Multi-rat resource sharing profiles for wireless communications

Abstract

A method includes receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

Description

MULTI-RAT RESOURCE SHARING PROFILES FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONSTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This description relates to wireless communications.BACKGROUND

[0002] 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.

[0003] An example of a cellular communication system is an architecture that is being standardized by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). EUTRA (evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System 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 B (eNBs), provide wireless access within a coverage area or cell. In LTE, mobile devices, or mobile stations are referred to as user equipments (UE). LTE has included a number of improvements or developments.

[0004] 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. In a case where two radio access technologies (RATs) may coexist, it is desirable to make efficient use of resources.SUMMARY

[0005] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to 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, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activate,for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least: a first resource or configuration dedicated to a first radio access technology (RAT), which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a first cell of the first RAT; a second resource or configuration dedicated to a second RAT, which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a second cell of the second RAT; and a third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource or configuration, which can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0006] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least: a first resource or configuration dedicated to a first radio access technology (RAT), which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a first cell of the first RAT; a second resource or configuration dedicated to a second RAT, which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a second cell of the second RAT; and a third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource or configuration, which can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0007] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to 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, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information of a plurality of profiles, each profile associated with a mode of operation and indicating resources for one or more control signals and / or instructions to obtain one or more control signals, wherein one profile is activated at a time for a cell; and, activate, for use by the user device, a profile of the plurality of profiles; and wherein the plurality of profiles comprises at least: a first profile indicating the user device to receive a first type of control signal from a first cell of a first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell of the first RAT, andfor the user device to receive the first type of control signal from a second cell of a second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and a second profile indicating the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0008] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information of a plurality of profiles, each profile associated with a mode of operation and indicating resources for one or more control signals and / or instructions to obtain one or more control signals, wherein one profile is activated at a time for a cell; and, activating, for use by the user device, a profile of the plurality of profiles; and wherein the plurality of profiles comprises at least: a first profile indicating the user device to receive a first type of control signal from a first cell of a first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell of the first RAT, and for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from a second cell of a second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and a second profile indicating the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0009] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to 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, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activate, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

[0010] In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method including: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at leasta control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

[0011] 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.

[0012] 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.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. l is a block diagram of a wireless network.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system in which UEs may be connected to or obtain services from a 5G cell and / or a 6G cell according to an example embodiment.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating MRRS profiles according to an example embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating MRRS profiles according to another example embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 5 is diagram illustrating a process for updating a MRRS profile(s) according to an example embodiment.

[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating two example MRRS profiles. Only one profile per UE is active.

[0019] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a user device or UE according to an example embodiment.

[0020] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a user device or UE according to another example embodiment.

[0021] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a user device or UE according to yet another example embodiment.

[0022] FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a wireless station or node (e.g., network node(such as gNB), user node or UE, relay node, or other node).DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”. . etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0024] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0025] 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), user equipment (UEs) or loT devices, 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.

[0026] 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 centralized unit (CU) and / or a distributed unit (DU) in the case of a split BS or split gNB), or other network node.

[0027] 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 embodiments, however, the gNB-DUs (also called DU) may comprise e.g., a radio link control (RLC), medium access control (MAC) layer and a physical (PHY) layer, whereas the gNB-CU (also called a CU) may comprise 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.

[0028] 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 (CN). 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.

[0029] 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, an loT device, 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. 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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 receiveinformation 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.

[0032] 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).

[0033] 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.

[0034] A RAT, or radio access technology, may include, for example, or may refer to the technology and / or protocols used in wireless communication systems to establish a connection between a user device or UE and a network or network node. Different RATs may use different technology and / or different protocols for communication. There are different RATs used in different generations of cellular networks, such as, for example, 2G (GSM), 3G (UMTS), 4G (LTE), and 5G (New Radio, or NR), and now 6G. Other types of RATs (e.g., non-cellular RATs) may also be provided or may be used, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.

[0035] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a system in which UEs may be connected to or obtain services from a 5G cell and / or a 6G cell according to an example embodiment. AUE1 may be connected to a 5G gNB that provides one or more 5G cells, while UE2 may be connected to 6G gNB, which provides one or more 6G cells. The 5G gNB may be in communication with a 5G core network, while the 6G gNB may be in communication with a 6G core network. In some examples, the 5G and 6G cells (or 5G and 6G gNBs) and / or UE1 and / or UE2 may share or may have some overlapping infrastructure, such as hardware (e.g., wireless transceivers), some overlapping or common software, and may share or have access to the same set of spectrum or time / frequency resources. This may allow a 6G UE to be able to communicate with either a 5G cell or a 5G gNB, and a 6G cell or 6G gNB. Also, in some cases, this may allow a sharing of resources, configuration and / or signals between 5G cells and 6G cells.

[0036] In an example embodiment, multi-RAT Resource sharing (MRRS) may be supported by a communication system. MRRS may allow for a more efficient use of resources, e.g., wherein at least some resources may be shared between or among multiple RATs. The MRRS may, for example, be a feature that may be used for (or useful for) migration from NR / 5G to 6G because it allows new radio (NR) and 6G cells to share the same resource(s), e.g., carrier(s) dynamically and to adapt to different traffic requirements. In a MRRS cell, one or more resources may be shared by NR and 6G (resources shared between 5G cell and 6G cell). For example, resources that may be shared between RATs (e.g., between a 5G cell and a 6G cell) may include spectral resources or spectrum (e.g., time, frequency and / or spatial resources for transmitting or receiving data or control information), carriers, control signals or control channels, or other resources.

[0037] According to an example embodiment, a profile, or a MRRS profile, may be or may include a set of one or more configurations that determine UE behavior or UE operation, and / or may indicate requirements or may include instructions to be used by the UE to establish a connection to a cell or to obtain wireless services from a cell or network node (gNB). A profile may include one or more configurations, e.g., such as a resource configuration, a signal or control signal configuration, a control channel configuration, or other configuration. A configuration may include a set of parameters to configure (or provide a UE with configuration information of) a resource, a control signal, a control channel, or otherwise configure operation for the UE. A configuration may reflect a mode of operation (for a cell or network node / gNB, or for the UE). In some cases, a profile may be associated with a mode of operation, which may be a mode of operation of a cell or network node or the UE. For example, a mode of operation may be or may include anormal or basic mode of operation, and a power saving mode or network energy saving (NES) mode of operation. Some example configurations may include a synchronization signal block (SSB) configuration that indicates, e.g., one or more parameters of the SSB, such as periodicity, time / frequency resources for the SSB transmission, etc., a system information block (SIB) configuration that indicates one or more parameters for the transmission of system information, e.g., such as parameters that indicate periodicity (or whether the SIB is only transmitted on demand or upon request), time / frequency resources, and / or contents of the system information or SIB, a random access channel (RACH) preamble resource configuration that indicates, e.g., time / frequency resources of RACH preamble resources that may be used by a UE to transmit a RACH preamble, demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration, a channel state information-reference signal (CSI- RS) configuration, or a configuration for an uplink channel or a downlink channel, or a configuration of resources for an uplink channel or a downlink channel (e.g., such as physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), physical downlink control channel (PDCCH)), etc.

[0038] In a case where there are cells of different RATs (e.g., a 5G cell and a 6G cell) providing (e.g., same, similar, or partially overlapping) coverage for an area (or where some UEs may be able to communicate with both the 5G cell and the 6G cell), resources (e.g., control signals, control channels, time, frequency and / or spatial resources or spectrum for transmission of a control signal or data, or other resources), signals or configurations may be separately allocated for each of the 5G cell and the 6G cells. However, situations may arise where it may be advantageous for the 5G cell and 6G cell to share one or more of the resources. For example, there may be an uneven subscriber load or uneven traffic load for the 5G and 6G cells, e.g., 80% of the UEs or subscribers may be connected to the 5G cell and 20% of the UEs or subscribers are connected to the 6G cell. Or, during some time periods of the day, e.g., during the overnight period or late night period, there may be very few UEs connected to or obtaining wireless services from the 6G cell. In these situations, for example, it may be advantageous and / or more efficient, for one or more resources to be shared between the 5G and 6G cells, e.g., so that the 6G cell may enter a power saving mode (e.g., network energy saving mode).

[0039] Therefore, according to an example embodiment, a multi-RAT resource sharing (MRRS) profile may be provided to a UE, which may allow for a more efficient use ofresources among or between cells of different RATs. According to an example embodiment, a UE may receive (and may activate) a multi-RAT resource sharing (MRRS) profile, which may be a profile in which configurations, parameters or other profile information may be provided to the UE for a plurality of RATs. A MRRS profile may include or may indicate, for example, a resource, a configuration and / or a control signal that may be shared by or re-used between cells of different RATs (e.g., shared by or reused between a 5G cell and a 6G cell).

[0040] A MRRS profile may include or may indicate, for example: a resource (e.g., resource for a control signal, or for transmission of data, or other resource), a configuration, and / or a control signal that may be allocated or dedicated to a first cell of a first RAT (e.g., 5G cell), which may be used by the UE to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell of the first RAT (e.g. 5G cell); a resource, a configuration and / or a control signal that may be allocated or dedicated to a second cell of a second RAT (e.g., a 6G cell), which may be used by the UE to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the first RAT (e.g. 6G cell); and / or a resource, a configuration and / or a control signal that may be shared by or re-used between cells of multiple RATs, e.g., shared by or re-used between the first cell of the first RAT (e.g., 5G cell) and the second cell of the second RAT (e.g., 6G cell). For example, the shared resource, configuration and / or control signal may be used by the UE to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain at least some wireless services from either (or at least one) of the first cell of a first RAT (e.g., a 5G cell) or the second cell of a second RAT (e.g., 6G cell). The term “either” (or at least one) means that the (e.g., same) shared or re-used resource, configuration and / or control signal is usable by the UE in both RATs (e.g., 5G and / or 6G), and thus, the UE may use this same / shared resource, configuration and / or control signal to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain at least some wireless services from the cell of the first RAT (e.g., 5G cell), and / or to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain at least some wireless services from the cell of the second RAT (e.g., 6G cell), depending on the needs or configuration of the UE or what the UE chooses to do. Also, as an example of a resource, configuration and / or control signal that is re-used between RATs (or re-used between cells of different RATs), a resource, a configuration and / or a control signal of the first cell of the first RAT (e.g., of the 5G cell) may be used by the UE to establish a connection, communicate with and / or obtain at least some wireless servicesfrom the second cell of the second RAT (e.g., the 6G cell).

[0041] A network node or gNB may transmit, signal or provide a plurality of MRRS profiles to a UE. For example, idle or inactive UEs may receive MRRS profiles from a gNB via broadcast system information block (SIB), or other broadcast information. And, a UE that is connected to a cell may receive MRRS profiles via RRC message(s), or other messages, received from the cell, for example. In an example embodiment, only one MRRS profile, of the set or plurality of MRRS profiles, is active for the UE at a time. The UE may use the activated MRRS profile to define or determine its behavior and / or operation. That is, the activated MRRS profile indicates or defines the UE operation or behavior. The gNB may send information or a message to a UE activating one MRRS profile of the set of MRRS profiles. For example, a gNB may send a message to a UE to activate or deactivate a MRRS profile, wherein the message may include, e.g., a radio resource control (RRC) message, a downlink control information (DCI), a media access control element (MAC CE), or other message. A timer may be associated with an activated MRRS profile, and the activated MRRS profile may be deactivated when the timer associated with the MRRS profile expires. Receiving a message indicating activation of a new (or second) MRRS profile may automatically deactivate a current (or first) MRRS profile, e.g., since only one MRRS profile may be active or activated at a time, according to an example embodiment.

[0042] Also, for example, a MRRS cell may be a cell of a first RAT that is capable of sharing resources, configurations and / or control signals with cells of a second RAT (or cells of other RATs). For example, a 5G MRRS cell may be a 5G cell that is capable of sharing resources, configurations and / or control signals with 6G cells. A 6G MRRS cells may be a 6G cell that is capable of sharing resources, configurations and / or control signals with 5G cells.

[0043] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating MRRS profiles according to an example embodiment. For example, each MRRS profile, including MRRS profiles #1, #2, #3 and #4 may be valid for a specific time period, or for a specific number of slots. For example, MRRS profile #1 may be valid for N1 slots; MRRS profile #2 may be valid for N2 slots; MRRS profile #3 may be valid for N3 slots; and, MRRS profile may be valid for N4 slots, as some examples. A gNB may share or provide these MRRS profiles with UEs, and the time or slots for which each MRRS profile is valid. A UE may then activate MRRS profile #1 for N1 slots, and then deactivate MRRS profile #1 at the end of N1 slots and activateMRRS profile #2, which will be active or activated for N2 slots, for example.

[0044] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating MRRS profiles according to another example embodiment. The UE may receive a plurality of (or set of) MRRS profiles, where each MRRS profile may be different in one or more ways, e.g., may have one or more different configurations, as compared to other MRRS profiles. In some cases, a MRRS profile may be provided specifically for a specific mode of operation, e.g., MRRS profile #1 may be a baseline profile, MRRS profile #2 may be optimized for a specific mode of operation, and MRRS profile #N may have a different set of configurations, e.g., for another mode of operation, for example. Each of the MRRS profiles may include, for example, one or more of the following: a random access channel (RACH) preamble configuration or RACH preamble resource configuration that provides a configuration or set of parameters for a RACH preamble and / or for a RACH preamble resource; a sounding reference signal (SRS) configuration or SRS resource configuration that provides a configuration or set of parameters for a sounding reference signal (SRS); a synchronization signal or synchronization signal block (SSB) configuration or SSB resource configuration that provides a configuration or set of parameters for synchronization signal or SSB; a system information or system information block (SIB) configuration or SIB resource configuration that provide a configuration or set of parameters for system information or SIB; a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration or DMRS resource configuration that provides a configuration or set of parameters for a DMRS; a reference signal configuration for one or more different types of reference signals, e.g., such as for synchronization signal block reference signals, positioning reference signals, such as a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) configuration or CSI-RS resource configuration that provides a configuration or set of parameters for a CSI-RS. A MRRS profile may include or may indicate a set of one or more configurations, resources, and / or control signals. These are just some illustrative examples.

[0045] As noted, for example, a MRRS profile may include or may indicate a set of one or more configurations, e.g., with each configuration including a set of parameters, where the configurations or the parameters may reflect a cell mode of operation, e.g., MRRS profile #1 is for a baseline or normal mode of operation for the cell, MRRS profile #2 may be for a low latency mode of operation for the cell that is designed to provide low latency operation for specific applications or specific data or for specific or subset of UEs (e.g., a MRRS profile that provides low latency service for URLLC UEs or data), and willprovide normal or baseline mode of operation for other UEs, applications or data, . . . and MRRS profile #3 may be for a low power or network energy saving (NES) mode of operation with energy saving settings (SSB periodicity, on-demand SIB, SSB / PRACH NES pattern,... etc.).

[0046] In an example embodiment, a MRRS profile may include or may indicate one or more of the following, for example:

[0047] 1) MRRS configurations, e.g., a set of parameters that may reflect a cell mode(or cell mode of operation), e.g., a network energy savings (NES) mode for the cell with a set of energy saving configurations or sets of parameters, such as SSB periodicity, on- demand SIB (so that SIB will not be periodically transmitted, but on demand or request of a UE), and other configurations that are low power or energy saving configurations or parameters for SSB, PRACH preamble resources, etc;

[0048] 2) MRRS Resources: these may include shared time / frequency resource forPxSCH (PUSCH and / or PDSCH) channel for each RAT. For example, if semi-static sharing is applied (e.g., with fixed or static resources applied to each of the 5G cell and 6G cell), MRRS resources may indicate slots / symbols allocated to 5G (e.g., a first RAT) and slots allocated to 6G. For dynamic sharing (where 5G cell and 6G cell share the resources of the PUSCH or PDSCH, based on a pattern) based on the load, a time / frequency pattern can be applied over multiple slots, e.g., where 20% of the slots for the PUSCH or PDSCH resources are allocated to 6G cell, and 80% of the slots for the PUSCH or PDSCH resources are allocated to 5G cell, e.g., based on a majority (or around 80%) of the UEs being connected to the 5G cell, and a smaller number of UEs connected to the 6G cell (or a smaller amount of 6G traffic compared to 5G traffic);

[0049] 3) 5G MRRS shared or re-used signals / channels (or shared or re-used signals or channels or resources of a first RAT): The profile may indicate which signals or channels, e.g., which reference signals, control signals or control channels can be shared or re-used by the two RATs. For example, a control signal may be shared by a first RAT (e.g., 5G) and a second RAT (6G ), e.g., by allowing a UE to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the 5G cell or the 6G cell via the shared resource. Thus, in this example, the shared resource or shared control signal may be used by a UE (e.g., transmitted by a UE or received by a UE) to establish a connection with, communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services with either (or at least one of) the 5G cell or the 6G cell. For example, the shared control signal may be transmitted by the UE to either(or both) the 5G cell or 6G cell, or may be received by the UE from the 5G cell or the 6G cell. For example, a shared PRACH preamble resource may be allocated to either the 5G cell or the 6G cell, such that the PRACH preamble resource allows the UE to transmit a PRACH preamble to either the 5G cell or the 6G cell. Or, a shared SRS (or a SRS via a shared SRS resource) may be transmitted to either or both the 5G cell and / or the 6G cell, e.g., especially in a case where the PCI (physical cell identity) is the same for both the 5G cell and 6G cell. Or, in the downlink direction, a shared downlink control signal received from a first RAT (e.g., 5G cell) may be used by a UE to communicate with, establish a connection with, or obtain at least some wireless services from either of (or at least one of) a cell of a first RAT (e.g., the 5G cell) or a cell of the second RAT (e.g., a 6G cell). For example, as examples of shared downlink control signals, a synchronization signal (SSB, PSS, or SSS), system information (SIB), CSI-RS, and / or demodulation reference signals (DMRS) may be received by a UE from a cell of a first RAT (e.g., a 5G cell), and may be used by the UE to determine synchronization information (based on received SSB), system information (based on received SIB), reference signal received power (based on received CSI-RS) and / or timing or synchronization information (based on received DMRS), with respect to either or both of these cells (the 5G cell and / or the 6G cell), and communicate with, establish a connection to and / or obtain wireless services from either a cell of the first RAT (e.g., 5G cell) or a cell of the second RAT (e.g., 6G cell). Thus, as examples of signal or resource sharing or re-use, for for example, the UE may determine synchronization information (based on the SSB received from the cell of the first RAT, e.g., the 5G cell), system information (based on received SIB received from the 5G cell), reference signal received power (based on CSI-RS received from the 5G cell) and / or timing or synchronization information (based on DMRS received from the 5G cell), and then use this information (received from the 5G cell) to communicate with, establish a connection to and / or obtain wireless services from the cell of the second RAT (e.g., the 6G cell). Thus, this information that is obtained by the UE based on the signal received from the 5G cell also provides information (the same information, e.g., synchronization information, system information, received power, and / or timing or synchronization information) for or with respect to the 6G cell (although the signal is received by the UE from the 5G cell, and not received from the 6G cell in this example), and thus, this information may be used by the UE to communicate with the 6G cell, establish a connection to the 6G cell, and / or obtain at least some wireless services from the 6G cell.

[0050] Similarly, a control signal may be re-used between a first RAT (e.g., 5G) and a second RAT (e.g., 6G) where, for example, a UE may be instructed to receive a control signal from a first RAT (or from a cell of a first RAT), and then use information obtained based on this control signal from the first RAT, to communicate with, establish a connected to, or obtain wireless services from a second RAT (or a cell of a second RAT, e.g., a 6G cell). For example, a 6G cell may, e.g., due to low number of UE subscribers during late night hours, may enter into a power saving mode or network energy saving (NES) mode or mode of operation in which the 6G cell does not transmit one or more of, e.g.,: SSB, SIB, CSI-RS and / or DMRS as frequently (or even at all) as it does while in normal or base (or baseline) mode of operation. For example, while a 6G cell is in a power saving mode or NES mode, the UE may be instructed (by either the 5G cell or 6G cell) to receive a control signal, e.g., SSB, SIB, CSI-RS and / or DMRS from the cell of the first RAT (e.g., 5G cell), and then use this control signal received from the cell of the first RAT (e.g., 5G cell) to communicate with, establish a connection with and / or obtain at least some wireless services from the cell of the second RAT (e.g., 6G cell).

[0051] 4) MRRS profile validity: a MRRS profile can be valid for a time window, for example. This depends on the deployment scenario. After that time period, that MRRS profile expires or becomes invalid.

[0052] 5) Dynamic switching between MRRS profiles, or activation of a differentMRRS profile. Different MRRS profiles, which may be associated with different modes of operation for the cell, may be communicated to the UE via (e.g., RRC) messages (e.g., for connected mode UEs) and / or via broadcast system information (e.g., for idle or inactive mode UEs), and then the cell may send a message or activation indication (e.g., via RRC message, downlink control information (DCI), MAC CE, or other message, signal or indication) to the UE to activate a first MRRS profile of the set or plurality of MRRS profiles, and / or to deactivate a second MRRS profile.

[0053] 6) The MRRS profile may be a set of one or more configurations that determine the UE behavior (or operation of the UE) and requirements to obtain wireless service in an MRRS cell, which may allow a specific or deterministic power / data behavior of UEs to be specified, e.g., to allow a cell to be in a low power or NES mode.

[0054] (7) A cell (e.g., MRRS cell) may configure the UEs with one or more MRRS profiles, which is the set of configurations. The configuration or set of parameters for the configurations of one or more MRRS profiles may change or be updated by the cell basedon one or more conditions or factors, e.g., time of day, cell load, mobility of the UE(s), energy saving purposes of the cell, cross-RAT signaling or signal re-use (e.g., which signals and channels that can be used by 6G from 5G),. . ., etc.

[0055] Some example advantages of MRRS profiles may include, for example: 1) MRRS profiles may allow for a more efficient use of resources, and / or may allow for a sharing or re-use of resources between different RATs (e.g., between 5G and 6G). 2) MRRS profiles may allow for improved power savings and / or reduced signaling overhead by allowing signals of a first RAT to be re-used for a second RAT, e.g., allowing a cell of the second RAT to avoid transmitting the signal (reducing signaling overhead for the 6G cell), and allowing the cell of the second RAT to stay or remain in a low power or network energy saving state. And / or 3) MRRS profiles may allow UE behavior to be quickly changed (e.g., via signaling transmitted via DCI or MAC CE signal to the UE, or by broadcast SIB, indicating a new MRRS profile, for example), e.g., based on a changing of the mode of a 5G cell or a 6G cell. For example, a MRRS base or baseline profile may be initially signaled to the UE, indicating that the UE should receive at least some control signals (e.g., SIB, SSB, DMRS, and / or CSI-RS) from the 6G cell in order to communicate with or establish a connection to the 6G cell. In this base or baseline profile, each of the 5G cell and the 6G cell may transmit these control signal(s), for example. Then, for example, when the mode of the 6G cell is changed to a power saving mode (e.g., due to less 6G traffic or fewer UEs connected to the 6G cell), the UE may be signaled with a MRRS shared profile that indicates that, for the 6G cell, one or more or all of these signals are reused from 5G cell, and thus, the UE should receive these control signals from the 5G cell, and these signals can be used by the UE to communicate with, establish a connection to, and / or obtain wireless services from the 6G cell, even though the 6G cell is not necessarily transmitting these control signals. Of course, these control signals received from the 5G cell may be used by the UE to communicate with, establish a connection and / or obtain wireless services from the 5G cell as well, for example.

[0056] A MRRS profile may indicate or include, and / or may allow use of, cross-RAT signaling, which may include signaling or control signals that are shared or re-used between cells of different RATs. MRRS cross-RAT signaling may reduce the (e.g., signaling) overhead as it allows a 6G UE connected to a 6G MRRS cell to re-use the channels and signals (e.g., PDCCH, DCI, SIB, SSB, DMRS, CSI-RS, . . .) transmitted or a 5G cell, and then use information obtained or determined by the UE based on that receivedsignal to communicate with or obtain services from the 6G cell. One example may be that the 6G baseband unit, i.e., the 6G side of the MRRS cell instructs 6G UEs to detect their MIB (master information block) and SIB1 (system information block 1) signals from 5G resources (or for the UE to receive the MIB and SIB1 from the 5G cell). Another example could be that MRRS cell instructs or configures the UEs with dedicated PRACH resources (e.g., a first set of PRACH resources for a 5G cell, a second set of PRACH resource for a 6G cell) and common PRACH or RACH (random access preamble) resources (e.g., another set of PRACH resources that are common to both 5G cell and 6G cell, which may be allocated to either, or that may be used by a UE to transmit a RACH preamble to either the 5G cell or the 6G cell). Dedicated PRACH resources are appropriate to each RAT. Common PRACH resources can be used by two RATs, e.g., so that a first RAT may use more of the RACH / PRACH resources in case the load of the second RAT has decreased so that the first RAT can use the PRACH resources. Time adaptation of PRACH resources can be applied over 5G and 6G. The dynamic sharing of resources and signals between NR and 6G will eventually be needed to enable better UE-gNB coordination and better use of UE and network resources. Obviously common signals (signal re-use), and common or shared time frequency resources.

[0057] MRRS profiles may be configured or set up, for example, according to (or based on) the UE capabilities and the MRRS mode of operation. The network controls the MRRS profile(s) of the UE and configures the UE with one or more MRRS profiles.

[0058] A profile can be activated or deactivated based on common synchronized behavior between the UE and network. For example, based on timers (e.g., a MRRS profile may be deactivated or invalidated upon expiration of a timer associated with the profile), conditions, explicit control (signaling or a message activating or deactivating a MRRS profile), etc. When receiving the activation request of an MRRS profile, the UE performs the interaction with the network based on the instructions in the profile that was activated (the active or activated MRRS profile). The network or gNB can change which MRRS profile UE uses in each mode or situation, e.g., by activating a MRRS profile, or sending a message or signal to activate a second MRRS profile and / or to deactivate a first MRRS profile. When the network decides to change some of the active profile configurations, the network or gNB may transmit or send the profile changes to the UE. In case the network or gNB wants to change the active MRRS profile, the network or gNB may transmit or send an indication of the (new or updated) active MRRS profile, and the UE may havepreviously been configured with the configurations of a plurality or set of MRRS profiles.

[0059] FIG. 5 is diagram illustrating a process for updating a MRRS profile(s) according to an example embodiment. A UE 510 may be in communication with a network node 520 (e.g., a gNB, a MRRS cell distributed unit (DU), or other network node). At step 1), the UE 510 receives from network node 520 one or more MRRS profiles, e.g., where each profile may include one or more configurations or sets of parameters. Different profiles may be provided for different cell modes. One of these MRRS profiles may be activated at a time, and a MRRS profile may be activated via a message or signaling from the network node 520. At step 2), the network node 520 sends a message or signaling to the UE 510 (and UE 510 receives the signaling or message) activating a first MRRS profile of the set of MRRS profiles. At step 3), the UE 510 may apply the profile instructions or configurations for the activated MRRS profile, so that the UE’s operation with respect to one or more cells (e.g., a 5G cell and a 6G cell) will be determined by or based on the activated MRRS profile. At step 4, the UE 510 may measure one or more measurements, e.g., mobility status of the UE, fullness of data buffers for the UE, or other UE measurements, which may provided or transmitted to the network node 520 at step 4). At step 5), the network node 520 may detect a change in one or more factors or conditions, such as mobility status of one or more UEs, traffic load or level of fullness of data buffers of one or more UEs, connection status of one or more UEs, a time of day, etc. At step 6), the network node 520 may transmit a MRRS profile update for one or more of the MRRS profiles, e.g., which configurations, instructions or parameters of one or more configurations of the profile are changed or updated, e.g., based on the factors or conditions detected by the network node. At step 7, the network node 520 may, for example, send a signal or message to the UE 510 activating a second MRRS profile, and / or deactivating the first MRRS profile, e.g., based on the change in one or more of the conditions or factors, which may have been detected by the network node 520 and / or reported to the network node by UEs, other network node, or the core network.

[0060] MRRS profiles may be defined based on the activity need (including the mode of the cell) and sharing methodology. Hence, based on that the UE and the network can optimize the parameters of the profiles and measurement effort accordingly. Such optimization may be performed by a smart algorithm (e.g., Al / machine learning (ML) model) as follows: Optionl : AI / ML optimizes configurations and / or parameters of existing MRRS profiles. Option2: AI / ML defines which components or configurations and / orparameters should be part of an MRRS profile. Option 3 : Option 1 and option 2 are aligned together to optimize existing MRRS profiles. Option 4: A subset of RRC parameters (of active UEs) are shared by schedulers with a MRRM that uses them to derive the split of resource.

[0061] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating two example MRRS profiles. Only one profile per UE is active. As shown in FIG. 6, a MRRS base profile 610 and a MRRS shared profile 620 are shown, and may be provided to a UE. In general, base profile 610 may include dedicated or separate control signals or resources for each of a first RAT (e.g., 5G) and a second RAT (e.g., 6G). While, for MRRS shared profile 620, there are resources and control signals that are shared or re-used between the first RAT (5G) and the second RAT (6G). Some examples are shown within the profiles 610, 620.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 6, for base profile 610, there may be a static or fixed allocation of PRACH resources (or RACH preamble resources) across a 5G cell and a 6G cell (e.g., 30% of the PRACH resources are allocated to a 6G cell, and 70% of the PRACH resources are allocated to the 5G cell). Thus, a part of the PRACH resources is reserved for 6G UEs, where 5G UEs do not have access to those PRACH resources. And, there is no signal re-use for the base profile. Thus, separate or dedicated SSBs or SSB resources (for transmission of SSBs) are provided for each of the 5G cell and the 6G cell (e.g., the 5G cell transmits a SSB via a first resource, while the 6G cell transmits a SSB / different SSB via a second resource). Thus, to synchronize with a 6G cell (or obtain synchronization information for 6G cell), the UE receives SSB from the 6G cell (not the 5G cell). And, in order to establish a connection with or obtain services from the 6G cell, the 6G UEs (which can communicate or establish a connection with either or both of a 5G cell and a 6G cell) will obtain MIB and SIB1 from the 6G cell, before attempting to establish a connection with the 6G cell. Thus, in the base profile, in order to establish a connection to the 6G cell or obtain services from the 6G cell, the 6G UEs obtain MIB and SIB1 from the 6G cell (and not the 5G cell), since there is no signal re-use between 5G and 6G in this base profile 610.

[0063] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, for MRRS shared profile 620, PRACH resources (or RACH preamble resources) are dynamically allocated across both RATs (5G and 6G), where the allocation or use of PRACH resources may be provided on demand or as needed, among or across the 5G cell and the 6G cell. Thus, each PRACH resource may be allocated to either the 5G cell or the 6G cell. Also, for the shared profile 620, signal re-use may be used between 5G cell and 6G cell, e.g., SSBs (or SSB resources for SSB transmission), MIB and SIB1 may be transmitted by the 5G cell, and this may allow the 6G cell to avoid transmitting (or transmit less frequently) SSB, MIB and SIB1, e.g., when the 6G cell is in a low power or NES mode. In the shared profile, in order to establish a connection with or obtain at least some wireless services from the 6G cell, the UE (e.g., 6G UE) may receive the SSB, MIB and SIB1 from the 5G cell. Thus, the 6G UE may determine synchronization or timing information (which may be used for establishing a connection with the 6G cell) for or with respect to the 6G cell based on SSB received by the UE from the 5G cell. Likewise, the UE (e.g., 6G UE) may obtain system information for the 6G cell (which may be used in establishing a connection with the 6G cell) based on the MIB and SIB1 received by the UE from the 5G cell. This signal re-use between 5G cell and 6G cell may improve signaling overhead, network efficiency, and allow a low power or network energy saving mode for the 6G cell.

[0064] FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a user device or UE according to an example embodiment. Operation 710 includes receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile. Operation 720 includes activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile. At operation 730, the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least: a first resource or configuration dedicated to a first radio access technology (RAT), which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a first cell of the first RAT; a second resource or configuration dedicated to a second RAT, which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a second cell of the second RAT; and a third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource or configuration, which can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0065] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the third resource or configuration may include a multi-RAT resource or configuration, which is at least one of: 1) a shared resource or configuration that can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT, or 2) a re-used resource or configuration that is a resource or configuration of the first cell of the first RAT that can be used by the user device tocommunicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0066] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the first resource, the second resource and / or the third resource may include at least one of the following: a time, frequency and / or spatial resource for transmission of data and / or control information; a control signal; a control signal resource for transmitting or receiving a control signal; a control channel; or a control channel resource for transmitting or receiving a control channel.

[0067] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the third resource may include at least one of the following: a control signal; a control signal resource for transmitting or receiving a control signal; a control channel; or a control channel resource for transmitting or receiving a control channel.

[0068] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, at least one of the first resource and the second resource may include: a time, frequency and / or spatial resource for transmitting or receiving data and / or control information.

[0069] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the first resource or configuration dedicated to the first RAT may include a first set of time-frequency resources of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for communicating with the first cell of the first RAT; and wherein the second resource or configuration dedicated to the second RAT may include a second set of time-frequency resources of the PUSCH or the PDSCH for communicating with the second cell of the second RAT.

[0070] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the MRRS profile indicating the third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource may include the MRRS profile indicating: a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with, establish a connection with or obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

[0071] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the MRRS profile indicating the third resource that is a multi-RAT shared resource may include the MRRS profile indicating: a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with, establishing a connection with, or obtaining wirelessservices from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0072] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the information.

[0073] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the third resource that is a multi -RAT shared resource may include at least one of the following: a random access channel (RACH) preamble that may be transmitted by the user device to either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT; a RACH preamble resource for transmission of a RACH preamble, which may be used to transmit a RACH preamble to either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT; a RACH preamble or RACH preamble resource that may be used for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second resource of the second RAT; a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to at least one of, or both of, the first cell of the first RAT and the second cell of the second RAT; a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS signal to the second cell of the second RAT; a synchronization signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; or a channel state information-reference signal of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to determine received power information with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0074] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the activating may include: receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and wherein the activatingcomprises activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

[0075] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the activated MRRS profile including a first MRRS profile, the method further including: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile, based on information received from the network node.

[0076] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRS profile and / or activation of the second MRRS profile.

[0077] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

[0078] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may include receiving information from the network node indicating activation and / or deactivation of a MRRS profile, including at least one of information received by the user device while in a connected state with respect to the network node via downlink control information or media access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE); or information received by the user device while in an idle or inactive state from the network node via system information block (SIB) or master information block (MIB).

[0079] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

[0080] With respect to the method of FIG. 7, the method may further include providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

[0081] FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a user device or UE according to another example embodiment. Operation 810 includes receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information of a plurality of profiles, each profile associated with a mode of operation and indicating resources for one or more control signals and / or instructions to obtain one or more control signals, wherein one profile isactivated at a time for a cell. Operation 820 includes activating, for use by the user device, a profile of the plurality of profiles. And at operation 830, the plurality of profiles comprises at least: first profile indicating the user device to receive a first type of control signal from a first cell of a first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell of the first RAT, and for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from a second cell of a second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and a second profile indicating the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0082] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first type of control signal may include at least one of the following: a synchronization signal; a system information; or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

[0083] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first profile indicates a first resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell; wherein the first profile also indicates a second resource, different from the first resource, for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the second cell of the second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell; and wherein the second profile indicates a third resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0084] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first resource is same as the third resource.

[0085] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the second profile indicates the third resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from at least one of the first cell or the second cell.

[0086] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first type of control signal includes a synchronization signal, the method may further include the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a synchronization signal from the first cell of the first RAT; determining synchronization or timing information with respect to the second cell based on the synchronization signal received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on thedetermined synchronization or timing information.

[0087] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first type of control signal includes a system information, the method further including the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a system information from the first cell of the first RAT; determining system information of the second cell of the second RAT based on the system information received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the determined system information with respect to the first cell.

[0088] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first type of control signal includes a system information, the method further including the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a system information from the first cell of the first RAT, wherein the system information from the first cell of the first RAT is applicable to or can be used to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the system information received from the first cell of the first RAT.

[0089] With respect to the method of FIG. 8, the first type of control signal includes a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), the method further including the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a DMRS signal from the first cell of the first RAT; performing channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT based on the DMRS signal received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the first RAT based on the channel estimation with for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0090] FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating operation of a user device or UE according to another example embodiment. Operation 910 includes receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile. Operation 920 includes activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile. At operation 930, the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

[0091] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the activated MRRS profile comprises an instruction or information indicating that the user device is to use the control signalresource to transmit or receive the control signal with respect to the first cell of the first RAT in order to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0092] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include transmitting, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0093] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, a cell identity of the first cell is equal to or same as a cell identity of the second cell.

[0094] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include receiving, by the user device from the first cell of the first RAT, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

[0095] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may include receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, by the user device based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the obtained information.

[0096] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the activated MRRS profile may include an indication of at least a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second cell of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0097] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the control signal resource may include a RACH preamble or a RACH preamble resource may be used by the user device for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0098] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the control signal resource may include a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0099] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the The method of any of claims 1-9, wherein the control signal resource may include a synchronization signal resource of thefirst cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0100] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the control signal resource may include a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0101] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the control signal resource may include a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0102] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the activating may include receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

[0103] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the activated MRRS profile includes a first MRRS profile, the method further including: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, based on information received from the network node.

[0104] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method may further include receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, and / or activation of a second MRRS profile of the plurality of MRRS profiles.

[0105] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method further including deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

[0106] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method further including receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

[0107] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method further including providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates aMRRS capability of the user device.

[0108] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the method further including providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

[0109] With respect to the method of FIG. 9, the network node is a network node of either the first RAT or the second RAT.

[0110] Some examples will now be described, based on the description and figures provided herein.

[0111] Example Al. 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 perform: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi- RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least: a first resource or configuration dedicated to a first radio access technology (RAT), which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a first cell of the first RAT; a second resource or configuration dedicated to a second RAT, which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a second cell of the second RAT; and a third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource or configuration, which can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0112] Example A2. The apparatus of example Al, wherein the third resource or configuration comprises a multi-RAT resource or configuration, which is at least one of: 1) a shared resource or configuration that can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT, or 2) a re-used resource or configuration that is a resource or configuration of the first cell of the first RAT that can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of thesecond RAT.

[0113] Example A3. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A2, wherein the first resource, the second resource and / or the third resource comprises at least one of the following: a time, frequency and / or spatial resource for transmission of data and / or control information; a control signal; a control signal resource for transmitting or receiving a control signal; a control channel; or a control channel resource for transmitting or receiving a control channel.

[0114] Example A4. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A3, wherein the third resource comprises at least one of the following: a control signal; a control signal resource for transmitting or receiving a control signal; a control channel; or a control channel resource for transmitting or receiving a control channel.

[0115] Example A5. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A4, wherein at least one of the first resource and the second resource comprises: a time, frequency and / or spatial resource for transmitting or receiving data and / or control information.

[0116] Example A6. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A5: wherein the first resource or configuration dedicated to the first RAT comprises a first set of time-frequency resources of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for communicating with the first cell of the first RAT; and wherein the second resource or configuration dedicated to the second RAT comprises a second set of time-frequency resources of the PUSCH or the PDSCH for communicating with the second cell of the second RAT.

[0117] Example A7. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A6 wherein the MRRS profile indicating the third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource comprises the MRRS profile indicating: a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with, establish a connection with or obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

[0118] Example A8. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A7, wherein the MRRS profile indicating the third resource that is a multi-RAT shared resource comprises the MRRS profile indicating: a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with, establishing a connection with,or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0119] Example A9. The apparatus of any of examples A7-A8, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the information.

[0120] Example A10. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A9, wherein the third resource that is a multi-RAT shared resource comprises at least one of the following: a random access channel (RACH) preamble that may be transmitted by the user device to either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT; a RACH preamble resource for transmission of a RACH preamble, which may be used to transmit a RACH preamble to either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT; a RACH preamble or RACH preamble resource that may be used for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second resource of the second RAT; a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to at least one of, or both of, the first cell of the first RAT and the second cell of the second RAT; a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS signal to the second cell of the second RAT; a synchronization signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; or a channel state information-reference signal of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to determine received power information with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0121] Example Al l. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A10, wherein the apparatus caused to perform activating comprises the apparatus caused to perform:receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and wherein the activating comprises activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

[0122] Example A12. The apparatus of any of examples Al-Al l, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises a first MRRS profile, the apparatus further caused to perform: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile, based on information received from the network node.

[0123] Example Al 3. The apparatus of example Al l, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRS profile and / or activation of the second MRRS profile.

[0124] Example A14. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A13, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

[0125] Example A15. The apparatus of any of examples A1-A14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform receiving information from the network node indicating activation and / or deactivation of a MRRS profile, including at least one of: information received by the user device while in a connected state with respect to the network node via downlink control information or media access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE); or information received by the user device while in an idle or inactive state from the network node via system information block (SIB) or master information block (MIB).

[0126] Example Al 6. The apparatus of any of examples Al -Al 5, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

[0127] Example Al 7. The apparatus of any of examples Al -Al 6, further comprising causing the apparatus to perform providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

[0128] Example Al 8. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radioaccess technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least: a first resource or configuration dedicated to a first radio access technology (RAT), which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a first cell of the first RAT; a second resource or configuration dedicated to a second RAT, which may be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from a second cell of the second RAT; and a third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource or configuration, which can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0129] Example Al 9. The method of example Al 8, wherein the third resource or configuration comprises a multi-RAT resource or configuration, which is at least one of 1) a shared resource or configuration 19 can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT, or 2) a re-used resource or configuration that is a resource or configuration of the first cell of the first RAT that can be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0130] Example A20. The method of any of examples Al 8-Al 9, wherein the first resource, the second resource and / or the third resource comprises at least one of the following: a time, frequency and / or spatial resource for transmission of data and / or control information; a control signal; a control signal resource for transmitting or receiving a control signal; a control channel; or a control channel resource for transmitting or receiving a control channel.

[0131] Example A21. The method of any of examples A18-A20, wherein the third resource comprises at least one of the following: a control signal; a control signal resource for transmitting or receiving a control signal; a control channel; or a control channel resource for transmitting or receiving a control channel.

[0132] Example A22. The method of any of examples A18-A21, wherein at least one of the first resource and the second resource comprises: a time, frequency and / or spatial resource for transmitting or receiving data and / or control information.

[0133] Example A23. The method of any of examples A18-A22: wherein the firstresource or configuration dedicated to the first RAT comprises a first set of time-frequency resources of a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) for communicating with the first cell of the first RAT; and wherein the second resource or configuration dedicated to the second RAT comprises a second set of time-frequency resources of the PUSCH or the PDSCH for communicating with the second cell of the second RAT.

[0134] Example A24. The method of any of examples A18-A23 wherein the MRRS profile indicating the third resource or configuration that is a multi-RAT shared resource comprises the MRRS profile indicating: a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with, establish a connection with or obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

[0135] Example A25. The method of any of examples A18-A24, wherein the MRRS profile indicating the third resource that is a multi-RAT shared resource comprises the MRRS profile indicating: a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with, establishing a connection with, or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0136] Example A26. The method of any of any of examples A24-A25, further comprising: receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the information.

[0137] Example A27. The method of any of examples A18-A26, wherein the third resource that is a multi-RAT shared resource comprises at least one of the following: a random access channel (RACH) preamble that may be transmitted by the user device to either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT; a RACH preamble resource for transmission of a RACH preamble, which may be used to transmit a RACH preamble to either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT; a RACH preamble or RACH preamble resource that may be used for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second resource of the second RAT; a sounding referencesignal (SRS) resource that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to at least one of, or both of, the first cell of the first RAT and the second cell of the second RAT; a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS signal to the second cell of the second RAT; a synchronization signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT; or a channel state information-reference signal of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to determine received power information with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0138] Example A28. The method of any of examples A18-A27, wherein the activating comprises: receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and wherein the activating comprises activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

[0139] Example A29. The method of any of examples A18-A28, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises a first MRRS profile, the method further comprising: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile, based on information received from the network node.

[0140] Example A30. The method of example A28, further comprising: receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRS profile and / or activation of the second MRRS profile.

[0141] Example A31. The method of any of any of examples A18-A30, further comprising: deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

[0142] Example A32. The method of any of examples A18-A31, further comprising receiving information from the network node indicating activation and / or deactivation of aMRRS profile, including at least one of: information received by the user device while in a connected state with respect to the network node via downlink control information or media access control (MAC) control element (MAC CE); or information received by the user device while in an idle or inactive state from the network node via system information block (SIB) or master information block (MIB).

[0143] Example A33. The method of any of examples A17-A32, further comprising: receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

[0144] Example A34. The method of any of examples A18-A33, further comprising providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

[0145] Example Bl. 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 perform: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information of a plurality of profiles, each profile associated with a mode of operation and indicating resources for one or more control signals and / or instructions to obtain one or more control signals, wherein one profile is activated at a time for a cell; and activating, for use by the user device, a profile of the plurality of profiles; and wherein the plurality of profiles comprises at least: a first profile indicating the user device to receive a first type of control signal from a first cell of a first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell of the first RAT, and for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from a second cell of a second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and a second profile indicating the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0146] Example B2. The apparatus of example Bl, wherein the first type of control signal comprises at least one of the following: a synchronization signal; a system information; a CSI-RS signal; or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

[0147] Example B3. The apparatus of example Bl : wherein the first profile indicates afirst resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell; wherein the first profile also indicates a second resource, different from the first resource, for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the second cell of the second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell; and wherein the second profile indicates a third resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0148] Example B4. The apparatus of example B3, wherein the first resource is same as the third resource.

[0149] Example B5. The apparatus of any of examples B3-B4, wherein the second profile indicates the third resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from at least one of the first cell or the second cell.

[0150] Example B6. The apparatus of any of examples B1-B5, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a synchronization signal, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a synchronization signal from the first cell of the first RAT; determining synchronization or timing information with respect to the second cell based on the synchronization signal received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the determined synchronization or timing information.

[0151] Example B7. The apparatus of any of examples B1-B5, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a system information, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a system information from the first cell of the first RAT; determining system information of the second cell of the second RAT based on the system information received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the determined system information with respect to the first cell.

[0152] Example B8. The apparatus of any of examples B1-B5, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a system information, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a system information from the first cell of the first RAT, wherein the system information from the first cell of thefirst RAT is applicable to or can be used to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the system information received from the first cell of the first RAT.

[0153] Example B9. The apparatus of any of examples B1-B3, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a DMRS signal from the first cell of the first RAT; performing channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT based on the DMRS signal received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the first RAT based on the channel estimation with for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0154] Example BIO. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information of a plurality of profiles, each profile associated with a mode of operation and indicating resources for one or more control signals and / or instructions to obtain one or more control signals, wherein one profile is activated at a time for a cell; and activating, for use by the user device, a profile of the plurality of profiles; and wherein the plurality of profiles comprises at least: a first profile indicating the user device to receive a first type of control signal from a first cell of a first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell of the first RAT, and for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from a second cell of a second RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and a second profile indicating the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0155] Example Bl 1. The method of example BIO, wherein the first type of control signal comprises at least one of the following: a synchronization signal; a system information; or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS).

[0156] Example B12. The method of example BIO: wherein the first profile indicates a first resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the first cell; wherein the first profile also indicates a second resource, different from the first resource, for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the second cell of the second RAT toobtain at least some wireless services from the second cell; and wherein the second profile indicates a third resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0157] Example B13. The method of example B12, wherein the first resource is same as the third resource.

[0158] Example B14. The method of any of examples B12-B13, wherein the second profile indicates the third resource for the user device to receive the first type of control signal from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain at least some wireless services from at least one of the first cell or the second cell.

[0159] Example B15. The method of any of examples B10-B14, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a synchronization signal, the method further comprising the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a synchronization signal from the first cell of the first RAT; determining synchronization or timing information with respect to the second cell based on the synchronization signal received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the determined synchronization or timing information.

[0160] Example B16. The method of any of examples B10-B14, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a system information, the method further comprising the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a system information from the first cell of the first RAT; determining system information of the second cell of the second RAT based on the system information received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the determined system information with respect to the first cell.

[0161] Example B17. The method of any of examples B10-B14, wherein the first type of control signal comprises a system information, the method further comprising the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a system information from the first cell of the first RAT, wherein the system information from the first cell of the first RAT is applicable to or can be used to obtain at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the system information received from the first cell of the first RAT.

[0162] Example B18. The method of any of examples B10-B12, wherein the first typeof control signal comprises a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), the method further comprising the following when the second profile is activated: receiving a DMRS signal from the first cell of the first RAT; performing channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT based on the DMRS signal received from the first cell of the first RAT; and obtaining at least some wireless services from the second cell of the first RAT based on the channel estimation with for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0163] Example Cl. 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 perform: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi- RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

[0164] Example C2. The apparatus of example Cl, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an instruction or information indicating that the user device is to use the control signal resource to transmit or receive the control signal with respect to the first cell of the first RAT in order to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0165] Example C3. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C2, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: transmitting, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0166] Example C4. The apparatus of example C3, wherein a cell identity of the first cell is equal to or same as a cell identity of the second cell.

[0167] Example C5. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C4, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, by the user device from the first cell of the first RAT, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

[0168] Example C6. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C5 wherein the apparatus is caused to perform: receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signalresource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, by the user device based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the obtained information.

[0169] Example C7. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C6, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second cell of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0170] Example C8. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C7, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a RACH preamble or a RACH preamble resource may be used by the user device for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0171] Example C9. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C8, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0172] Example CIO. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C9, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a synchronization signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0173] Example Cl 1. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C10, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0174] Example C12. The apparatus of any of examples Cl-Cl 1, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or withrespect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0175] Example C13. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C12, wherein the apparatus caused to perform activating comprises the apparatus caused to perform: receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

[0176] Example C14. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C13, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises a first MRRS profile, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, based on information received from the network node.

[0177] Example C15. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, and / or activation of a second MRRS profile of the plurality of MRRS profiles.

[0178] Example C16. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

[0179] Example C17. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

[0180] Example C18. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates a MRRS capability of the user device.

[0181] Example C19. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

[0182] Example C20. The apparatus of any of examples C1-C19, wherein the network node is a network node of either the first RAT or the second RAT.

[0183] Example C21. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device from anetwork node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

[0184] Example C22. The method of example C21, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an instruction or information indicating that the user device is to use the control signal resource to transmit or receive the control signal with respect to the first cell of the first RAT in order to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

[0185] Example C23. The method of example C21, further comprising: transmitting, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0186] Example C24. The method of example C23, wherein a cell identity of the first cell is equal to or same as a cell identity of the second cell.

[0187] Example C25. The method of any of examples 21-24, further comprising: receiving, by the user device from the first cell of the first RAT, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

[0188] Example C26. The method of any of examples C21-C25 comprising: receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, by the user device based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the obtained information.

[0189] Example C27. The method of any of examples C21-C26, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second cell of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the secondRAT.

[0190] Example C28. The method of any of examples C21-C27, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a RACH preamble or a RACH preamble resource may be used by the user device for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

[0191] Example C29. The method of any of examples C21-C28, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0192] Example C30. The method of any of examples C21-C29, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a synchronization signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0193] Example C31. The method of any of examples C21-C30, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0194] Example C32. The method of any of examples C21-C31, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

[0195] Example C33. The method of any of examples C21-C32, wherein the activating comprises: receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

[0196] Example C34. The method of any of examples C21-C33, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises a first MRRS profile, the method further comprising: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, based on information received from the network node.

[0197] Example C35. The method of any of examples C21-C34, further comprising: receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRSprofile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, and / or activation of a second MRRS profile of the plurality of MRRS profiles.

[0198] Example C36. The method of any of examples C21-C35, further comprising: deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

[0199] Example C37. The method of any of examples C21-C36, further comprising: receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

[0200] Example C38. The method of any of examples C21-C37, further comprising providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates a MRRS capability of the user device.

[0201] Example C39. The method of any of examples C21-C38, further comprising providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

[0202] Example C40. The method of any of examples C21-C39, wherein the network node is a network node of either the first RAT or the second RAT.

[0203] 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.

[0204] 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 maycontrol 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.

[0205] 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.

[0206] 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.

[0207] 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 1302 A or 1302B to receive, send, broadcast or transmit signals or data.

[0208] 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) comprising 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 onememory (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.

[0209] 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).

[0210] 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.

[0211] The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or insome 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.

[0212] Furthermore, embodiments of the various techniques described herein may use a cyber-physical 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 cyberphysical 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.

[0213] 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.

[0214] 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).

[0215] 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 willreceive 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, magnetooptical 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.

[0216] 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.

[0217] 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.

[0218] 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

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

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 perform: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal to be used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an instruction or information indicating that the user device is to use the control signal resource to transmit or receive the control signal with respect to the first cell of the first RAT in order to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: transmitting, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to the second cell of the second RAT.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein a cell identity of the first cell is equal to or same as a cell identity of the second cell.

5. The apparatus of any of claims 1-4, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:receiving, by the user device from the first cell of the first RAT, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

6. The apparatus of any of claims 1-5 wherein the apparatus is caused to perform: receiving, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT; determining, by the user device based on the control signal received from the first cell of the first RAT, information regarding the second cell of the second RAT; and communicating with or obtaining services from the second cell of the second RAT based on the obtained information.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1-6, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device to receive a control signal from the first cell of the first RAT, instead of the user device receiving the control signal via a resource of the second cell of the second RAT, in order for the user device to obtain or determine information via the first cell of the first RAT to be used by the user device for communicating with or obtaining wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

8. The apparatus of any of claims 1-7, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a RACH preamble or a RACH preamble resource may be used by the user device for either the first cell of the first RAT or the second cell of the second RAT.

9. The apparatus of any of claims 1-8, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT that may be used by the user device to transmit a SRS to the second cell of the second RAT.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1-9, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a synchronization signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a synchronization signal from the first cell to obtain synchronization or timing information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 1-10, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a system information resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive, from the first cell of the first RAT, system information for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

12. The apparatus of any of claims 1-11, wherein the control signal resource comprises: a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) resource of the first cell of the first RAT, which may be used by the user device to receive a DMRS from the first cell of the first RAT to obtain information or perform channel estimation for or with respect to the second cell of the second RAT.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 1-12, wherein the apparatus caused to perform activating comprises the apparatus caused to perform: receiving information indicating activation of a first MRRS profile; and activating the first MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles based on the received information indicating activation of the first MRRS profile.

14. The apparatus of any of claims 1-13, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises a first MRRS profile, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: deactivating the first MRRS profile, and activating a second MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, based on information received from the network node.

15. The apparatus of any of claims 1-14, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving information from the network node indicating deactivation of the first MRRS profile of a plurality of MRRS profiles, and / or activation of a second MRRS profile of the plurality of MRRS profiles.

16. The apparatus of any of claims 1-15, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform:deactivating, by the user device, the activated MRRS profile, based on expiration of a timer associated with the activated MRRS profile.

17. The apparatus of any of claims 1-16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform: receiving, by the user device from the network node, updated profile information indicating an update to the at least one MRRS profile; and updating the at least one MRRS profile based on the updated profile information.

18. The apparatus of any of claims 1-17, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates a MRRS capability of the user device.

19. The apparatus of any of claims 1-18, wherein the apparatus is further caused to perform providing, by the user device to the network node, a user device capability indication that indicates at least one of the following: a capability of the user device to receive or use the at least one MRRS profile; a multi-RAT resource sharing capability of the user device; or a capability of the user device to use resources of a plurality of RATs based on the at least one MRRS profile.

20. The apparatus of any of claims 1-19, wherein the network node is a network node of either the first RAT or the second RAT.

21. A method comprising: receiving, by a user device from a network node, a message comprising information indicative of at least one multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) resource sharing (MRRS) profile; and activating, for use by the user device, a MRRS profile of the at least one MRRS profile; wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an indication of at least a control signal resource of a first cell of a first radio access technology (RAT) for a control signal tobe used by the user device to communicate with or obtain wireless services from a second cell of a second RAT.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the activated MRRS profile comprises an instruction or information indicating that the user device is to use the control signal resource to transmit or receive the control signal with respect to the first cell of the first RAT in order to communicate with, establish a connection to, or obtain wireless services from the second cell of the second RAT.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising: transmitting, by the user device, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to the second cell of the second RAT.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein a cell identity of the first cell is equal to or same as a cell identity of the second cell.

25. The method of any of claims 21-24, further comprising: receiving, by the user device from the first cell of the first RAT, the control signal via the control signal resource of the first cell of the first RAT, to obtain information regarding the second cell of the second RAT.

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