE) may be configured with multiple levels (e.g., + / -1 dB, + / - 3 dB, + / - 1 mW, + / - 2 mW, + / - 1 dBm, + / - 2 dBm) of transmission power adjustment, where each level may be associated with one codepoint in a bitfield. The UE may then be indicated the amount of power increased / reduced based on the indicated codepoint in the transmission power adjustment bitfield. The transmission power adjustment indication may be for the UE itself and / or for one or more UEs in the set of UEs.

[0183] In another example, the UE may be configured with one transmission power adjustment level (e.g., + / - 1 dB or + / - 3 dB). The UE may then be indicated whether to increase / decrease the power transmission level. If the UE is indicated to increase / decrease the power transmission level, the UE may increase / decrease the configured transmission power adjustment level.

[0184] The effective duration of the transmission power adjustment.

[0185] For example, the UE may be configured with a window of transmission power adjustment after it receives the transmission power adjustment indication. The indicated UE for transmission power adjustment may then adjust its transmission power within the indicated transmission power adjustment window.

[0186] The set of transmission resources associated with transmission power adjustment indication.

[0187] For example, the UE may be configured with multiple sets of resources, in which each set of resources may be associated with one uplink transmission scheme (one uplink UE aggregation scheme, non-UE aggregation transmission). The UE may then further receive transmission power adjustment indication for which set of resources.

[0188] The transmission scheme (e.g., one of the UE aggregation transmission schemes with a different set of aggregated UEs, non-UE aggregation transmission) associated with the transmission power adjustment indication.

[0189] For example, a UE may be configured with one or more UE aggregation transmission schemes. The UE may be further configured with non-UE aggregation transmission. In each UE aggregation transmission scheme, the UE may be configured with one set of aggregated UEs. The UE may then receive a transmission power adjustment indication for which UE aggregation transmission scheme and / or the set of aggregated UEs.

[0190] In a fourth embodiment, the UE receives a transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB for a set of UEs.

[0191] The UE (e.g., group coordinator, source UE) receives from the gNB a transmission power adjustment indication for the set of UEs, which may be conveyed to the UE from the gNB using one or more of DCI, MAC CE and RRC, as will now be described.

[0192] DCI

[0193] The UE may be configured to monitor a DCI indicating transmission power adjustment for one or more UEs from the set of UEs. The DCI may indicate which UE(s) (e.g., which member UE ID(s), which UE ID(s)) should adjust the transmission power and the associated transmission power adjustment decision (e.g., whether the associated UE should increase or decrease the transmission power and / or how much transmission power adjustment the UE should change). In an example, the group coordinator may be configured with a group of UEs, which may include one or more member UEs and the group coordinator itself. The UE may be configured with a DCI format which indicates the member UE ID and associated transmission power adjustment decision (e.g., whether the UE should increase / reduce transmission power).

[0194] The UE may be configured to monitor a DCI indicating transmission power adjustment of one or more subsets of one or more UEs. The DCI may indicate which subset of UE(s) should adjust the transmission power and the associate transmission power adjustment decision. In an example, the source UE may be configured with a DCI format to indicate the subset of UEs affected by the transmission power adjustment (e.g., whether it is the set of assistant UEs or for the source UE) and the associated transmission power adjustment decision (e.g., whether the subset of UEs should increase or decrease transmission power). The DCI may indicate that the set of assistant UEs should increase / decrease the transmission power or that the source UE should increase / decrease the transmission power. In another example, the source UE may be configured with DCI format to indicate whether the set of aggregated UEs (e.g., all assistant UEs and the source UE itself) should increase / reduce transmission power and potentially the amount of power to increase / reduce. This may be motivated to support SFN-based uplink transmission for the set of aggregated UEs.

[0195] MAC CE

[0196] For example, the UE may be configured with a MAC CE format, which may indicate which UE and / or which subset of UEs and the associated transmission power adjustment (e.g., whether the associated UE should increase / reduce the transmission power and the amount of transmission power adjustment). This may be motivated to allow the gNB to convey transmission power adjustment for all UEs in the group using one message.

[0197] RRC

[0198] For example, the UE may receive DCI to configure the granularity of transmission power adjustment (e.g., 1 dB, 2 dB or 3 dB).

[0199] For example, the UE may receive configuration information for multiple uplink transmission schemes (e.g., one of the UE aggregation uplink transmissions with a set ofaggregated UEs, non-UE aggregation transmission) in a RRC message. For each transmission scheme, the UE may receive a RRC configuration indicating which DCI format to measure for transmission power adjustment indication. The UE may then apply the transmission power adjustment indication for the associated uplink transmission scheme.

[0200] In a fifth embodiment, the UE monitors DCI for transmission power adjustment indication for the set of UEs. The UE (e.g., the group coordinator) may be configured to monitor a DCI for transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB to a set of UEs. The set of UEs may include one or multiple UEs and may include the UE itself (e.g., the group coordinator, the source UE), one or multiple assistant UEs, the set of aggregated UEs including both the assistant UEs and the source UE, all member UEs in the group, and all UEs in the group including all member UEs and the group coordinator.

[0201] The transmission power adjustment indication indicated in the DCI may be applicable for one or more of all uplink transmissions of the UE (for example, the group coordinator may be configured to monitor transmission power adjustment indication for the member UEs in the group and may, upon reception of the transmission power adjustment indication for one or more member UEs in the group, forward the indication to the member UEs that may then adjust transmission power for uplink transmissions), and UE aggregation uplink transmissions (for example, the source UE may be configured with UE aggregation transmission and with DCI to monitor transmission power adjustment indication for UE aggregation transmissions, may adjust its transmission power for UE aggregation transmission only, and may forward the transmission power adjustment to the set of assistant UE, where each assistant UE may apply the transmission power adjustment for UE aggregation transmission only).

[0202] Upon reception of the transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB for the group, the UE may then determine the transmission power adjustment indication for each UE in the set of UEs and convey the determination to the set of UEs. The UE may determine whether the DCI is used to convey transmission power adjustment indication for the set of UEs based on one or more of a RNTI (e.g., group PC RNTI) scrambled in a scheduling DCI (for example, the UE may be configured with an RNTI (e.g., group PC RNTI) to monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for a set of UEs (e.g., the set of aggregated UEs, the group of UEs) and the UE may then determine that the DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication for the set of UEs if the DCI is scrambled by the configured RNTI (e.g., group PC RNTI)), a search space of the DCI (for example, the UE may be configured with a search space to monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for the set of UEs and may then determine that the DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication for theset of UEs if a DCI is detected in the configured search space), a CORESET to decode DCI (for example, the UE may be configured with a CORESET to monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for a set of UEs and may then determine that a DCI is for transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB if the DCI is detected in the configured CORESET), and a DCI format (for example, the UE may be configured to monitor a DCI format conveying a transmission power adjustment indication for a set of UEs, in which the DCI format may implicitly / explicitly indicate which UE(s) to adjust transmission power and the associated transmission power adjustment (e.g., whether the UE(s) should increase or reduce the transmission power and the amount of power increased / reduced)).

[0203] In a sixth embodiment, the UE determines the transmission power adjustment for each UE for UE aggregation transmission. The UE (e.g., source UE) may receive a dynamic transmission power adjustment from the gNB (e.g., via DCI) for the first scheme for UE aggregation transmission (i.e., PHY layer SFN combining using the same resource). The UE may then determine transmission power adjustment for each UE in the set of aggregated UEs (e.g., assistant UEs, and / or source UE).

[0204] The UE (e.g., the source UE) may determine one or more of whether each UE needs to adjust transmission power, and the amount of transmission power adjustment for each UE.

[0205] Alternatively, each UE (e.g., assistant UE) may receive a transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB, which may be received directly from the gNB or via another UE (e.g., source UE). The UE may then determine its transmission power adjustment (e.g., whether it adjust its transmission power and the amount of transmission power adjustment).

[0206] The transmission power adjustment decision from the source UE for one or more UEs in the set of aggregated UE and / or the transmission power adjustment decision from each UE for itself may be determined based on one or of a configured transmission power adjustment parameters for each UE, the role of the UEs in the set of aggregated UEs, the number of UEs performing UE aggregated transmission, the capability of the UEs in the set of aggregated UEs, the preferred transmission power of the UEs, the PHR of the UEs, the current transmission power of the UEs for UE aggregation transmission, the link quality between the UEs and the gNB, and the amount of power adjustment from other UEs in the group, as will be described in detail.

[0207] Configured transmission power adjustment parameters for each UE. For example, each UE in the set of aggregated UEs may be configured with a transmission power adjustment granularity. The UE (e.g., source UE, assistant UE) may then determine the transmission power adjustment granularity for each UE based on the configured transmission power adjustment granularity for each UE.

[0208] The role of each UE in the set of aggregated UEs (e.g., whether the UE is the source or assistant UE) for UE aggregation transmission. For example, in the set of aggregated UEs for UE aggregation transmission, each UE may be configured with a value of its transmission power adjustment granularity as a function of its role in the group. For example, the source UE may be configured with a first transmission power adjustment granularity and the assistant UEs may be configured with a second transmission power adjustment granularity. The source UE may then determine the amount transmission power adjustment for each UE based on the UE role in the group. For example, the source UE may receive power adjustment indication for the group of aggregated UEs. The UE may determine all the assistant UEs to adjust its transmission power according to the indication (increase / reduce transmission power). The UE may determine to adjust transmission power itself according to the transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB (e.g., increase / reduce transmission power). The set of assistant UEs may keep the same transmission power.

[0209] The number of aggregated UEs performing UE aggregation transmission. For example, the set of aggregated UEs may be indicated to increase 2 dBm for all assistant UEs taken together. If there is one assistant UE, it may need to increase 2 dBm transmission power. Otherwise, if there are two assistant UEs, each assistant UE may need to increase 1 dBm transmission power.

[0210] The capability of each UE in the set of aggregated UEs (e.g., Pcmax). For example, in the set of aggregated UEs for UE aggregation transmission, each UE may be configured with a value of its transmission power adjustment granularity as a function of its capability (e.g., Pcmax). For example, the source UE may be configured with a first transmission power adjustment granularity and the assistant UEs may be configured with a second transmission power adjustment granularity. The source UE may then determine the amount transmission power adjustment for each UE based on the UE role in the group. For example, upon reception of power increase indication for UE aggregation transmission, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with the highest Pcmax to increase its transmission power. Other UEs may keep the same transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request the UEs having Pcmax being larger than a configured threshold to increase its transmission power. Other UEs having Pcmax being smaller than the configured threshold may keep the same transmission power. For example, upon reception of power reduce indication for UE aggregation transmission, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with the smallest Pcmax to increase its transmission power. Other UEs may keep the same transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request the UEs having Pcmax being smaller than a configured threshold to increase its transmission power. Other UEs having Pcmax being larger than the configured threshold may keep the same transmission power.

[0211] The preferred transmission power of each UE. For example, the assistant UE may indicate to the source UE its preferred transmission power and / or its preferred maximum transmission power. The source UE may then determine not to request the assistant UE to increase its transmission power upon reception of power increase indication from the network. Instead, the source UE may increase transmission power for itself and / or other assistant UEs.

[0212] The PHR of each UE. For example, the source UE may determine whether one assistant UE in the set of aggregated UEs keep its transmission power based on the PHR of the assistant UE. Specifically, if the PHR of the assistant UE is smaller than a configured threshold, the assistant UE may keep its transmission power. This approach may be motivated to allow the assistant UE to operate in a preferred transmission power. For example, each UE (e.g., assistant UE) may be configured with a transmission power adjustment granularity (e.g., 1 dBm, 2 dBm, 3 dBm, 1 dB, 2 dB, 3 dB, etc.) as a function of the PHR of the UE. Upon reception of the transmission power adjustment indication (e.g., from the gNB or the source UE), a UE (e.g., source UE, assistant UE) may then determine the amount of transmission power adjustment as the function of PHR of the UE. For example, a UE may be configured with small power adjustment for low PHR and large power adjustment for high PHR. This approach may be motivated to help the set of aggregated UEs to balance transmission power among UEs in the group. For example, upon reception of power reduction indication for UE aggregation transmission, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with the smallest PHR to reduce its transmission power. Other UEs may keep the same transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request the UEs having PHR being smaller than a configured threshold to reduce its transmission power. Other UEs having PHR being larger than the configured threshold may keep its transmission power. For example, upon reception of power increase indication for UE aggregation transmission, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with the highest to increase its transmission power. Other UEs may keep the same transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request the UEs having PHR being smaller larger a configured threshold to increase its transmission power. Other UEs having PHR being larger than the configured threshold may keep its transmission power.

[0213] The current transmission power of the UE for UE aggregation transmission. For example, each UE (e.g., assistant UE) may be configured with a transmission power adjustment granularity as a function of the current transmission power of the UE. Upon reception of the transmission power adjustment indication (e.g., from the gNB or the source UE), a UE may then determine the amount of its power adjustment as the function of its current transmission power for UE aggregation transmission. For example, upon reception of power reduction indication for UE aggregation transmission, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with the highesttransmission power to reduce its transmission power. Other UEs may keep the same transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request the UEs having current transmission power being greater than a configured threshold to reduce its transmission power. Other UEs having transmission power being smaller than the configured threshold may keep its transmission power. For example, upon reception of power increase indication for UE aggregation transmission, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with the smallest current transmission power to increase its transmission power. Other UEs may keep the same transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request the UEs having current transmission power being smaller than a configured threshold to increase its transmission power. Other UEs having transmission power being larger than the configured threshold may keep its transmission power.

[0214] The link quality between each UE and the gNB. For example, if the PL between an assistant UE and the gNB is greater than a configured threshold, the UE may keep the transmission power of the assistant UE. For example, if the PL between the assistant UE and the gNB is greater than a configured threshold and the transmission power of the UE is larger than a configured threshold, the UE may stop transmission for UE aggregation. This approach may be motivated to allow the system to save transmission power for UEs with small channel gain to the gNB. For example, for the set of aggregated UEs for uplink transmission, upon reception of power increase indication for the group, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the assistant UEs with smallest pathloss to increase the transmission power. Other assistant UEs may keep its transmission power. For example, upon reception of power increase for the group of aggregated UEs, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UEs with PL being smaller than a configured threshold to increase transmission power and the UEs with PL being larger than the configured threshold to keep their transmission power. For example, upon reception of power reduction for the group of aggregated UEs, a UE (e.g., the source UE) may request the UE with highest PL to reduce its transmission power. Alternatively, the UE may request UEs with the PL being greater than a configured threshold to reduce its transmission power.

[0215] The amount of power adjustment from other UEs in the group. For example, the source UE may be configured with the group of aggregated UEs link quality between each UE and the gNB.

[0216] In a seventh embodiment, the UE forwards the transmission power adjustment indication to the set of UEs. Upon reception of transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB, a UE (e.g., source UE, group coordinator) may forward the transmission power adjustment indication to the indicated UE(s) (e.g., assistant UE, member UE) or may first determine the transmission power adjustment for each UE in the set of aggregated UEs and may then send thedetermined transmission power adjustment to each UE. The UE may use one or any combination of SCI, PC5 MAC CE, PC5 RRC, and / or NAS message to convey transmission power adjustment indication from the network to the indicated UE(s).

[0217] The UE may convey the transmission power adjustment indication to the set of indicated UE(s) using one or more of groupcast transmission (for example, the UE may establish a PC5 RRC connection for a set of UEs to exchange transmission power adjustment indication from the gNB, be configured with a group destination ID to transmit a message for the group, indicate the group destination ID to the UEs in the group and may then use a groupcast PC5 RRC message to convey the transmission power adjustment indication to the indicated UE(s), where the message may indicate the group destination ID in the SCI (e.g., second stage SCI) and where the DCI information may be forwarded to the member UE adjustment indication), and unicast transmission (for example, the UE may establish unicast PC5 RRC connection for each UE in the group of UEs, determine in the received DCI which UE is indicated to adjust its transmission power and the associated transmission power adjustment determination (e.g., whether the UE should increase / reduce its transmission power) and may then transmit to each indicated UE transmission power adjustment indication using the established unicast PC5 RRC transmission).

[0218] FIG. 6 illustrates a method for Close-Loop Power Control (CLPC) for UE aggregation according to an embodiment of the present principles. In brief, a UE (e.g., source UE) may monitor a DCI conveying transmission power adjustment indication for the group of aggregated UEs, determine the transmission power adjustment value for each UE based the reported PHR of each UE, the number of UEs in the group for UE aggregation, and indicate the adjusted transmission power to member UEs.

[0219] In step S602, the UE is configured with UE aggregation transmissions (e.g., SFN-based transmission) and a group of aggregated UEs (e.g., itself and a set of assistant UEs). The UE can receive information indicative of the configuration and configure itself.

[0220] In step S604, the UE receives PHR from the set of assistant UEs.

[0221] In step S606, the UE monitors TPC DCI for a group of UEs for UE aggregation transmission.

[0222] In step S608, the UE receives an indication from the network (e.g., TPC DCI) to adjust transmission power for the group.

[0223] In step S610, the UE determines the amount of transmission power adjustment for itself and the set of aggregated UEs based on the number of aggregated UEs and PHR of each UE.

[0224] For example, if the network requests the group of two UEs to increase transmission power by 2 dBm, each UE increases its transmission power of 1 dBm if no UE has PHR or, if the assistant UE has negative PHR, the source UE increases its transmission power by 2 dBm.

[0225] In step S612, the UE sends the determined transmission power adjustment value for the member UEs to adjust the transmission power for UE aggregation.

[0226] In step S614, the UE adjusts its transmission power by the determined value for UE aggregation transmission.

[0227] Power Headroom Reporting for UE aggregation

[0228] It will be appreciated that it is desired to have a solution for power headroom reporting for UE aggregation transmission so that the network may be aware of the power budget of each UE and the set of aggregated UEs.

[0229] In a first embodiment, the UE determines PHR for the aggregated group. The UE (e.g., source UE) may be configured with a set of aggregated UEs (e.g., the group of aggregated UE) for UE aggregation transmission (e.g., the first scheme for UE aggregation).

[0230] The UE may determine the PHR for the set of aggregated UE (e.g., PHR group) based on one or more of the PHR of each UE in the group, which may be reported from each UE assistant to the source UE, the PHR of one configured subset of UEs in the group, in which the PHR group may not consider the UE using fixed transmission power, the transmission power of each UE in the group, which may be reported from each UE assistant to the source UE, the transmission power of one configured subset of UEs in the group (e.g., a subset of UEs with the same capability such as same Pcmax), the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs, Pmax aggregated, which may be configured by the gNB (e.g., via RRC or SIB), and the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs for serving cell c, Pcmax aggregated which may be configured by the gNB (e.g., via RRC or SIB).

[0231] In one example, the PHR of the group (e.g., PHR group) may be determined based on the PHR of each UE in the group. Specifically, the PHR group may be the sum of the PHRs of the UEs in the group. The UE may consider the UE with fixed transmission power having PHR being equal to zero. In another example, the PHR of the group may be determined based on the transmission power of each UE in the group and the maximum transmission power of the set of aggregated UEs for serving cell c (e.g., Pcmax aggregated). For example, the PHR group may be the difference between the total transmission power of all UEs in the group and Pcmax aggregated.

[0232] Multiple PHR groups may be configured within one UE aggregation group (e.g., UE1 belongs to PHR group 1, and UE2 belongs to PHR group 2) where each group may be configured with its own triggering conditions. If multiple PHR groups are triggered and the UE is configuredfor multi-PHR group reporting, the UE may report multiple PH values in one PHR. If UE is configured to report a single PH value, the UE may prioritize reporting the PHR group that triggered earliest in time. If more than one PHR group are triggered simultaneously, the UE may be configured with different priorities per PHR group, and the UE may prioritize the PHR from the group with the highest priority.

[0233] In a second embodiment, the UE indicates the condition for UE in the set of aggregated UEs to report PHR. The UE (e.g., source UE) may be configured by the gNB to report PHR for the set of aggregated UEs.

[0234] The UE may then report one or more of the following PHR for the set of aggregated UEs: the PHR for the set of aggregated UEs (e.g., PHR group), the PHR of itself for UE aggregation transmission, which may be calculated as the difference between its transmission power for aggregation and the maximum transmission power (e.g., Pcmax or Pmax), the PHR of itself for non-UE aggregation transmission, and the PHR of one or more assistant UEs, which may satisfy a configured PHR reporting condition (for example, the UE may be configured by the network to report PHR of one assistant UE if the PHR of the UE is smaller than a configured threshold).

[0235] In a third embodiment, the UE is configured with a condition to report PHR for the group. The UE may report the PHR for the group to the gNB (e.g., PHR reporting for one or more assistant UEs and / or itself, PHR group reporting) periodically.

[0236] The UE may be configured with one or more of the following triggering conditions to report PHR for the group: reception of PHR reporting from one or more UEs in the group (for example, upon reception of PHR for one or more assistant UEs, the UE may forward the PHR reporting to the gNB), the PHR for the set of aggregated UEs (e.g., PHR group) is smaller than a configured threshold, the PHR of itself, which may include either PHR for UE aggregation transmission or PHR for non-UE aggregation transmission, is smaller than a configured threshold, the reported PHR from one or more UEs is smaller than a configured threshold, the change in PL of the UE is larger than a configured threshold and the change in the reported PL of one or more assistant UEs is larger than a configured threshold.

[0237] In a fourth embodiment, the UE indicates the condition for the assistant UE to report PHR. The source UE may request the assistant UE to report PHR periodically, in which the periodicity may be configured by the network. The source UE may request the assistant UE to report PHR based on the triggering condition at the assistant UE. The source UE may request the assistant UE to report the assistant UE to report the PHR. The UE may send the PHR request for the group using one or any combination of SCI, PC5 MAC CE, and / or PC5 RRC. The UE mayuse an ID associated with the group (e.g., group destination ID) to convey the PHR request in groupcast transmission.

[0238] The UE may request the assistant UEs to report PHR based on one or more of the following triggering conditions at the source UE: the UE is requested to report PHR for itself and / or for the group, the PHR of the UE itself is smaller than a configured threshold, in which the PHR may be associated with UE aggregation transmission and / or non-UE aggregation transmission, the change in the PL of the UE is greater than a configured threshold compared to the previous PHR reporting, and the change in PHR of the UE is greater than a configured threshold compared to the previous PHR reporting.

[0239] In a fifth embodiment, the UE is configured with one or more triggers to report PHR. The UE (e.g., one assistant UE) may report its PHR to another UE (e.g., source UE) for UE aggregation transmission. The UE may use one or any combination of SCI, PC5 MAC CE, PC5 RRC to report its PHR to the other UE (e.g., source UE). The UE may report its PHR to the source UE periodically. The UE may report its PHR based on one or any combination of the following configured (e.g., configuration by the gNB or by the source UE) triggering conditions: the PHR being smaller / larger than a configured threshold, the change in PHR compared to the previous report is larger than a configured threshold, the change in PL compared to the previous report is greater than a configured threshold, and upon a request from another node (e.g., gNB, or source UE).

[0240] For example, the UE may report PHR upon request from the source UE. Specifically, the source UE may use one or any combination of SCI, PC5 MAC CE, and / or PC5 RRC to request PHR reporting from the assistant UE. Upon reception of the request message, the UE may trigger reporting PHR to the source UE.

[0241] FIG. 7 illustrates a method for PHR reporting for UE aggregation group according to an embodiment of the present principles. In brief, a source UE receives PHR reporting from assistant UEs, and triggers PHR reporting for the group of UEs if the PHR of the UE and / or the PHR of the group satisfies a condition (e.g., PHR group is smaller than a configured threshold, PHR of the UE is smaller than a configured threshold).

[0242] In step S702, the UE is configured with UE aggregation transmissions (e.g., SFN-based transmission) and a group of aggregated UEs (e.g., itself and a set of assistant UEs) and a PHR threshold for each UE and the group to report PH for the group. The UE can receive information indicative of the configuration and configure itself.

[0243] In step S704, the UE receives Power Headroom Reports (PHR) from the assistant UEs.

[0244] In step S706, the UE determines its PHR for UE aggregation transmission and PHR for the group (i.e., PHR group) as a function of PHR of all UEs in the group.

[0245] If one of the PHRs (its PHR, PHR of one or more assistant UEs, PHR for the group) satisfies the configured threshold (e.g., one of PHRs is smaller than 0), in step S708, the UE triggers PHR reporting to the network and indicates the PHR of itself, assistant UEs, and / or the group.

[0246] Although features and elements are provided above in particular combinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that each feature or element can be used alone or in any combination with the other features and elements. The present disclosure is not to be limited in terms of the particular embodiments described in this application, which are intended as illustrations of various aspects. Many modifications and variations may be made without departing from its spirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly provided as such. Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of the disclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Such modifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to particular methods or systems.

[0247] The foregoing embodiments are discussed, for simplicity, with regard to the terminology and structure of infrared capable devices, i.e., infrared emitters and receivers. However, the embodiments discussed are not limited to these systems but may be applied to other systems that use other forms of electromagnetic waves or non-electromagnetic waves such as acoustic waves.

[0248] It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the term "video" or the term "imagery" may mean any of a snapshot, single image and / or multiple images displayed over a time basis. As another example, when referred to herein, the terms "user equipment" and its abbreviation "UE", the term "remote" and / or the terms "head mounted display" or its abbreviation "HMD" may mean or include (i) a wireless transmit and / or receive unit (WTRU); (ii) any of a number of embodiments of a WTRU; (iii) a wireless-capable and / or wired-capable (e.g., tetherable) device configured with, inter alia, some or all structures and functionality of a WTRU; (iii) a wireless-capable and / or wired-capable device configured with less than all structures and functionality of a WTRU; or (iv) the like. Details of an example WTRU, which may berepresentative of any WTRU recited herein, are provided herein with respect to FIGs. 1 A-1D. As another example, various disclosed embodiments herein supra and infra are described as utilizing a head mounted display. Those skilled in the art will recognize that a device other than the head mounted display may be utilized and some or all of the disclosure and various disclosed embodiments can be modified accordingly without undue experimentation. Examples of such other device may include a drone or other device configured to stream information for providing the adapted reality experience.

[0249] In addition, the methods provided herein may be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmware incorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computer or processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronic signals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) and computer-readable storage media. Examples of computer- readable storage media include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductor memory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks, and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association with software may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for use in a WTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

[0250] Variations of the method, apparatus and system provided above are possible without departing from the scope of the invention. In view of the wide variety of embodiments that can be applied, it should be understood that the illustrated embodiments are examples only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the following claims. For instance, the embodiments provided herein include handheld devices, which may include or be utilized with any appropriate voltage source, such as a battery and the like, providing any appropriate voltage.

[0251] Moreover, in the embodiments provided above, processing platforms, computing systems, controllers, and other devices that include processors are noted. These devices may include at least one Central Processing Unit ("CPU") and memory. In accordance with the practices of persons skilled in the art of computer programming, reference to acts and symbolic representations of operations or instructions may be performed by the various CPUs and memories. Such acts and operations or instructions may be referred to as being "executed," "computer executed" or "CPU executed."

[0252] One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the acts and symbolically represented operations or instructions include the manipulation of electrical signals by the CPU. An electrical system represents data bits that can cause a resulting transformation or reduction of the electrical signals and the maintenance of data bits at memory locations in a memory system to therebyreconfigure or otherwise alter the CPU's operation, as well as other processing of signals. The memory locations where data bits are maintained are physical locations that have particular electrical, magnetic, optical, or organic properties corresponding to or representative of the data bits. It should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned platforms or CPUs and that other platforms and CPUs may support the provided methods.

[0253] The data bits may also be maintained on a computer readable medium including magnetic disks, optical disks, and any other volatile (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM)) or non-volatile (e.g., Read-Only Memory (ROM)) mass storage system readable by the CPU. The computer readable medium may include cooperating or interconnected computer readable medium, which exist exclusively on the processing system or are distributed among multiple interconnected processing systems that may be local or remote to the processing system. It should be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the above-mentioned memories and that other platforms and memories may support the provided methods.

[0254] In an illustrative embodiment, any of the operations, processes, etc. described herein may be implemented as computer-readable instructions stored on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable instructions may be executed by a processor of a mobile unit, a network element, and / or any other computing device.

[0255] There is little distinction left between hardware and software implementations of aspects of systems. The use of hardware or software is generally (but not always, in that in certain contexts the choice between hardware and software may become significant) a design choice representing cost versus efficiency trade-offs. There may be various vehicles by which processes and / or systems and / or other technologies described herein may be effected (e.g., hardware, software, and / or firmware), and the preferred vehicle may vary with the context in which the processes and / or systems and / or other technologies are deployed. For example, if an implementer determines that speed and accuracy are paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly hardware and / or firmware vehicle. If flexibility is paramount, the implementer may opt for a mainly software implementation. Alternatively, the implementer may opt for some combination of hardware, software, and / or firmware.

[0256] The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and / or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and / or examples include one or more functions and / or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and / or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples may be implemented, individually and / or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In an embodiment, severalportions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), and / or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, may be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and / or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein may be distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a CD, a DVD, a digital tape, a computer memory, etc., and a transmission type medium such as a digital and / or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link, etc.).

[0257] Those skilled in the art will recognize that it is common within the art to describe devices and / or processes in the fashion set forth herein, and thereafter use engineering practices to integrate such described devices and / or processes into data processing systems. That is, at least a portion of the devices and / or processes described herein may be integrated into a data processing system via a reasonable amount of experimentation. Those having skill in the art will recognize that a typical data processing system may generally include one or more of a system unit housing, a video display device, a memory such as volatile and non-volatile memory, processors such as microprocessors and digital signal processors, computational entities such as operating systems, drivers, graphical user interfaces, and applications programs, one or more interaction devices, such as a touch pad or screen, and / or control systems including feedback loops and control motors (e.g., feedback for sensing position and / or velocity, control motors for moving and / or adjusting components and / or quantities). A typical data processing system may be implemented utilizing any suitable commercially available components, such as those typically found in data computing / communication and / or network computing / communication systems.

[0258] The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components included within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depictedarchitectures are merely examples, and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively "associated" such that the desired functionality may be achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality may be seen as "associated with" each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated may also be viewed as being "operably connected", or "operably coupled", to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated may also be viewed as being "operably couplable" to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and / or physically interacting components and / or wirelessly interactable and / or wirelessly interacting components and / or logically interacting and / or logically interactable components.

[0259] With respect to the use of substantially any plural and / or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and / or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and / or application. The various singular / plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

[0260] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, where only one item is intended, the term "single" or similar language may be used. As an aid to understanding, the following appended claims and / or the descriptions herein may include usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim including such introduced claim recitation to embodiments including only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and / or "an" should be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"). The same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., thebare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and / or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and / or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B." Further, the terms "any of' followed by a listing of a plurality of items and / or a plurality of categories of items, as used herein, are intended to include "any of," "any combination of," "any multiple of," and / or "any combination of multiples of the items and / or the categories of items, individually or in conjunction with other items and / or other categories of items. Moreover, as used herein, the term "set" is intended to include any number of items, including zero. Additionally, as used herein, the term "number" is intended to include any number, including zero. And the term "multiple", as used herein, is intended to be synonymous with "a plurality".

[0261] In addition, where features or aspects of the disclosure are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

[0262] As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof. Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein may be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art all language such as "up to," "at least," "greater than," "less than," and the like includes the number recited and refers to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a rangeincludes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 cells. Similarly, a group having 1-5 cells refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 cells, and so forth.

[0263] Moreover, the claims should not be read as limited to the provided order or elements unless stated to that effect. In addition, use of the terms "means for" in any claim is intended to invoke 35 U.S.C. §112, 6 or means-plus-function claim format, and any claim without the terms "means for" is not so intended.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the method comprising: receiving information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs; determining, for at least one of the first WTRU and at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, a respective power adjustment amount based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability; and sending, to a second WTRU of the at least one second WTRU for which a non-zero power adjustment amount has been determined, the non-zero power adjustment amount corresponding to the second WTRU.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, from the at least one second WTRU, respective information indicative of transmission power availability.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein: the information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs is received from a base station.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, in case a non-zero power adjustment value has been determined for the first WTRU: adjusting a transmission power of the first WTRU according to the non-zero power adjustment value; and transmitting, using the adjusted transmission power, information to the base station.

5. A first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to: receive information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated further WTRUs; determine, for at least one of the first WTRU and at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, a respective power adjustment amount based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability; andsend, to a second WTRU of the at least one second WTRU for which a non-zero power adjustment amount has been determined, the non-zero power adjustment amount corresponding to the second WTRU.

6. The first WTRU of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive, from the at least one second WTRU, respective information indicative of transmission power availability.

7. The first WTRU of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to: receive the information indicative of a request to adjust transmission power for the group of aggregated WTRUs is received from a base station.

8. The first WTRU of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to, in case a nonzero power adjustment value has been determined for the first WTRU: adjust a transmission power of the first WTRU according to the non-zero power adjustment value; and transmit, using the adjusted transmission power, information to the base station.

9. A method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated further WTRUs, the method comprising: receiving a resource grant for an aggregated uplink transmission; receiving transmission power information from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs; determining a transmission power of the first WTRU based on an expected received power at a base station receiving the aggregated WTRU uplink transmission, and on the received transmission power information; and performing the aggregated uplink transmission using the determined transmission power.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmission power is further determined based on a pathloss to the base station.

11. A first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to: receive a resource grant for an aggregated uplink transmission; receive transmission power information from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs;determine a transmission power of the first WTRU based on an expected received power at a base station receiving the aggregated WTRU uplink transmission, and on the received transmission power information; and perform the aggregated uplink transmission using the determined transmission power.

12. The first WTRU of claim 11, wherein the transmission power is further determined based on a pathloss to the base station.

13. A method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the method comprising: receiving, from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, respective information indicative of transmission power availability; determining a transmission power availability for the first WTRU based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability; determining a group transmission power availability for the group of aggregated WTRUs based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability; and in case at least one of the transmission power availabilities and the group transmission power availability satisfies a condition, transmitting to a network information indicative of at least one of the transmission power availability of the first WTRU, transmission power availability of the at least one second WTRU, and the group transmission power availability.

14. A first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to: receive, from at least one second WTRU in the group of aggregated WTRUs, respective information indicative of transmission power availability; determine a transmission power availability for the first WTRU based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability; determine a group transmission power availability for the group of aggregated WTRUs based on the received information indicative of transmission power availability; and in case at least one of the transmission power availabilities and the group transmission power availability satisfies a condition, transmit to a network information indicative of at least one of the transmission power availability of the first WTRU, respective transmission power availability of the at least one second WTRU, and the group transmission power availability.

15. A method at a first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the method comprising:receiving a resource grant for uplink transmission; and performing the uplink transmission using a first set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is part of a WTRU aggregated transmission and a second set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is not part of the WTRU aggregated transmission.

16. A first wireless transmit / receive unit, WTRU, configured to operate in a group of aggregated WTRUs, the first WTRU comprising at least one processor configured to: receive a resource grant for uplink transmission; and perform the uplink transmission using a first set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is part of a WTRU aggregated transmission and a second set of transmission parameters in case the uplink transmission is not part of the WTRU aggregated transmission.

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