Early information downlink channel for a wireless network

Abstract

A method includes receiving, from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel; determining, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel; monitor the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel; and receive the second physical downlink channel.

Description

[0001] EARLY INFORMATION DOWNLINK CHANNEL FOR A WIRELESS NETWORK

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] This description relates to wireless communications.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] A communication system may be a facility that enables communication between two or more nodes or devices, such as fixed or mobile communication devices. Signals can be carried on wired or wireless carriers.

[0006] An example of a cellular communication system is an architecture that is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). A recent development in this field is often referred to as the long-term evolution (LTE) of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio-access technology. E-UTRA (evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) is the air interface of 3GPP's Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrade path for mobile networks. In LTE, base stations or access points (APs), which are referred to as enhanced Node AP (eNBs), provide wireless access within a coverage area or cell. In LTE, mobile devices, or mobile stations are referred to as user equipment (UE). LTE has included a number of improvements or developments. Aspects of LTE are also continuing to improve.

[0007] 5G New Radio (NR) development is part of a continued mobile broadband evolution process to meet the requirements of 5G, similar to earlier evolution of 3G and 4G wireless networks. In addition, 5G is also targeted at the new emerging use cases in addition to mobile broadband. A goal of 5G is to provide significant improvement in wireless performance, which may include new levels of data rate, latency, reliability, and security. 5G NR may also scale to efficiently connect the massive Internet of Things (loT) and may offer new types of mission- critical services. For example, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) devices may require high reliability and very low latency. 6G and other networks are also being developed.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] A method may include receiving, by a user device from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, determining, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, monitoring the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, and receiving the second physical downlink channel.

[0010] A method may include transmitting, to a user device, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, and transmitting the second physical downlink channel.

[0011] An apparatus may include at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, determine, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, monitor the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, receive the second physical downlink channel.

[0012] An apparatus may include at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to a user device, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, and transmit the second physical downlink channel.

[0013] Other example embodiments are provided or described for each of the example methods, including: means for performing any of the example methods; a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium comprising instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor, are configured to cause a computing system to perform any of the example methods; and an apparatus including at least one processor, and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform any of the example methods.

[0014] The details of one or more examples of embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0015] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. l is a block diagram of a wireless network according to an example embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating synchronization signal and PBCH block.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating time and frequency relation of the CORESET and the PDSCH to the SSB.

[0019] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operation according to an example embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating relationship between CORESET of early information and CORESETO.

[0023] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating slot monitoring occasions determined according to an example embodiment.

[0024] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating slot monitoring occasions determined according to an example embodiment.

[0025] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e.g., UE, user device, AP, BS, eNB, gNB, RAN node, network node, transmit receive point (TRP), or other node) 1300 according to an example embodiment.

[0026] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network 130. In the wireless network 130 of FIG. 1, user devices 131, 132, 133 and 135, which may also be referred to as mobile stations (MSs) or user equipment (UEs), may be connected (and in communication) with a base station (BS) 134, which may also be referred to as an access point (AP), an enhanced Node B (eNB), a gNB or a network node. The terms user device and user equipment (UE) may be used interchangeably. A BS may also include or may be referred to as a RAN (radio access network) node, and may include a portion of a BS or a portion of a RAN node, such as (e.g., such as a centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB). At least part of the functionalities of a BS (e.g., access point (AP), base station (BS) or (e)Node B (eNB), gNB, RAN node) may also be carried out by any node, server or host which may be operably coupled to a transceiver, such as a remote radio head. BS (or AP) 134 provides wireless coverage within a cell 136, including to user devices (or UEs) 131, 132, 133 and 135. Although only four user devices (or UEs) are shown as being connected or attached to BS 134, any number of user devices may be provided. BS 134 is also connected to a core network 150 via a SI interface 151. This is merely one simple example of a wireless network, and others may be used.

[0028] A base station (e.g., such as BS 134) is an example of a radio access network (RAN) node within a wireless network. A BS (or a RAN node) may be or may include (or may alternatively be referred to as), e.g., an access point (AP), a gNB, an eNB, or portion thereof (such as a central / centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB), or other network node.

[0029] Some functionalities of the communication network may be carried out, at least partly, in a central / centralized unit, CU, (e.g., server, host or node) operationally coupled to distributed unit, DU, (e.g., a radio head / node). Thus, 5G networks architecture may be based on a so-called CU-DU split. The gNB-CU (central node) may control a plurality of spatially separated gNB- DUs, acting at least as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. In some examples, the gNB-DUs (also referred to as a DU) may include e.g., a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU (also referred to as a CU) may include the layers above RLC layer, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, a radio resource control (RRC) and an internet protocol (IP) layers. Other functional splits are possible too.

[0030] According to an illustrative example, a BS node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, . . .) or a radio access network (RAN) may be part of a mobile telecommunication system. A RAN (radio access network) may include one or more BSs or RAN nodes that implement a radio access technology, e.g., to allow one or more UEs to have access to a network or core network. Thus, for example, the RAN (RAN nodes, such as BSs or gNBs) may reside between one or more user devices or UEs and a core network. According to an example embodiment, each RAN node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, ...) or BS may provide one or more wireless communication services for one or more UEs or user devices, e.g., to allow the UEs to have wireless access to a network, via the RAN node. Each RAN node or BS may perform or provide wireless communication services, e.g., such as allowing UEs or user devices to establish a wireless connection to the RAN node, and sending data to and / or receiving data from one or more of the UEs. For example, after establishing a connection to a UE, a RAN node or network node (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, ...) may forward data to the UE that is received from a network or the core network, and / or forward data received from the UE to the network or core network. RAN nodes or network nodes (e.g., BS, eNB, gNB, CU / DU, . . .) may perform a wide variety of other wireless functions or services, e.g., such as broadcasting control information (e.g., such as system information or on-demand system information) to UEs, paging UEs when there is data to be delivered to the UE, assisting in handover of a UE between cells, scheduling of resources for uplink data transmission from the UE(s) and downlink data transmission to UE(s), sending control information to configure one or more UEs, and the like. These are a few examples of one or more functions that a RAN node or BS may perform.

[0031] A user device or user node (user terminal, user equipment (UE), mobile terminal, handheld wireless device, etc.) may refer to a portable computing device that includes wireless mobile communication devices operating either with or without a subscriber identification module (SIM), including, but not limited to, the following types of devices: a mobile station (MS), a mobile phone, a cell phone, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a handset, a device using a wireless modem (alarm or measurement device, etc.), a laptop and / or touch screen computer, a tablet, a phablet, a game console, a notebook, a vehicle, a sensor, and a multimedia device, as examples, or any other wireless device. It should be appreciated that a user device may also be (or may include) a nearly exclusive uplink only device, of which an example is a camera or video camera loading images or video clips to a network.

[0032] Also, a user node may include a user equipment (UE), a user device, a user terminal, a mobile terminal, a mobile station, a mobile node, a subscriber device, a subscriber node, a subscriber terminal, or other user node. For example, a user node may be used for wireless communications with one or more network nodes (e.g., gNB, eNB, BS, AP, CU, DU, CU / DU) and / or with one or more other user nodes, regardless of the technology or radio access technology (RAT). In LTE (as an illustrative example), core network 150 may be referred to as Evolved Packet Core (EPC), which may include a mobility management entity (MME) which may handle or assist with mobility / handover of user devices between BSs, one or more gateways that may forward data and control signals between the BSs and packet data networks or the Internet, and other control functions or blocks. Other types of wireless networks, such as 5G (which may be referred to as New Radio (NR)) may also include a core network. In addition, the techniques described herein may be applied to various types of user devices or data service types, or may apply to user devices that may have multiple applications running thereon that may be of different data service types. New Radio (5G) development may support a number of different applications or a number of different data service types, such as for example: machine type communications (MTC), enhanced machine type communication (eMTC), Internet of Things (loT), and / or narrowband loT user devices, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC). Many of these new 5G (NR) - related applications may require generally higher performance than previous wireless networks. loT may refer to an ever-growing group of objects that may have Internet or network connectivity, so that these objects may send information to and receive information from other network devices. For example, many sensor type applications or devices may monitor a physical condition or a status, and may send a report to a server or other network device, e.g., when an event occurs. Machine Type Communications (MTC, or Machine to Machine communications) may, for example, be characterized by fully automatic data generation, exchange, processing and actuation among intelligent machines, with or without intervention of humans. Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) may support much higher data rates than currently available in LTE.

[0033] Ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC) is a new data service type, or new usage scenario, which may be supported for New Radio (5G) systems. This enables emerging new applications and services, such as industrial automations, autonomous driving, vehicular safety, e-health services, and so on. 3 GPP targets in providing connectivity with reliability corresponding to block error rate (BLER) of 10-5 and up to 1 ms U-Plane (user / data plane) latency, by way of illustrative example. Thus, for example, URLLC user devices / UEs may require a significantly lower block error rate than other types of user devices / UEs as well as low latency (with or without requirement for simultaneous high reliability). Thus, for example, a URLLC UE (or URLLC application on a UE) may require much shorter latency, as compared to an eMBB UE (or an eMBB application running on a UE).

[0034] The techniques described herein may be applied to a wide variety of wireless technologies or wireless networks, such as 5G (New Radio (NR)), cmWave, and / or mmWave band networks, loT, MTC, eMTC, eMBB, URLLC, 6G, etc., or any other wireless network or wireless technology. These example networks, technologies or data service types are provided only as illustrative examples.

[0035] A new radio (NR) user plane protocol stack may include five layers implemented in the UE and the gNB. At the bottom of the protocol stack, physical layer (PHY) may provide transport services to the higher layers of the protocol stack and may correspond to layer 1 of the open systems interconnection (OSI) model. The next four layers above PHY may include media access control layer (MAC), radio link control layer (RLC), packet data convergence protocol layer (PDCP), and service data application protocol layer (SDAP). Together, these four protocols may make up layer 2, or the data link layer, of the OSI model.

[0036] The NR control plane protocol stack may employ the same / similar protocol layers as the NR user plane protocol stack e.g., the PHY, the MAC, the RLC, and the PDCP. Instead of the SDAP at the top of the stack as in the NR user plane protocol stack, the NR control plane stack employs RRC and non-access stratum (NAS) protocols at the top of the NR control plane protocol stack.

[0037] One or more of channels may be employed to carry out functions associated with the NR control plane and / or user plane protocol stack. Information may be passed through channels between the RLC, the MAC, and the physical (PHY) layer of the NR protocol stack. A logical channel may be employed between the RLC and the MAC and may be classified as a control channel that carries control and configuration information in the NR control plane or as a traffic channel that carries data in the NR user plane. A logical channel may be classified as a dedicated logical channel that is dedicated to a specific UE or as a common logical channel that may be used by more than one UE. A logical channel may be defined by the type of information it carries.

[0038] The PHY may employ physical channels to pass information between processing levels of the PHY. A physical channel may have an associated set of time-frequency resources for carrying the information of one or more transport channels. The PHY may generate control information to support the low-level operation of the PHY and provide the control information to the lower levels of the PHY via physical control channels, referred to and known as L1 / L2 control channels. The set of physical channels and physical control channels defined by NR may include the following: • a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) for carrying the MIB from the BCH;

[0039] • a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for carrying downlink data and signaling messages from the DL-SCH, as well as paging messages from the PCH;

[0040] • a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for carrying downlink control information (DCI), which may include downlink scheduling commands, uplink scheduling grants, and uplink power control commands;

[0041] • a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) for carrying uplink data and signaling messages from the UL-SCH and in some instances uplink control information (UCI) as described below;

[0042] • a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) for carrying UCI, which may include hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgments, channel quality indicators (CQI), pre-coding matrix indicators (PMI), rank indicators (RI), and scheduling requests (SR); and

[0043] • a physical random access channel (PRACH) for random access.

[0044] The physical layer may generate physical signals to support low-level operation of the physical layer. The physical layer signals defined by NR may include: primary synchronization signals (PSS), secondary synchronization signals (SSS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS), demodulation reference signals (DMRS), sounding reference signals (SRS), and phase-tracking reference signals (PT-RS).

[0045] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating synchronization signal and PBCH block. As an example, as depicted in FIG. 2, the synchronization signal block (SSB) may include primary and secondary synchronization signals (PSS, SSS), each occupying, for example, 1 symbol and 127 subcarriers, and PBCH spanning across 3 OFDM symbols and 240 subcarriers, but on one symbol leaving an unused part in the middle for SSS as shown in FIG. 2. For the 3 MHz channel bandwidth, the PBCH may be further equally punctured from both edges to span 144 subcarriers. The possible time locations of SSBs within a half-frame may be determined by sub-carrier spacing and the periodicity of the half-frames where SSBs are transmitted may be configured by the network. During a half-frame, different SSBs may be transmitted in different spatial directions (e.g., using different beams, spanning the coverage area of a cell).

[0046] Within the frequency span of a carrier, multiple SSBs may be transmitted. The physical cell identities (PCIs) of SSBs transmitted in different frequency locations may or may not be unique, e.g., different SSBs in the frequency domain may have different PCIs.

[0047] A base station or gNB may configure a user device or a UE with one or more search spaces each associated with a CORESET. A CORESET may include time-frequency resource(s) in which the UE tries to decode a DCI using one or more search spaces. The CORESET and search space define the resources and time occasions over which the UE attempts blind decoding in order to find downlink control information. The search space may be a UE-specific search space or a common search space (e.g., usable by a plurality of UEs).

[0048] A CORESET may be configured for a bandwidth part (BWP). Different bandwidth parts (BWPs) may have their own CORESET(s). A base station may transmit a DCI via a PDCCH on one or more CORESETs. The base station may configure a CORESET in the time-frequency domain. In an example, a first CORESET and a second CORESET may occur at the first symbol in a slot. The first CORESET may overlap with the second CORESET in the frequency domain. A third CORESET may occur at a third symbol in the slot. A fourth CORESET may occur at the seventh symbol in the slot. CORESETs may have a different number of resource blocks in frequency domain.

[0049] In an example, for a CORESET, there may be an associated CCE-to-REG mapping. The CCE- to-REG mapping may be employed for DCI transmission on a CORESET and PDCCH processing. The CCE-to-REG mapping may be an interleaved mapping (e.g., for the purpose of providing frequency diversity) or a non-interleaved mapping (e.g., for the purposes of facilitating interference coordination and / or frequency-selective transmission of control channels). The base station may perform different or same CCE-to-REG mapping on different CORESETs. A CORESET may be associated with a CCE-to-REG mapping by RRC configuration. A CORESET may be configured with an antenna port quasi co-location (QCL) parameter. The antenna port QCL parameter may indicate QCL information of a demodulation reference signal (DM-RS) for PDCCH reception in the CORESET. A cell may transmit to the UE (e g., via the MIB), a CORESETO (e g., CORESET#0) and a TypeO-PDCCH CSS configuration (search space zero, or search space 0). The UE may monitor the defined search space for PDCCH candidates scrambled by the SI-RNTI to acquire the SIB 1. The PDCCH may indicate scheduling of a PDSCH that carries the SIBl. The SSB, CORESETO and the SIB1- carrying PDSCH may follow one of the 3 multiplexing patterns, which is relayed to UE via the MIB, depicted for example in FIG. 3.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating time and frequency relation of the CORESETO and the PDSCH of SIB1 to the SSB. Examples shown in FIG. 3 depict a general time and frequency relation of the CORESETO and the PDSCH of SIB1 to the SSB, but the actual durations and applied bandwidths may differ. As an example in FIG. 3, pattern 1 may depict time domain multiplexing, pattern 2 may depict time and frequency domain multiplexing, and pattern 3 may depict frequency domain multiplexing.

[0051] The 5G master information block (MIB) may be transmitted over the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) as part of the SSB (FIG. 2). The MIB may include important or essential information to be acquired by the UE to further access other cell configurations. For example, the MIB may provide information on how to acquire the system information block 1 (SIB1) for the cell. Therefore, the PBCH carries the master information block (MIB). The MIB includes SIB1 configuration information, which is used as an index into predefined tables. From the table, the UE may obtain information on the CORESET#0 and search space for SIB 1. Within the search space, the UE decodes PDCCH candidates to find the DCI. The UE may then receive or obtain, within the DCI of the PDCCH, scheduling information for the SIB 1 for the SIB 1 -carrying PDSCH. Based on this scheduling information, the UE may acquire the SIB1 via the PDSCH. As noted, the SIB1, for example, may include important or critical system information. This multiple step process (e.g., including both decoding or receiving the PDCCH with scheduling information, and then receiving the SIB1 via the SIB1 carrying PDSCH using the scheduling information obtained from the SIB1 PDCCH) may consume significant time and energy resources of the UE before the UE can obtain this important or critical system information or data. Optionally or additionally, there may be a limit on the maximum size of a SIB, e.g., 2976 bits in NR, which could cause further delay in UE acquisition of critical data if the SIB1 size has reached its maximum capacity or if a higher coding rate for enabling a higher capacity would impact cell edge UE decoding performance. For example, it may be desirable to allow the UE to acquire at least some types of data or important system information via a quicker or more efficient process that does not require the UE to acquire SIB1. For example, some types of data or system information may indicate that the UE should not acquire the SIB1 (e.g., where the UE may be barred from access this cell, or other information that may indicate that the UE should not acquire the SIB1 for this cell). In this case, it may be advantageous to provide a more efficient technique for the UE to acquire some types of data or important system information more quickly than SIB1 acquisition or without necessarily acquiring SIB 1.

[0052] Therefore, according to an example embodiment, an early information-physical downlink channel (EI-PDCH) is provided, in addition to the SIB1 PDCCH (the PDCCH used to acquire SIB1) and / or other SIBs. The EI-PDCH may be or may include a physical downlink channel that may include data or system information, and where the EI-PDCH data may be obtained or received directly through decoding or receiving the EI-PDCH based on EI-PDCH configuration information that is provided in the MIB. The EI-PDCH is referred to as an early information physical downlink channel, e.g. because the EI-PDCH may be used to provide early data (or early system information) to the UE (e.g., earlier than what the UE would typically obtain the SIB1 via the PDSCH). This is because the UE can acquire the data directly from the EI-PDCH, whereas the UE is required to perform one or more additional operations for SIB1 data acquisition (e.g., obtaining SIB1 scheduling information from the PDCCH, and then obtaining the SIB1 from the SIB1 carrying PDSCH). Thus, in the case of SIB1 acquisition, the UE acquires scheduling information (not data or system information) from the DCI of the PDCCH for the SIB1, and the system information or data must be obtained from the SIB1 within the SIB1 carrying PDSCH. Whereas, according to an example embodiment, the UE may directly acquire the data from the EI-PDCH (e.g., because the EI-PDCH carries or provides data / data information or system information, whereas the PDCCH or DCI typically provides control information such as scheduling information). Also, the additional step (performed for SIB1 acquisition) of obtaining scheduling information from PDCCH and then receiving data from another channel / PDSCH based on that scheduling information is not required or not performed to obtain data from the EI-PDCH, which makes the EI-PDCH a more efficient channel or mechanism for conveying critical or important data (data information) or system information to the UE. The acquisition of data via the EI-PDCH may be faster and / or more efficient for a UE than acquiring data or system information via SIB such as SIB1. In an example, the DCI may be employed to provide scheduling information in uplink and downlink, power control information, early paging information, availability of resources, and / or the like.

[0053] Example embodiments may improve system performance by employing the MIB to indicate early information to the UE prior to acquisition of SIB1. For example, the solutions may include indication of early information by a physical downlink channel (e.g., a second physical downlink channel (PDCH), or early information EI-PDCH) via the MIB.

[0054] Example embodiments may include enhancement of signaling between the UE and the network to enable the UE (or user device) to receive an indication of early information. For example, the indication of an EI-PDCH (provided by the MIB) may include configuration information, e.g., which may indicate a CORESET and / or search space(s) that may be used to decode and / or receive the EI-PDCH. The EI-PDCH (or second physical downlink channel) may be provided in addition to the SIB1 PDCCH (or first physical downlink channel). Furthermore, example embodiments may enhance system performance by eliminating the need for the user device to acquire unnecessary SIBs, reducing the frequency of SIB acquisitions, reducing the number of notifications, reducing the signaling for system information modification, and / or the like.

[0055] In an example embodiment, the early information (in the EI-PDCH) may include at least one of indicating a dynamic spectrum sharing cell, reduced bandwidth cell, reduced capability cell, indicating that the cell is in a sleep or energy saving state, and / or the like.

[0056] In an example embodiment, SI acquisition may include acquisition of the MIB, the SIBs, and / or the like. In an example, the receiving of SI by the user device may be performed by means of broadcast, multicast, unicast, anycast, Geocast, and / or the like.

[0057] Various example embodiments are described, e.g., related to or for: the UE to receive, from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, determine, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, monitor the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, and receive the second physical downlink channel.

[0058] In an illustrative example, the first physical downlink channel may be a PDCCH for SIB1 acquisition. And, in an illustrative example, the second physical downlink channel (second PDCH) may be or may include an early information-PDCH (EI-PDCH) that provides or carries data or information. For example, the EI-PDCH (or second physical downlink channel) may be or may include, e.g., a data channel, such as a PDSCH, a control channel such as a PDCCH (that also includes or carries data), or other channel provided for transmission of data (data information) or system information.

[0059] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. Operation 410 includes receiving, from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel. Operation 420 includes determining, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel. Operation 430 includes monitoring the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel. And, operation 440 includes receiving the second physical downlink channel.

[0060] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel includes at least one second search space, and wherein the first indication of the first physical downlink channel indicates a first CORESET and a first search space associated with the first CORESET; the second indication of the second physical downlink channel indicates a second CORESET and the at least one second search space; and wherein the determining the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel includes selecting the at least one second search space.

[0061] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: decoding the second physical downlink channel based on the second CORESET and the at least one second search space.

[0062] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second CORESET for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first CORESET for the first physical downlink channel.

[0063] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein at least one second search space for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first search space for the first physical downlink channel.

[0064] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second CORESET is at least one of the following: a same size and adjacent to the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and immediately below the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and immediately above the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET, a smaller size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET, or a different size and adjacent or contained within same frequency as in the first CORESET.

[0065] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include determining, based on the second physical downlink channel, whether receiving the SIB is required.

[0066] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: decoding the second physical downlink channel prior to decoding of the first physical downlink channel.

[0067] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein each second physical downlink channel is scrambled with a pre-determined radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

[0068] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: obtaining information within the second physical downlink channel, the information including at least one of: an indication of energy saving state of the cell, slot information indicating discontinuous transmission (DTX) information, slot information indicating slot availability for unlicensed access; an indication of whether a system information is on demand, an element or a portion of a system information (SI), an element of a unified access control (UAC), and / or an indication or configuration of multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS).

[0069] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: determining whether to receive the second physical downlink channel based on a capability of the user device.

[0070] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second indication indicates a plurality of second physical downlink channels, the method including: monitoring at least one search space for each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels, and receiving each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels.

[0071] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: determining which of the plurality of second physical downlink channels to receive or to decode based on the capability of the UE or the user device.

[0072] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the cell employs an on-demand SIB 1.

[0073] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second physical downlink channel is encoded based on at least one of: an abstract syntax notation number One (ASN.1), and / or a bitmap.

[0074] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the MIB further includes: a system frame number, a subCarrierSpacingCommon, a ssb-SubcarrierOffset, a demodulation reference signal dmrs-TypeA-Position, an indication of whether the cell is barred, and / or an indication of whether intra frequency reselection is allowed.

[0075] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the MIB is received before an RRC connection is established.

[0076] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second physical downlink channel is a group common physical downlink control channel (GC- PDCCH) acquired while the user device is in RRC idle or in RRC inactive state.

[0077] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second physical downlink channel is beam-specific such that different beams of a cell are associated with different second physical downlink channels.

[0078] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second indication includes at least one of the following: the second indication is included within the first indication; or the second indication can be derived based on the first indication.

[0079] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the second physical downlink channel includes at least one of the following: a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that carries data, and / or a physical downlink shared channel that carries data. With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the user device is preconfigured to decode the second physical downlink channel.

[0080] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the first physical downlink channel indicates a PDSCH for the SIB acquisition.

[0081] With respect to the method of FIG. 4, the method may further include: wherein the first physical downlink channel is a first PDCCH.

[0082] FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating operation of an apparatus (e.g., which may be a UE or user device, or other apparatus) according to an example embodiment. At step 10, the UE may be preconfigured to receive the EI-PDCH. For example, the UE may have predefined EI-PDCH format, configuration, and / or the like based on a specification. In an example embodiment, the UE may be preconfigured with configuration information that instructs the UE on how to decode, monitor, receive the EI-PDCH. In an example, the preconfigured information in the UE may be employed to determine whether and / or how to receive or decode the EI-PDCH. For example, if the EI-PDCH includes a downlink control information (DCI) (in addition to data, which may be provided as a payload, for example), the UE or user device may be configured with information on a payload of the DCI used for each of one or more types of EI-PDCH. There may be one or more EI-PDCH (or types of EI-PDCHs) that maybe received or decoded by the UE or user device. Also, for example, ASN.1 encoding (or other encoding) may be used to encode fields within the DCI. The UE or user device may be configured with a RNTI (radio network temporary identifier) for each of one or more EI-PDCHs. Also, each EI-PDCH (of the one or more EI-PDCHs) may include a different or specific RNTI, which the data or payload of the EI-PDCH may be scrambled based on the RNTI. The EI-PDCH may be, for example, a PDSCH, a PDCCH, a Group common-PDCCH. However, the EI-PDCH may be obtained by the user device or UE before establishing a RRC connection with the cell or gNB.

[0083] At step 20 of FIG. 5, the UE may receive / acquire the MIB of the cell. The UE may decode the MIB, and based on the MIB, the UE may determine a CORESET and search space(s) for each of one or more EI-PDCHs. The MIB may be transmitted to the UE over the PBCH as part of the SSB. The MIB may include SIB1 configuration information (as described above), and also EI-PDCH configuration information for each EI-PDCH. For example, the EI-PDCH configuration information may indicate the CORESET and search space(s) to be monitored to decode or receive the EI-PDCH. For example, the EI-PDCH configuration information may indicate an index into one or more tables, the table(s) may be preconfigured. From the table(s), the UE or user device may obtain the CORESET and search space(s) for the EI-PDCH, and possibly other parameters that may be used to obtain (e.g., receive or decode) the EI-PDCH. The EI-PDCH configuration information may indicate one or more monitoring occasions for the EI-PDCH that may be monitored to receive or decode the EI-PDCH (and thus, obtain the data or system information that may be provided within the EI-PDCH).

[0084] At step 30 of FIG. 5, the UE may determine monitoring occasions for EI-PDCH based on the MIB parameters. The determining may be based on an element or parameters of the MIB. For example, for each of one or more EI-PDCHs to be acquired or received by the UE, the UE may determine one or more monitoring occasions within the search space(s) based on the EI-PDCH configuration information provided by (or indicated by) the MIB. The search space may indicate, for example, which radio frame(s) or slot(s) the UE should search or monitor the resources of the CORESET for the EI-PDCH.

[0085] At step 40 of FIG. 5, the UE may monitor the MIB configured search space(s) for EI-PDCHs. At step 50 of FIG. 5, the UE may acquire EI-PDCHs and executes an action accordingly. In an example, the action may include determining whether acquisition of SIB1 of the cell is required. In an example, the UE may determine to acquire one or more SIBs e.g., SIB1, SIB2, and / or the like. In another example, the UE may determine not to acquire one or more SIBs e.g., SIB1, SIB2, and / or the like.

[0086] According to an example embodiment, different EI-PDCHs may be provided via different beams, e.g., EI-PDCHs may be provided or transmitted on a beam basis. The gNB may provide information (e.g., dynamic information) about the cell status and or configuration via one or more of the EI-PDCHs.

[0087] Several example use cases of how the EI-PDCH may be used to convey early information (e.g., important or critical data or system information) to UEs may include (these are merely illustrative examples of types of data or system information that may be conveyed to the UE via EI-PDCCH):

[0088] 1) Energy State of the beam / cell: The EI-PDCH may include data that indicates an energy state of the cell, e.g., whether the cell is in a deep sleep state or fully active state. If the EI-PDCH data (e.g., energy state data) indicates that the cell is in a deep state, the UE may skip or omit acquiring SIB1 (or any SIB) of the cell, and instead, re-select to a different cell. If the EI-PDCH data (e.g., energy state data) indicates that the cell is in a fully active state, the UE may proceed and acquire SIB 1 for the cell, and then may establish a connection to the cell via random access procedure, for example. In another scenario, the EI-PDCH of a beam could indicate that the SIB1 is to be acquired from another beam, or to be requested on demand on this beam if the UE cannot acquire the SIB1 from another beam.

[0089] 2) Slot information: Slot information or DTX cycle information may be provided in a EI-PDCH data. Cells using or leveraging cell discontinuous transmission (DTX) may dynamically provide via the EI-PDCH their DTX transmission cycle. Providing a cell’s DTX cycle via a EI-PDCH may enable any UE accessing the cell to, e.g., be aware of the QoS (quality of service) to be provided for low priority services. A UE could reselect to other cells for better services with this knowledge and may improve network energy savings by allowing UEs to access cells that provide better service or avoid accessing certain cells based on their DTX cycle.

[0090] 3) Information UAC (unified access control): UAC information or data (or detailed UAC information) may be provided within the EI-PDCH data. This UAC data provided via EI- PDCH may indicate that the UE is barred from accessing this cell. In this case where the UAC information or data within the EI-PDCH indicates that the UE is barred from this cell, this may save a UE from acquiring SIB1, thereby improving time and energy efficiency of the UE. This information (and also possibly with other information dynamically modified in SIB1) may allow a reduction or decrease in the amount of system information modification procedures triggered by the cell.

[0091] 4) Multi-RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS): The cell could indicate whether it is a MRSS cell, i.e., whether its spectrum resources are being shared with a cell of another RAT (radio access technology) and hence some type of puncturing is to be performed for acquisition of for example SIB1. Conveying MRSS information via EI-PDCH may, for example, assist UEs in decoding cell broadcasted information and messages employed in cell access procedure.

[0092] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating operation according to an example embodiment. At step 1, a gNB 610 may determine which encoding to employ for different information to be relayed to the user device via EI-PDCH types. The base station may encode the EI-PDCH based on the determining of which encoding to employ for different information to be relayed to the UE 620. Different encoding may be used for different EI-PDCHs, or the gNB (e.g., network node, BS, . . .) 610 may use or select an encoding type for encoding an EI-PDCH. At step 2, gNB 610 may transmit the MIB to the UE 620. The MIB may indicate, for one or more EI-PDCHs, EI- PDCH configuration information to the UE 620 to be used for decoding (or receiving) the EI- PDCH. At step 3, the UE 620 may determine CORESET, search space(s), and / or monitoring occasions for monitoring of the EI-PDCH(s). At step 4, the UE monitors for EI-PDCH(s). At step 5, the UE 620 receives EI-PDCH type 1. At step 6, the UE 620 receives EI-PDCH type 2. At step 7, the UE 620 may process the EI-PDCHs, e.g., UE 620, based on the data received within the EI-PDCH, may determine to acquire or not acquire SIB1 for this cell, to reselect or connect to another cell, or other action.

[0093] In an example embodiment, determining CORESETO and search space 0 may be determined as follows. For this example, a frequency range 1 (FR1) band cell of 5 or 10 MHz bandwidth may be selected. In an example, Table 1 depicts a set of resource blocks and slot symbols of CORESET for TypeO-PDCCH search space set. The different possibilities for CORESETO for the above-mentioned scenario may be defined as depicted in the following table (Table 1) that depicts 15 possible configurations. In an example embodiment, the EI-PDCH may employ CORESETO.

[0094]

[0095] Table 1 : Set of resource blocks and slot symbols of CORESET for TypeO-PDCCH search space

[0096] In an example embodiment, the EI-PDCH may be transmitted using the CORESET for TypeO- PDCCH search space set (CORESETO) and the corresponding TypeO-PDCCH search space set, and the DCI size of the EI-PDCH may be aligned in size with the DCI size used to schedule SIB 1 -carrying PDSCH. In an example, same blind decoding attempts that are used to check for the PDCCH candidates for scheduling SIB1 may be employed to check / determine the presence of an EI-PDCH. In an example, the CRC (cyclic redundancy check) may be checked twice (using the SI-RNTI (system information-radio network temporary identifier) and using the RNTI used for EI-PDCH). In an example, a single decoding attempt may be sufficient. In an example, the CRC match with one of the other RNTIs e.g., the RNTI used for EI-PDCH, may determine which of the two DCI types may be decoded. If the UE found both DCIs (in different candidates determined for decoding PDCCH or EI-PDCH), the UE may proceed with receiving the SIB 1 -carrying PDSCH while simultaneously interpreting and acting on the DCI of the EI- PDCH. In an example, if the UE determines to act on one of the two DCIs on a given search space, the UE may act on the DCI of the EI-PDCH in the cell. In an example, the UE may receive the SIB1, and act on the SIB 1 -scheduling DCI if it has already decoded the DCI of the EI-PDCH in the same cell and not yet received the SIB 1. In an example embodiment, the CORESET size for monitoring of the EI-PDCH may be smaller than the size of CORESETO in order to, e.g., reduce the number of blind decodes required from a UE when blind decoding sharing is not possible (e.g., due to different DCI sizes, different frequency locations or different time location of the EI-PDCH, or PDCCH candidates). The reduced CORESET for EI-PDCH may be provided based on the same index employed for CORESETO. In an example, the EI-PDCH CORESET may be placed on top of the CORESETO or adjacent to CORESETO in frequency.

[0097] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating relationship between CORESET (EI-CORESET) of early information (for EI-PDCH) and CORESETO (for SIB 1 ) according to an example embodiment. Configuration 710 depicts an EI-PDCH CORESET (EI-CORESET) of the same size as CORESETO and immediately below it in frequency. Configuration 720 depicts an EI-PDCH CORESET of the same size as CORESETO and immediately above it in frequency. Configuration 730 depicts an EI-PDCH CORESET of the same size as CORESETO and with the same starting frequency. Configuration 740 depicts an EI-PDCH CORESET of a smaller size than CORESETO and with the same starting frequency. Other configurations where the EI-PDCH CORESET, for example, is partially overlapping CORESETO are not excluded.

[0098] Example CCE aggregation levels and the number of PDCCH candidates per CCE aggregation level for SIB1 set are given in Table 2.

[0099] Table 2: CCE aggregation levels and maximum number of PDCCH candidates per CCE aggregation level for CSS sets configured by searchSpaceSIBl

[0100] As shown in Table 2, a CORESET size of 16 CCEs or more (with 6 PRBs / physical resource blocks per CCE) allows for 7 PDCCH candidates to be searched. A number of CCEs in a CORESET may be calculated, for example, as (number of RBs * number of symbols) / 6. For example, a CORESET of 8 CCEs (24 PRBs and 2 symbols or 48 PRBs and 1 symbol) may fit one PDCCH candidate of aggregation level 8 and two PDCCH candidates of aggregation level 4. A CORESET of 4 CCEs (24 PRBs and 1 symbol) may fit a single PDCCH candidate of aggregation level 4. The number of blind decodes (BDs) to be used in the search space for EI- PDCH may be specified in the same size-dependent way, the same BDs as with the SIB1- scheduling DCI may be employed as described in the example of FIG. 7. In an example, new CORESET and search space set may be defined for the EI-PDCH, or a fixed number of BDs may be employed and the aggregation level may be determined by the CORESET size. In an example embodiment, for the monitoring of search space 0 to decode or receive EI- PDCH, the UE may monitor two consecutive slots which may be determined based on a method defined in Table 3.

[0101] Table 3: Parameters for PDCCH monitoring occasions for TypeO-PDCCH CSS set - SS / PBCH block

[0102] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating slot monitoring occasions determined for EI-PDCH according to an example embodiment. The example FIG. 8 depicts an illustration of slot monitoring occasions determined based on Table 3. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating slot monitoring occasions for EI-PDCH determined according to an example embodiment. FIG. 9 depicts example time-instances at which the EI-PDCH is monitored on the EI-PDCH CORESET. The associated search spaces may define the actual monitoring occasions and the PDCCH blind decoding (BD) candidates. In an example, FIG. 9 depicts an example of monitoring occasions that may be defined for two EI-PDCHs (e g., two EI-PDCH types, including EI-PDCH type 1, and EI-PDCH type 2). In an example, one or more EI-PDCH types may have overlapping monitoring occasions with search space zero monitoring occasions or search space of other EI-PDCH types. In an example, the offsets for different encoding types of the EI-PDCH may be set separately. For example, in FIG. 9, EI-PDCH type 1 may employ an encoding for DCIs, where UE is aware of the information and the fields that are relayed within the DCI and EI-PDCH type 2 may employ ASN. l encoding with which more variability on the information included in the payload is allowed.

[0103] In an example embodiment, Table 4 depicts an example of EI-PDCH CORESET based on CORESETO. In an example embodiment, the CORESET size for monitoring of the EI-PDCH may be set smaller than the CORESETO. The reduced CORESET for the EI-PDCH may be provided based on the same index employed for CORESETO as depicted in Table 4. Table 4 Example of Early Information PDCH CORESET based on CORESETO

[0104] Some Examples will be described:

[0105] Example 1. An apparatus including: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel. Determine, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel. Monitor the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel. Receive the second physical downlink channel.

[0106] Example 2. The apparatus of example 1, wherein the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel includes at least one second search space, wherein: the first indication of the first physical downlink channel indicates a first CORESET and a first search space associated with the first CORESET, the second indication of the second physical downlink channel indicates a second CORESET and the at least one second search space, and wherein the determining the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel causes the apparatus to select the at least one second search space.

[0107] Example 3. The apparatus of example 2, wherein the apparatus is further caused to decode the second physical downlink channel based on the second CORESET and the at least one second search space.

[0108] Example 4. The apparatus of any of examples 2-3, wherein the second CORESET for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first CORESET for the first physical downlink channel.

[0109] Example 5. The apparatus of any of examples 2-4, wherein at least one second search space for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first search space for the first physical downlink channel.

[0110] Example 6. The apparatus of any of examples 2-5, wherein the second CORESET is at least one of the following: a same size and adjacent to the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and immediately below the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and immediately above the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET, a smaller size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET, or a different size and adjacent or contained within same frequency as in the first CORESET. Example 7. The apparatus of any of examples 1-6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine, based on the second physical downlink channel, whether receiving the SIB is required.

[0111] Example 8. The apparatus of any of examples 1-7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to decode the second physical downlink channel prior to decoding of the first physical downlink channel.

[0112] Example 9. The apparatus of any of examples 1-8, wherein each second physical downlink channel is scrambled with a pre-determined radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

[0113] In an example embodiment, the second PDCH may be scrambled with a new RNTI that may be different from the RNTI for other SI.

[0114] Example 10. The apparatus of any of examples 1-9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to obtain information within the second physical downlink channel, the information including at least one of: an indication of energy saving state of the cell, slot information indicating DTX information, slot information indicating slot availability for unlicensed access, an indication of whether a system information is on demand, an element or a portion of a SI, an element of a UAC, and an indication or configuration of MRSS.

[0115] In an example embodiment, UAC may be included in SIB1 and may provide information on access barring. In an example, the access barring may be applicable to a service, application, a group of users, a group of user devices, a group of UEs of a certain capability, and / or the like. In an example the access barring may indicate e.g., that voice calls are allowed but delay tolerant traffic may not be allowed for low priority users.

[0116] Example 11. The apparatus of any of examples 1-10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine whether to receive the second physical downlink channel based on a capability of the apparatus.

[0117] Example 12. The apparatus of any of examples 1-11, wherein the second indication indicates a plurality of second physical downlink channels, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to: monitor at least one search space for each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels, and receive each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels.

[0118] Example 13. The apparatus of any of examples 1-11, wherein the second indication indicates a plurality of second physical downlink channels, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine which of the plurality of second physical downlink channels to receive based on the capability of the apparatus.

[0119] Example 14. The apparatus of any of examples 1-13, wherein the cell employs an on-demand SIB1.

[0120] Example 15. The apparatus of any of examples 1-14, wherein the second physical downlink channel is encoded based on at least one of: an abstract syntax notation number One (ASN.1), or a bitmap.

[0121] Example 16. The apparatus of any of examples 1-15, wherein the MIB further includes: a system frame number, a subCarrierSpacingCommon, a ssb-SubcarrierOffset, a demodulation reference signal dmrs-TypeA-Position, an indication of whether the cell is barred, and an indication of whether intra frequency reselection is allowed.

[0122] With respect to Example 16, dmrs-TypeA-Position may indicate position of (first) DM-RS for downlink and uplink. The intraFreqReselection may be employed to control cell selection / reselection to intra-frequency cells when the highest ranked cell is barred, or treated as barred by the UE. The pdcch-ConfigSIBl may be employed to determine a common CORESET, a common search space and necessary PDCCH parameters. If the field ssb- SubcarrierOffset indicates that SIB1 is absent, the field pdcch-ConfigSIBl may indicate the frequency positions where the UE may find SS / PBCH block with SIB1 or the frequency range where the network does not provide SS / PBCH block with SIB1. The ssb-SubcarrierOffset information element (IE) may correspond to kssB, which is the frequency domain offset between SSB and the overall resource block grid in number of subcarriers. The value range of this field may be extended by an additional most significant bit encoded within PBCH. This field may indicate that this cell does not provide SIB1 and that there is hence no CORESETO configured in the MIB. In this case, the field pdcch-ConfigSIBl may indicate the frequency positions where the UE may (not) find a SS / PBCH with a control resource set and search space for SIB1. The subCarrierSpacingCommon IE may indicate subcarrier spacing for SIB1, Msg.2 / 4 and MsgB for initial access, paging and broadcast Si-messages. If the UE acquires this MIB on an FR1 carrier frequency, the value scsl5or60 corresponds to 15 kHz and the value scs30orl20 corresponds to 30 kHz. If the UE acquires this MIB on a frequency range 2 (FR2) carrier frequency, the value scsl5or60 corresponds to 60 kHz and the value scs30orl20 corresponds to 120 kHz. For operation with shared spectrum channel access in FR1 and for operation in FR2-2, the subcarrier spacing for SIB1, Msg.2 / 4 and MsgB for initial access, paging and broadcast Si-messages is same as that for the corresponding SSB. For operation with shared spectrum channel access, this field instead is used for deriving the QCL relation between SS / PBCH blocks.

[0123] Example 17. The apparatus of any of examples 1-16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive the MIB before an RRC connection is established.

[0124] Example 18. The apparatus of any of examples 1-17, wherein the second physical downlink channel is a group common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) acquired while the apparatus is in RRC idle or in RRC inactive state.

[0125] In an example embodiment, the second PDCH (e.g., the EI-PDCH) may be a PDCCH, a GC- PDCCH, and / or the like.

[0126] In an example embodiment, the GC-PDCCH may include a channel (e.g., either a PDCCH or a separately designed channel) that carries information intended for a group of UEs. The GC PDCCH may be employed for carrying / transmitting information for the UEs to perform corresponding operations. The GC-PDCCH may be employed for a method via which a group of UEs within a cell may be notified of events, configurations or status of network via different DCI formats transmitted over a PDCCH scrambled with a RNTI that may be used by a group of UEs. For example, the GC-PDCCH may be employed for at least one of the following: slot configuration via DCI format 2 0 scrambled SFI-RNTI, interrupted transmission indication via DCI format 2 1 scrambled with INT-RNTI, cancellation indication via DCI format 2 4 scrambled with CI-RNTI, group transmit power control (TPC) commands for PUCCH / PUSCH via DCI format 2 2 scrambled with tpc-PUCCH-RNTI or tpc-PUSCH-RNTI, SRS Switching via DCI format 2 3 scrambled with tpc-SRS-RNTI, and / or the like. For example, the UE may monitor for the above if it is configured by the network to do so in a type3 PDCCH CSS search space. For each of the specified DCI formats the UE may determine the payload via configuration parameters and may be aware of the possible contents of the DCI format.

[0127] Example 19. The apparatus of any of examples 1-18, wherein the second physical downlink channel is beam-specific such that different beams of a cell are associated with different second physical downlink channels.

[0128] In an example embodiment, the gNB may pick and decide or determine which EI-PDCH it transmit on which beams. The UE may perform blind decoding on all beams.

[0129] Example 20. The apparatus of any of examples 1-19, wherein the second indication includes at least one of the following: the second indication is included within the first indication, or the second indication can be derived based on the first indication.

[0130] Example 21. The apparatus of any of examples 1-20, wherein the second physical downlink channel includes at least one of the following: a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that carries data; or a physical downlink shared channel that carries data.

[0131] Example 22. The apparatus of any of examples 1-21, wherein the apparatus is preconfigured to decode the second physical downlink channel.

[0132] Example 23. The apparatus of any of examples 1-22, wherein the first physical downlink channel indicates a PDSCH for the SIB acquisition.

[0133] In an example embodiment, the first PDCH may indicate the PDSCH for SIB1 acquisition. For example, the first PDCH may be a pdcch-ConfigSIB 1. The pdcch-ConfigSIBl may determine a common CORESET, a common search space and necessary PDCCH parameters. If the field ssb-SubcarrierOffset indicates that SIB1 is absent, the field pdcch-ConfigSIBl may indicate the frequency positions where the UE may find SS / PBCH block with SIB1 or the frequency range where the network does not provide SS / PBCH block with SIB 1.

[0134] Example 24. The apparatus of any of examples 1-23, wherein the first physical downlink channel is a first PDCCH.

[0135] Example 25. An apparatus including: at least one processor, at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to a user device, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, and transmit the second physical downlink channel. The transmission is done according to second indication comprised in the MIB.

[0136] Example 26. A method including: receiving, by a user device from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) including a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel, determining, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, monitoring the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel, and receiving the second physical downlink channel.

[0137] Example 27. The method of example 26, wherein the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel includes at least one second search space, wherein: the first indication of the first physical downlink channel indicates a first CORESET and a first search space associated with the first CORESET, the second indication of the second physical downlink channel indicates a second CORESET and the at least one second search space, and wherein the determining the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel includes selecting the at least one second search space.

[0138] Example 28. The method of example 27, including: decoding the second physical downlink channel based on the second CORESET and the at least one second search space.

[0139] Example 29. The method of any of examples 26-28, wherein the second CORESET for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first CORESET for the first physical downlink channel.

[0140] Example 30. The method of any of examples 26-29, wherein at least one second search space for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first search space for the first physical downlink channel.

[0141] Example 31. The method of any of examples 26-30, wherein the second CORESET is at least one of the following: a same size and adjacent to the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and immediately below the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and immediately above the first CORESET in frequency, a same size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET, a smaller size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET, or a different size and adjacent or contained within same frequency as in the first CORESET.

[0142] Example 32. The method of any of examples 26-31, further including determining, based on the second physical downlink channel, whether receiving the SIB is required.

[0143] Example 33. The method of any of examples 26-32, further including decoding the second physical downlink channel prior to decoding of the first physical downlink channel.

[0144] Example 34. The method of any of examples 26-33, wherein each second physical downlink channel is scrambled with a pre-determined radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

[0145] Example 35. The method of any of examples 26-34, further including obtaining information within the second physical downlink channel, the information including at least one of an indication of energy saving state of the cell, slot information indicating discontinuous transmission (DTX) information, slot information indicating slot availability for unlicensed access, an indication of whether a system information is on demand, an element or a portion of a system information (SI), an element of a unified access control (UAC), and an indication or configuration of multi-RAT spectrum sharing (MRSS).

[0146] Example 36. The method of any of examples 26-35, further including determining whether to receive the second physical downlink channel based on a capability of the user device.

[0147] Example 37. The method of any of examples 26-36, wherein the second indication indicates a plurality of second physical downlink channels, the method including: monitoring at least one search space for each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels, and receiving each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels.

[0148] Example 38. The method of examples 26-37, further including determining which of the plurality of second physical downlink channels to receive based on the capability of the user device. Example 39. The method of any of examples 26-38, wherein the cell employs an on-demand SIB1.

[0149] Example 40. The method of any of examples 26-39, wherein the second physical downlink channel is encoded based on at least one of: an abstract syntax notation number One (ASN.1), or a bitmap.

[0150] Example 41. The method of any of examples 26-40, wherein the MIB further includes: a system frame number, a subCarrierSpacingCommon, a ssb-SubcarrierOffset, a demodulation reference signal dmrs-TypeA-Position, an indication of whether the cell is barred, and an indication of whether intra frequency reselection is allowed.

[0151] Example 42. The method of any of examples 26-41, wherein the MIB is received before a radio resource control (RRC) connection is established.

[0152] Example 43. The method of any of examples 26-42, wherein the second physical downlink channel is a group common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) acquired while the user device is in RRC idle or in RRC inactive state.

[0153] Example 44. The method of any of examples 26-43, wherein the second physical downlink channel is beam-specific such that different beams of a cell are associated with different second physical downlink channels.

[0154] Example 45. The method of any of examples 26-44, wherein the second indication includes at least one of the following: the second indication is included within the first indication, or the second indication can be derived based on the first indication.

[0155] Example 46. The method of any of examples 26-45, wherein the second physical downlink channel includes at least one of the following: a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that carries data, or a physical downlink shared channel that carries data.

[0156] Example 47. The method of any of examples 26-46, wherein the user device is preconfigured to decode the second physical downlink channel. Example 48. The method of any of examples 26-47, wherein the first physical downlink channel indicates a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for the SIB acquisition.

[0157] Example 49. The method of any of examples 26-48, wherein the first physical downlink channel is a first PDCCH.

[0158] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e.g., UE, user device, AP, BS, eNB, gNB, RAN node, network node, TRP, or other node) 1300 according to an example embodiment. The wireless station 1300 may include, for example, one or more (e.g., two as shown in FIG. 10) RF (radio frequency) or wireless transceivers 1302 A, 1302B, where each wireless transceiver includes a transmitter to transmit signals and a receiver to receive signals. The wireless station also includes a processor or control unit / entity (controller) 1304 to execute instructions or software and control transmission and receptions of signals, and a memory 1306 to store data and / or instructions.

[0159] Processor 1304 may also make decisions or determinations, generate frames, packets or messages for transmission, decode received frames or messages for further processing, and other tasks or functions described herein. Processor 1304, which may be a baseband processor, for example, may generate messages, packets, frames or other signals for transmission via wireless transceiver 1302 (1302A or 1302B). Processor 1304 may control transmission of signals or messages over a wireless network, and may control the reception of signals or messages, etc., via a wireless network (e.g., after being down-converted by wireless transceiver 1302, for example). Processor 1304 may be programmable and capable of executing software or other instructions stored in memory or on other computer media to perform the various tasks and functions described above, such as one or more of the tasks or methods described above. Processor 1304 may be (or may include), for example, hardware, programmable logic, a programmable processor that executes software or firmware, and / or any combination of these. Using other terminology, processor 1304 and transceiver 1302 together may be considered as a wireless transmitter / receiver system, for example.

[0160] In addition, referring to FIG. 10, a controller (or processor) 1308 may execute software and instructions, and may provide overall control for the station 1300, and may provide control for other systems not shown in FIG. 10, such as controlling input / output devices (e.g., display, keypad), and / or may execute software for one or more applications that may be provided on wireless station 1300, such as, for example, an email program, audio / video applications, a word processor, a Voice over IP application, or other application or software.

[0161] In addition, a storage medium may be provided that includes stored instructions, which when executed by a controller or processor may result in the processor 1304, or other controller or processor, performing one or more of the functions or tasks described above.

[0162] According to another example embodiment, RF or wireless transceiver(s) 1302A / 1302B may receive signals or data and / or transmit or send signals or data. Processor 1304 (and possibly transceivers 1302A / 1302B) may control the RF or wireless transceiver 1302A or 1302B to receive, send, broadcast or transmit signals or data.

[0163] Example embodiments are provided or described for each of the example methods, including: An apparatus (e.g., 1300, FIG. 10) including means (e.g., processor 1304, RF transceivers 1302A and / or 1302B, and / or memory 1306, in FIG. 10) for carrying out any of the methods; a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., memory 1306, FIG. 10) including instructions stored thereon that, when executed by at least one processor (processor 1304, FIG. 10), are configured to cause a computing system (e.g., 1300, FIG. 10) to perform any of the example methods; and an apparatus (e.g., 1300, FIG. 10) including at least one processor (e.g., processor 1304, FIG. 10), and at least one memory (e.g., memory 1306, FIG. 10) including computer program code, the at least one memory (1306) and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor (1304), cause the apparatus (e.g., 1300) at least to perform any of the example methods.

[0164] Embodiments of the various techniques described herein may be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of them. Embodiments may be implemented as a computer program product, i.e., a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, e.g., in a machine-readable storage device or in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, a data processing apparatus, e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. Embodiments may also be provided on a computer readable medium or computer readable storage medium, which may be a non-transitory medium. Embodiments of the various techniques may also include embodiments provided via transitory signals or media, and / or programs and / or software embodiments that are downloadable via the Internet or other network(s), either wired networks and / or wireless networks. In addition, embodiments may be provided via machine type communications (MTC), and also via an Internet of Things (IOT).

[0165] As used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ or “circuit” refers to all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations, such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry, and (b) combinations of circuits and soft-ware (and / or firmware), such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of processor(s) or (ii) portions of processor(s) / software including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus to perform various functions, and (c) circuits, such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor s), that require software or firmware for operation, even if the software or firmware is not physically present. This definition of ‘circuitry’ applies to all uses of this term in this application. As a further example, as used in this application, the term ‘circuitry’ would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) or a portion of a processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term ‘circuitry’ would also cover, for example and if applicable to the particular element, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit for a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a server, a cellular network device, or another network device.

[0166] The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or in some intermediate form, and it may be stored in some sort of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. Such carriers include a record medium, computer memory, read-only memory, photoelectrical and / or electrical carrier signal, telecommunications signal, and software distribution package, for example. Depending on the processing power needed, the computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer, or it may be distributed amongst a number of computers.

[0167] Furthermore, embodiments of the various techniques described herein may use a cyberphysical system (CPS) (a system of collaborating computational elements controlling physical entities). CPS may enable the embodiment and exploitation of massive amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors microcontrollers,...) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber physical systems, in which the physical system in question has inherent mobility, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronics transported by humans or animals. The rise in popularity of smartphones has increased interest in the area of mobile cyber-physical systems. Therefore, various embodiments of techniques described herein may be provided via one or more of these technologies.

[0168] A computer program, such as the computer program(s) described above, can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit or part of it suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0169] Method steps may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing a computer program or computer program portions to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Method steps also may be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0170] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer, chip or chipset. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer also may include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0171] To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments may be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a user interface, such as a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0172] Embodiments may be implemented in a computing system that includes a backend component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a frontend component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an embodiment, or any combination of such backend, middleware, or frontend components. Components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (LAN) and a wide area network (WAN), e.g., the Internet.

[0173] While certain features of the described embodiments have been illustrated as described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will now occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the various embodiments.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive, from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) comprising a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel; determine, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel; monitor the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel; and receive the second physical downlink channel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel comprises at least one second search space, wherein: the first indication of the first physical downlink channel indicates a first CORESET and a first search space associated with the first CORESET; the second indication of the second physical downlink channel indicates a second CORESET and the at least one second search space; and wherein the determining the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel causes the apparatus to select the at least one second search space.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is further caused to: decode the second physical downlink channel based on the second CORESET and the at least one second search space.

4. The apparatus of any of claims 2-3, wherein the second CORESET for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first CORESET for the first physical downlink channel.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 2-4, wherein at least one second search space for the second physical downlink channel is the same as the first search space for the first physical downlink channel.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 2-5, wherein the second CORESET is at least one of the following: a same size and adjacent to the first CORESET in frequency; a same size and immediately below the first CORESET in frequency; a same size and immediately above the first CORESET in frequency; a same size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET; a smaller size and having a same starting frequency as the first CORESET; or a different size and adjacent or contained within same frequency as in the first CORESET.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1-6, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine, based on the second physical downlink channel, whether receiving the SIB is required.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to decode the second physical downlink channel prior to decoding of the first physical downlink channel.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1-8, wherein each second physical downlink channel is scrambled with a pre-determined radio network temporary identifier (RNTI).

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1-9, wherein the apparatus is further caused to obtain information within the second physical downlink channel, the information including at least one of: an indication of energy saving state of the cell; slot information indicating discontinuous transmission (DTX) information; slot information indicating slot availability for unlicensed access; an indication of whether a system information is on demand; an element or a portion of a system information (SI); an element of a unified access control (UAC); and an indication or configuration of Multi -RAT Spectrum Sharing (MRSS).

11. The apparatus of any of claims 1-10, wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine whether to receive the second physical downlink channel based on a capability of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 1-11, wherein the second indication indicates a plurality of second physical downlink channels, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to: monitor at least one search space for each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels; and receive each of the plurality of second physical downlink channels.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the second indication indicates a plurality of second physical downlink channels, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to determine which of the plurality of second physical downlink channels to receive based on the capability of the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 1-13, wherein the cell employs an on-demand SIB1.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 1-14, wherein the second physical downlink channel is encoded based on at least one of: an abstract syntax notation number One (ASN. l); or a bitmap.

16. The apparatus of any of claims 1-15, wherein the MIB further comprises: a system frame number; a subCarrierSpacingCommon; a ssb-SubcarrierOffset; a dmrs-TypeA-Position; an indication of whether the cell is barred; and an indication of whether intra frequency reselection is allowed.

17. The apparatus of any of claims 1-16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to receive the MIB before a radio resource control (RRC) connection is established.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 1-17, wherein the second physical downlink channel is a group common physical downlink control channel (GC-PDCCH) acquired while the apparatus is in RRC idle or in RRC inactive state.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 1-18, wherein the second physical downlink channel is beam-specific such that different beams of a cell are associated with different second physical downlink channels.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 1-19, wherein the second indication comprises at least one of the following: the second indication is included within the first indication; or the second indication can be derived based on the first indication.

21. The apparatus of any of claims 1-20, wherein the second physical downlink channel comprises at least one of the following: a second physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that carries data; or a physical downlink shared channel that carries data.

22. The apparatus of any of claims 1-21, wherein the apparatus is preconfigured to decode the second physical downlink channel.

23. The apparatus of any of claims 1-22, wherein the first physical downlink channel indicates a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for the SIB acquisition.

24. The apparatus of any of claims 1-23, wherein the first physical downlink channel is a first PDCCH.

25. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device from a cell of a network node, a master information block (MIB) comprising a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel; determining, based on the second indication, at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel; monitoring the at least one search space for the second physical downlink channel; and receiving the second physical downlink channel.

26. An apparatus comprising:at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: transmit, to a user device, a master information block (MIB) comprising a first indication of a first physical downlink channel for a system information block (SIB) acquisition and a second indication of a second physical downlink channel; and transmit the second physical downlink channel.

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