Method for performing random access to a cell with discontinuous transmission and reception
The mechanism for random access with discontinuous transmission and reception in satellites addresses the limited coverage issue by optimizing UE procedures, enabling full footprint coverage through dwell time configurations and beam management.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2024/110771
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-08
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-12
AI Technical Summary
Satellites in non-terrestrial networks with limited power face challenges in serving a significant portion of their footprint due to limited maximum transmission power and link budget, resulting in less than 10% coverage, which is addressed by implementing methods for random access with discontinuous transmission and reception mechanisms.
A mechanism for user equipment (UE) to perform random access procedures with network entities like satellites, where the network entity indicates a dwell time configuration, and the UE determines available radio resources for transmission and reception, adapting to beam hopping and wider beam configurations to increase coverage.
Enhances coverage from 10% to 100% by optimizing random access procedures, ensuring effective communication despite limited active time on cells.
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Figure CN2024110771_12022026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
METHOD FOR PERFORMING RANDOM ACCESS TO A CELL WITH DISCONTINUOUS TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTIONTECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication, and more particularly, to performing a random access to a cell with discontinuous transmission and reception.BACKGROUND
[0002] The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifies a radio interface referred to as fifth generation (5G) new radio (NR) (5G NR) . An architecture for a 5G NR wireless communication system includes a 5G core (5GC) network, a 5G radio access network (5G-RAN) , a user equipment (5G UE) , etc. The 5G NR architecture seeks to provide increased data rates, decreased latency, and / or increased capacity compared to prior generation cellular communication systems.
[0003] Wireless communication systems, in general, provide various telecommunication services (e.g., telephony, video, data, messaging, etc. ) based on multiple-access technologies, such as orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technologies, that support communication with multiple UEs. Improvements in mobile broadband continue the progression of such wireless communication technologies. For example, a network entity, such as satellites in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) , may communicate with a user equipment (UE) in a discontinuous transmission and reception configuration. However, a satellite as it orbits the Earth may have a footprint covering over 1000 cells and with limited maximum transmission power and required link budget, a satellite can only serve less than 10%of cells.
[0004] BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects. This summary neither identifies key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineates the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
[0006] A network entity, such as a base station or a unit of a base station, may communicate with a user equipment (UE) in a discontinuous transmission and reception configuration. Networks are configured with a discontinuous transmission and reception mechanism for power saving purposes at a cell, which is critical to network entities with limited power. For example, network entities, such as satellites in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) are powered by solar panels, which limits the maximum power that a satellite can transmit in comparison to terrestrial networks (TN) that have a static power supply. A satellite, as it orbits the Earth (e.g., low Earth orbit, medium Earth orbit, or geosynchronous orbit) , may have a footprint covering over 1000 cells. With limited maximum transmission power and required link budget, a satellite can only serve less than 10%of cells, where each cell is covered by a satellite beam in new radio (NR) frequency range 1 (FR1) .
[0007] In order to increase the coverage from 10%to 100%of the footprint, a satellite can change directions of a beam (refer to beam hopping) to serve at least 10 cells in turn and apply a wider beam configuration to merge multiple cells to a larger cell. This approach will reduce a dwell time of a beam serving a cell, thereby applying discontinuous transmission and reception mechanism to the cell.
[0008] Aspects of the present disclosure address the above-noted and other deficiencies by implementing methods for performing random access with a cell having discontinuous transmission and reception, such as a satellite in an NTN. Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a mechanism for a UE to perform random access procedure (e.g., 4-step random access channel (RACH) and 2-step RACH) to attach to a cell of a network entity, where the network entity has limited active time (or a dwell time) on the cell. The network entity indicates a dwell time configuration or patterns to the UE, and the UE determines available radio resource for transmission and reception in random access process (e.g., preamble or message 1 (Msg1) ; random access response (RAR) or message 2 (Msg2) ; message 3 (Msg3) ; message 4 (Msg4) ; message A (MsgA) ; or message B (MsgB) ) .
[0009] In idle mode, a UE detects synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block (SSB) transmitted by the network entity (e.g., satellite) , and decodes system information (e.g., SIB 1, SIB 2, etc. ) according to a configuration carried by SSB. Ifthe UE determines to attach to the cell, the UE may perform a random access procedure according to the configurations carried by the system information. In accordance with the random access configuration, the UE determines a random access channel (RACH) occasion (RO) according to the detected SSB, and then sends a selected preamble (e.g., physical random access channel (PRACH) , random access (RA) preamble, or message 1 (Msg1) ) on the RO. Ifthe network entity (e.g., satellite) successfully receives the preamble, the network entity (e.g., satellite) will send a random access response (RAR) or a message 2 (Msg2) to the UE. After transmission of the preamble, the UE starts to monitor a control channel (e.g., physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) ) for the random access response (RAR) in a period of time called a RAR window. If the UE does not receive the RAR during the RAR window, or the received RAR does not carry the random access preamble identifier (RAPID) identifying the preamble that the UE just sent, the UE will repeat the previous step to send the preamble again. If the UE successfully receives the RAR with the correct RAPID, the RAR will also carry an uplink (UL) grant for UE to send a message 3 (Msg3) for contention resolution and radio resource control (RRC) setup request. In response to the received Msg3, the network entity (e.g., satellite) sends a message 4 (Msg4) to the UE for to complete the contention resolution and the RRC setup.
[0010] According to some aspects, the UE receives, from a network entity, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration. The dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response. The UE transmits, to the network entity and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration. The first random access message includes at least a preamble. The UE receives, from the network entity, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration. The second random access message includes at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0011] According to some aspects, the network entity transmits, to a UE, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration. The dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response. The network entity receives, from the UE and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration. The first random access message including at least a preamble. The network entity transmits, to the UE, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration. The second random access message including at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram of a wireless communications system that includes a plurality of user equipments (UEs) and network entities in communication over one or more cells according to an embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) according to an embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a random access procedure between a UE and a network entity in an NTN environment according to an embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a signaling diagram illustrating communications between a user equipment (UE) and a network entity for random access to a cell according to an embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example determination of available random access channel (RACH) occasions based on a dwell time according to an embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example determination of a start of a random access response (RAR) window according to an embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating an example of timing for a random access response window according to an embodiment.
[0019] FIG. 7B is another diagram illustrating an example of timing for a random access response window according to an embodiment.
[0020] FIG. 8A is a diagram illustrating an example of timing for a contention resolution timer according to an embodiment.
[0021] FIG. 8B is another diagram illustrating an example of timing for a contention resolution timer according to an embodiment.
[0022] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example for updating a dwell time according to an embodiment.
[0023] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication at a UE according to an embodiment.
[0024] FIG. 11 is a flowchart ora method of wireless communication at a network entity according to an embodiment.
[0025] FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a hardware implementation for an example UE apparatus according to some embodiments.
[0026] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a hardware implementation for one or more example network entities according to some embodiments.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram 100 of a wireless communications system associated with a plurality of cells 190. The wireless communications system includes user equipments (UEs) 102 and base stations / network entities 104, 114. Some base stations may include an aggregated base station architecture and other base stations may include a disaggregated base station architecture. The aggregated base station architecture utilizes a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single radio access network (RAN) node. A disaggregated base station architecture utilizes a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two or more units (e.g., radio unit (RU) 106, distributed unit (DU) 108, central unit (CU) 110) . For example, a CU 110 is implemented within a RAN node, and one or more DUs 108 may be co-located with the CU 110, or alternatively, may be geographically or virtually distributed throughout one or multiple other RAN nodes. The DUs 108 may be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs 106. Any of the RU 106, the DU 108 and the CU 110 can be implemented as virtual units, such as a virtual radio unit (VRU) , a virtual distributed unit (VDU) , or a virtual central unit (VCU) . The base station / network entity 104 (e.g., an aggregated base station or disaggregated units of the base station, such as the RU 106 or the DU 108) , may be referred to as a transmission reception point (TRP) .
[0028] Operations of the base station 104 and / or network designs may be based on aggregation characteristics of base station functionality. For example, disaggregated base station architectures are utilized in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open-radio access network (O-RAN) network, or a virtualized radio access network (vRAN) , which may also be referred to a cloud radio access network (C-RAN) . Disaggregation may include distributing functionality across the two or more units at various physical locations, as well as distributing functionality for at least one unit virtually, which can enable flexibility in network designs. The various units of the disaggregated base station architecture, or the disaggregated RAN architecture, can be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit. For example, the base stations 104d, 104e and / or the RUs 106a, 106b, 106c, 106d may communicate with the UEs 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, and / or 102s via one or more radio frequency (RF) access links based on a Uu interface. In examples, multiple RUs 106 and / or base stations 104 may simultaneously serve the UEs 102, such as by intra- cell and / or inter-cell access links between the UEs 102 and the RUs 106 / base stations 104.
[0029] The RU 106, the DU 108, and the CU 110 may include (or may be coupled to) one or more interfaces configured to transmit or receive information / signals via a wired or wireless transmission medium. For example, a wired interface can be configured to transmit or receive the information / signals over a wired transmission medium, such as via the fronthaul link 160 between the RU 106d and the baseband unit (BBU) 112 of the base station 104d associated with the cell 190d. The BBU 112 includes a DU 108 and a CU 110, which may also have a wired interface (e.g., midhaul link) configured between the DU 108 and the CU 110 to transmit or receive the information / signals between the DU 108 and the CU 110. In further examples, a wireless interface, which may include a receiver, a transmitter, or a transceiver, such as an RF transceiver, configured to transmit and / or receive the information / signals via the wireless transmission medium, such as for information communicated between the RU 106a of the cell 190a and the base station 104e of the cell 190e via cross-cell communication beams 136-138 of the RU 106a and the base station 104e.
[0030] The RUs 106 may be configured to implement lower layer functionality. For example, the RU 106 is controlled by the DU 108 and may correspond to a logical node that hosts RF processing functions, or lower layer PHY functionality, such as execution of fast Fourier transform (FFT) , inverse FFT (iFFT) , digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc. The functionality of the RU 106 may be based on the functional split, such as a functional split of lower layers.
[0031] The RUs 106 may transmit or receive over-the-air (OTA) communication with one or more UEs 102. For example, the RU 106b of the cell 190b communicates with the UE 102b of the cell 190b via a first set of communication beams 132 of the RU 106b and a second set of communication beams 134b of the UE 102b, which may correspond to inter-cell communication beams or, in some examples, cross-cell communication beams. For instance, the UE 102b of the cell 190b may communicate with the RU 106a of the cell 190a via a third set of communication beams 134a of the UE 102b and a fourth set of communication beams 136 of the RU 106a. DUs 108 can control both real-time and non-real-time features of control plane and user plane communications of the RUs 106.
[0032] Any combination of the RU 106, the DU 108, and the CU 110, or reference thereto individually, may correspond to a base station 104. Thus, the base station 104 may include at least one of the RU 106, the DU 108, or the CU 110. The base stations 104 provide the UEs 102 with access to a core network. The base stations 104 may relay communications between the UEs 102 and the core network (not shown) . The base stations 104 may be associated with macrocells for higher-power cellular base stations and / or small cells for lower-power cellular base stations. For example, the cell 190e may correspond to a macrocell, whereas the cells 190a-190d may correspond to small cells. Small cells include femtocells, picocells, microcells, etc. A network that includes at least one macrocell and at least one small cell may be referred to as a “heterogeneous network. ”
[0033] Transmissions from a UE 102 to a base station 104 / RU 106 are referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions, whereas transmissions from the base station 104 / RU 106 to the UE 102 are referred to as downlink (DL) transmissions. Uplink transmissions may also be referred to as reverse link transmissions and downlink transmissions may also be referred to as forward link transmissions. For example, the RU 106d utilizes antennas of the base station 104d of cell 190d to transmit a downlink / forward link communication to the UE 102d or receive an uplink / reverse link communication from the UE 102d based on the Uu interface associated with the access link between the UE 102d and the base station 104d / RU 106d.
[0034] Communication links between the UEs 102 and the base stations 104 / RUs 106 may be based on multiple-input and multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication links may be associated with one or more carriers. The UEs 102 and the base stations 104 / RUs 106 may utilize a spectrum bandwidth of YMHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400, 800, 1600, 2000, etc. MHz) per carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz, where x component carriers (CCs) are used for communication in each of the uplink and downlink directions. The carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other along a frequency spectrum. In examples, uplink and downlink carriers may be allocated in an asymmetric manner, with more or fewer carriers allocated to either the uplink or the downlink. A primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers may be included in the component carriers. The primary component carrier may be associated with a primary cell (PCell) and a secondary component cartier may be associated with a secondary cell (SCell) .
[0035] The UEs 102 and the base stations 104 / RUs 106 may each include a plurality of antennas. The plurality of antennas may correspond to antenna elements, antenna panels, and / or antenna arrays that may facilitate beamforming operations. For example, the RU 106b transmits a downlink beamformed signal based on a first set of communication beams 132 to the UE 102b in one or more transmit directions of the RU 106b. The UE 102b may receive the downlink beamformed signal based on a second set of communication beams 134b from the RU 106b in one or more receive directions of the UE 102b. In a further example, the UE 102b may also transmit an uplink beamformed signal (e.g., sounding reference signal (SRS) ) to the RU 106b based on the second set of communication beams 134b in one or more transmit directions of the UE 102b. The RU 106b may receive the uplink beamformed signal from the UE 102b in one or more receive directions of the RU 106b. The UE 102b may perform beam training to determine the best receive and transmit directions for the beamformed signals. The transmit and receive directions for the UEs 102 and the base stations 104 / RUs 106 may or may not be the same.
[0036] In further examples, beamformed signals may be communicated between a first base station / RU 106a and a second base station 104e. For instance, the base station 104e of the cell 190e may transmit a beamformed signal to the RU 106a based on the communication beams 138 in one or more transmit directions of the base station 104e. The RU 106a may receive the beamformed signal from the base station 104e of the cell 190e based on the RU communication beams 136 in one or more receive directions of the RU 106a. In further examples, the base station 104e transmits a downlink beamformed signal to the UE 102e based on the communication beams 138 in one or more transmit directions of the base station 104e. The UE 102e receives the downlink beamformed signal from the base station 104e based on UE communication beams 130 in one or more receive directions of the UE 102e. The UE 102e may also transmit an uplink beamformed signal to the base station 104e based on the UE communication beams 130 in one or more transmit directions of the UE 102e, such that the base station 104e may receive the uplink beamformed signal from the UE 102e in one or more receive directions of the base station 104e.
[0037] The base station 104 may include and / or be referred to as a network entity. That is, “network entity” may refer to the base station 104 or at least one trait of the base station 104, such as the RU 106, the DU 108, and / or the CU 110. The base station 104 may also include and / or be referred to as a next generation evolved Node B (ng- eNB) , a next generation NB (gNB) , an evolved NB (eNB) , an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS) , an extended service set (ESS) , a TRP, a network node, network equipment, or other related terminology. The base station 104 or an entity at the base station 104 can be implemented as an IAB node, a relay node, a sidelink node, an aggregated (monolithic) base station, or a disaggregated base station including one or more RUs 106, DUs 108, and / or CUs 110. A set of aggregated or disaggregated base stations may be referred to as a next generation-radio access network (NG-RAN) . In some examples, the UE 102a operates in dual connectivity (DC) with the base station 104e and the base station / RU 106a. In such cases, the base station 104e can be a master node and the base station / RU 160a can be a secondary node.
[0038] Still referring to FIG. 1, any of the UEs 102 may include a dwell component 140 configured to receive, from a network entity 104, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response; to transmit, to the network entity 104 and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble; and to receive, from the network entity 104, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0039] The base stations 104 or a network entity of the base stations 104 may include a configuration component 150 configured to transmit, to a user equipment, UE, 102, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response; to receive, from the UE 102 and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble; and to transmit, to the UE 102, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0040] Accordingly, FIG. 1 describes a wireless communication system that may be implemented in connection with aspects of one or more other figures described herein. Further, although the following description may be focused on 5G NR, the concepts described herein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as 5G-Advanced and future versions, LTE, LTE-advanced (LTE-A) , and other wireless technologies, such as 6G.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram 200 of an NTN configuration. The diagram 200 includes a satellite as a network entity 104 where the network entity is in orbit. The network entity 104 may have beam footprint 208 that covers or provides service to a vast number of cells (e.g., 204) . In some instances, the network entity 104 includes multiple active beams (e.g., active beam1, active beam2, ..., active beamN) that may each cover respective cells such that the corresponding cells are illuminated (e.g., 202) , such that NTN service is available. However, some cells within the beam footprint 208 may not be served (e.g., 206) , such that NTN service is not available.
[0042] FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram 300 ora random access procedure between a UE and a network entity in an NTN environment. The example of diagram 300 includes configurations and message passing in a 20 millisecond (ms) timeline, where each slot has a length of 1 ms. In the beginning of the signaling, a network entity transmits four SSBs (e.g., SSB0, SSB1, SSB2, and SSB3) in the first and second slots. Ifa UE would like to access the cell, the UE detects at least one of the SSBs and decodes the master information block (MIB) from the PBCH first. According to the configuration (e.g., pdcch-ConfigSIB1) in the MIB, the UE monitors two consecutive slots associated with the detected SSB for system information block 1 (SIB1) . As shown in the example in FIG. 3, the SIB1 monitoring window across slot 0 and slot 1 is associated with SSB0 and SSB1, and the monitoring window across slot 1 and slot 2 is associated with SSB2 and SSB3.
[0043] Based on the information carried in SIB 1, the UE acquires information to perform random access (e.g., RO and preambles) . In the example of FIG. 3, the RO 301 is configured in every 4th and 9th slots in a system frame (i.e., 10 ms) . Considering the propagation delay in an NTN environment, the UE may not be able to transmit 310 a preamble on the first RO 301a that corresponds to the RO in 4th slot. The applicable ROs are the second RO 301b in the 9th slot, the third RO 301c in the 4th slot in the second system frame, and the fourth RO 301d in the 9th slot in the second system frame, where these ROs are in at least one round trip delay (RTD) after receiving SIB1. To transmit 310 a preamble on the second RO 30lb, the UE applies a time advance (TA) according to the one way delay from the network entity to the UE. Likewise, the UE starts a RAR monitoring window after the second RO 301b with the one way delay. Then the UE transmits 330 Msg3 to the network entity according to the UL grant in the RAR received 320 from the network entity. The UE starts a contention resolution window with a RTD to receive a Msg 4 after transmitting 330 Msg 3 to the network entity. The network entity transmits 350 the Msg4 to the UE to complete the contention resolution. In some instances, some of the configured resources such as the 3rd RO 301c and the 4th RO 301d or part of the RAR window become inapplicable or unavailable to the UE due in part to the RO or part of the RAR window being outside of the dwell time.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a signaling diagram 400 illustrating communications between a UE 102 and a network entity 104 for random access to a cell. The network entity 104 may correspond to a base station or a unit of a base station, such as the RU 106, the DU 108, the CU 110, etc.
[0045] The UE 102 receives 402, from the network entity 104 (and the network entity 104 transmits 402, to the UE 102) , a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration. The dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response. The UE determines an applicable RO based on the received system information and the dwell time configuration. For example, if an RO is outside of the dwell time configuration, the UE identifies the RO as unavailable. In another example, if the propagation delay between the UE and the network entity exceeds a threshold, the UE identifies the RO as available in instances where the first symbol of the RO is after the last symbol of receiving SIB 1 with a two-way transmission delay or a round trip delay. In some aspects, the network entity includes a first and a second RO configurations in the system information. If a UE is incapable of applying 2 RO configurations, the UE applies the first RO configuration for preamble transmission, otherwise the UE can apply both RO configurations.
[0046] In some aspects, the dwell time is contiguous in a system frame. The network entity indicates the length of the dwell time and the start position (e.g., the first slot of SSB burst) . In some aspects, the dwell time configuration includes a list of slot indexes, where the indicated slots refer to the cell in an active state. In some aspects, the dwell time configuration includes dwell time patterns that have a periodicity equal to the SSB repetition periodicity. The dwell time configuration may include a bitmap, where a bit in the bitmap is associated with a slot. For example, the network entity uses a bitmap with a length of 20 to indicate the dwell time patterns in a 20 ms period. A bit value of “1” or “0” indicates the cell is in active and inactive state, respectively. In such instances, the first bit in the bitmap is associated with the first available slot for SSB burst transmission.
[0047] In some aspects, the network entity provides a periodicity in addition to the dwell time configuration, where the dwell time configuration has a different periodicity than the SSB transmission. For example, the dwell time configuration or patterns have a periodicity that is twice the length of the SSB periodicity, and the network entity configures different dwell time durations (longer or shorter) in two radio frames that are associated with a first and second SSB bursts. In such instances, the network entity transmits SSBs in the first and second SSB bursts with different power, where the power is associated with dwell time duration in a system frame or SSB period. In some aspects, the network entity indicates a power-to-dwell time association (e.g., a ratio) in the system information. The UE determines the SSB transmission power in an SSB burst based on the dwell time duration in a system frame or SSB period. In some aspects, the network entity may configure a common or separate transmission power for SSBs in different dwell times.
[0048] In some aspects, the dwell time configuration is associated with DL and UL transmissions. In some aspects, the network entity provides separate dwell time configurations for DL and UL transmissions, respectively. In some aspects, the network entity provides dwell time patterns for either DL or UL transmission.
[0049] In some aspects, the network entity configures multiple dwell time configurations, where different dwell time configurations are associated with different SSBs or SSB groups. The SSBs in an SSB groups may be pre-defined or configured by the network entity. For each dwell time configuration, the network entity may configure at least one of the following: periodicity for the active time, periodicity for the inactive time, starting slot / subframe / frame offset for the active time, starting slot / subframe / frame offset for the inactive time, duration for the active time, or duration for the inactive time. In some aspects, the network entity may configure the periodicity for the active time as X slots, starting slot offset for the active time as Y, and duration for the active time as Z slots. The network entity or UE may determine a slot kX+Y, kX+Y+1, ..., kX+Y+Z as the active time, where k is an integer equal to or greater than 0. The network entity or UE may determine other slots as inactive time. The network entity or the UE may determine the dwell time configuration based on at least one of the subcarrier spacing of the initial downlink bandwidth part, the initial uplink bandwidth part, or the minimum or maximum subcarrier spacing of the initial downlink bandwidth part and the initial uplink bandwidth part. In some aspects, the UE may refrain from receiving at least one of the following downlink channels or signals associated with or quasi-co-located with an SSB outside the dwell time for the SSB: PDCCH, physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) , channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) , SSB, or positioning reference signal (PRS) . The UE may receive at least one of the downlink channels or signals above associated with or quasi-co-located with an SSB during the dwell time for the SSB. In some aspects, the UE may refrain from transmitting at least one of the following uplink channels or signals associated with an SSB outside the dwell time for the SSB: physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) , physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) , sounding reference signal (SRS) , or PRACH. The UE may transmit the at least one of the uplink channels or signals above associated with an SSB during the dwell time for the SSB.
[0050] In some aspects, the network entity configures a RRC_CONNECTED UE with a second dwell time configuration. The UE applies the second dwell time configuration instead of the one detected from the system information. In some aspects, the UE applies the second dwell time configuration and the dwell time configuration from the system information, simultaneously.
[0051] In some aspects, the network entity may configure the second dwell time configuration for a serving cell. In some aspects, the network entity may configure the second dwell time configuration for multiple serving cells within a band or band combination or a serving cell list, where the band combination or serving cell list may be pre-defined or configured by the network entity. For example, the network entity configures the serving cells that share common antenna (s) in a serving cell list. The network entity or the UE may determine the dwell time configuration based on the subcarrier spacing for the active uplink and / or downlink bandwidth part of a serving cell among the multiple serving cells. The serving cell may be pre-defined (e.g., the one with lowest serving cell index) or configured by the network entity. In some aspects, the network entity or the UE may determine the dwell time configuration based on the minimum or maximum subcarrier spacing for the active uplink and / or downlink bandwidth part among the multiple serving cells. In some aspects, the UE may refrain from receiving at least one of the following downlink channels or signals for the serving cell (s) associated with or quasi-co-located with an SSB outside the dwell time for the SSB for the serving cell (s) : PDCCH, PDSCH, CSI-RS, SSB, or PRS. The UE may receive at least one of the downlink channels or signals above for the serving cell (s) associated with or quasi-co-located with an SSB during the dwell time for the SSB for the serving cell (s) . In some aspects, the UE may refrain from transmitting at least one of the following uplink channels or signals for the serving cell (s) associated with an SSB outside the dwell time for the SSB for the serving cell (s) : PUCCH, PUSCH, SRS, or PRACH. The UE may transmit at least one of the uplink channels or signals above for the serving cell (s) associated with an SSB during the dwell time for the SSB for the serving cell (s) .
[0052] In some aspects, the second dwell time configuration includes multiple dwell time patterns, and the network entity can indicate one pattern of the multiple dwell time patterns to the UE by a downlink control information (DCI) or medium access control layer control element (MAC CE) . In some aspects, the network entity may update the configured second dwell time configuration by DCI or MAC CE.
[0053] In some aspects, the network entity may transmit the DCI or MAC CE in a group-cast or broad-cast manner (e.g., the network entity transmits the DCI or MAC CE based on a radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) pre-defined or configured by the network entity) . In some aspects, the network entity may transmit the DCI or MAC CE in a unicast manner (e.g., the network entity transmits the DCI or MAC CE based on C-RNTI) .
[0054] In some aspects, the network entity indicates, in the master information block (MIB) , whether a dwell time configuration configured by SIB is applicable or not. In some aspects, the network entity indicates whether the dwell time configuration carried by SIB is applicable to the UE via DCI (e.g., a new DCI format or a DCI format with CRC scrambled by paging RNTI (P-RNTI) , system information RNTI (SI-RNTI) , random access RNTI (RA-RNTI) , cell RNTI (C-RNTI) , etc. ) .
[0055] The UE 102 optionally receives 404, from the network entity 104 (and the network entity 104 option transmits 404, to the UE 102) an SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0056] The UE 102 optionally receives 405, from the network entity 104 (and the network entity optionally transmits 405, to the UE 102) a dwell time update indication. The dwell time update indication updates the dwell time of the cell received from the network entity. The dwell time update indication updates the dwell time to allow the UE to adjust the timing of the RACH procedure.
[0057] The UE 102 transmits 410, to the network entity 104 (and the network entity 104 receives 410, from the UE 102) via the RO, a first random access message ofa RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration. The first random access message comprises at least a preamble. For example, in a 2-step RACH procedure, the first random access message comprises a MsgA, while in a 4-step RACH procedure, the first random access message comprises a preamble or Msg1. The UE selects a preamble based on the system information, and transmits 410, to the network entity 104, the preamble on an available RO. In some aspects, the network entity 104 may configure the UE 102 to transmit multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) repetitions on multiple ROs, and the UE may determine an available RO for PRACH transmission based on the received system information and the dwell time configuration. In some aspects, if the propagation delay is large or exceeds a threshold, the UE determines whether the time instant is in the cell dwell time configuration with a time offset equal to the one-way propagation delay that is calculated based on the positioning between the network entity and the UE. In some aspects, the UE determines the preamble transmission power based on the dwell time duration in the system frame or SSB period, or with an additional association (e.g., a dwell time duration to power ratio) indicated by the network entity.
[0058] The UE 102 receives 420, from the network entity 104 (and the network entity 104 transmits 420, to the UE 102) a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration. The second random access message comprises at least the random access response in response to the first random access message. For example, in a 2-step RACH procedure, the second random access message comprises a MsgB, while in a 4-step RACH procedure, the second random access message comprises a RAR or Msg2. After transmission of the first random access message, the UE starts to monitor for a RAR (e.g., second random access message) in a RAR window with a length according to the received system information. In some aspects, if the UE identifies the network entity as an NTN satellite, the UE calculates a round trip time according to the position of the satellite and itself, and then delays the start of the RAR window accordingly. In some aspects, if the starting time instant of the RAR window is outside of the dwell time, the UE may start the RAR window in a subsequent dwell time. In some aspects, if the UE has started the RAR window and the time instance is outside of the dwell time, the UE may suspend the timer of the RAR window until a subsequent dwell time. Thus, the UE can distribute the RAR window length to multiple dwell time durations. In some aspects, ifthe UE has started the RAR window and the time instance is outside of the dwell time, the UE may skip reception of the RAR from the network entity. In some aspects, the network entity may configure the UE as to whether the UE may suspend the timer of the RAR window outside the dwell time.
[0059] In some aspects, if the UE detects a DCI with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled with a RA-RNTI (associated with the RO for preamble transmission) , where a MAC packet data unit (PDU) received according to the DCI does not include a RAPID of the transmitted preamble, the UE initiates a dwell time inactivity timer. Ifthe dwell time inactivity timer is active, the UE does not suspend the RAR window while outside the dwell time. In some aspects, if the UE detects a DCI with a CRC scrambled with a RA-RNTI (associated with the RO for preamble transmission) , where a MAC PDU received according to the DCI includes a RAPID of the transmitted preamble but does not includes a RAR, the UE initiates a dwell time inactivity timer. If the dwell time inactivity timer is active, the UE does not suspend the RAR window while outside the dwell time. In some aspects, if the UE detects a DCI with a CRC scrambled with a RA-RNTI (associated with the RO for preamble transmission) , where a MAC PDU received according to the DCI includes a MAC CE to indicate the UE to initiate a dwell time inactivity timer. If the dwell time inactivity timer is active, the UE does not suspend the RAR window while outside the dwell time.
[0060] In some aspects, the system information includes an early indication configuration, where the configuration includes at least one available dwell time pattern or period. The network entity may transmit the early indication configuration to the UE via DCI with CRC scrambled by a group RNTI (e.g., SI-RNTI, PEI-RNTI, RA-RNTI or a new RNTI, etc. ) while the UE is monitoring the RAR window. In some aspects, in response to the early indication configuration, the UE maintains the monitoring of the RAR (e.g., second random access message) in the RAR window outside the dwell time. In some aspects, the network entity indicates additional available dwell time to the UE via DCI with CRC scramble by RA-RNTI or the MAC CE received according to the DCI. In some aspects, the UE initiates a RAR window inactivity timer and monitors RAR when the timer is active. In some aspects, the network entity indicates additional available dwell time in the early indication for UE to monitor RAR and contention resolution information (i.e., Msg4) .
[0061] The UE 102 optionally transmits 430 to the network entity 104 (and the network entity 104 optionally receives 430, from the UE 102) a third random access message based on the resources indicated in the second random access message. For example, in a 4-step RACH procedure, the third random access message comprises a Msg3. In some aspects, if the UE detects a DCI with a CRC scrambled with a RA-RNTI (associated with a first RO for the preamble transmission) , where a MAC PDU received according to the DCI includes a RAR with the RAPID of the transmitted preamble, but without an UL grant, the UE stops the current RAR window and starts a second RAR window based on a second RO or the next available RO that corresponds to the same RA-RNTI. In such instances, the UE does not retransmit the preamble in the second RO. In some aspects, the UE may or may not consider RTT for starting the second RAR window. The network entity may include the system frame number (SFN) (e.g., at least one least significant bit (LSB) of the SFN) in the DCI to indicate whether the RAR in the MAC PDU is associated with the first RO. If the UE does not detect any DCI with a CRC scrambled with the RA-RNTI in the RAR window associated with the second RO, the UE retransmits the preamble in a third or subsequent available RO. In some aspects, the UE determines available resources to transmit 430 the third random access message (e.g., Msg3) based on an UL grant carried on the received second random access message (e.g., RAR) . In some aspects, in addition to the slot offset (K2) , start symbol (S) , and length (L) indicated in the time domain resource allocation (TDRA) field, the UL grant includes at least one LSB of a SFN for UE to transmit uplink in a subsequent system frame. After the transmission of the third random access message (e.g., Msg3) , the UE monitors for reception of a fourth random access message (e.g., Msg4) from the network entity based on the dwell time indicated in the system information. In some aspects, if the scheduled slot (s) for one or multiple PUSCH repetitions for the third random access message (e.g., Msg3) is not in the dwell time, the UE may transmit the one or multiple PUSCH repetitions in the next uplink slot within the dwell time.
[0062] The UE 102 optionally receives 450 from the network entity 104 (and the network entity optionally transmits 450, to the UE 102) a fourth random access message based on determined resources. For example, in a 4-step RACH procedure, the fourth random access message comprises a Msg4. The fourth random access message completes the contention resolution procedure.
[0063] FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram 500 of an example determination of available ROs based on a dwell time. For example, the UE receives 502 from the network entity the dwell time configuration comprising a dwell time pattern which indicates available DL and UL transmission time occasions.
[0064] The UE optionally receives 504, from the network entity (and the network entity optionally transmits 504, to the UE) , an SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0065] The UE determines 506 to perform the RACH procedure based on the system information and the dwell time configuration. The UE determines 507 whether the candidate RO is within the dwell time associated with the dwell time configuration. If the candidate RO is not within the dwell time, the UE identifies 508 a second candidate RACH occasion within the dwell time. If the candidate RO is within the dwell time, the UE selects 509 a transmission power of the first random access message based on the SSB transmission power indication when the first candidate RACH occasion is within the dwell time. The UE transmits 510 the first random access message via the candidate RO or the second candidate RO. In some aspects, ifthe UE failed to identify an RO from candidate ROs that associates with a first SSB, the UE may consider candidate ROs that associates with a second SSB.
[0066] FIG. 6 is a diagram 600 of an example determination of a start of a RAR window after transmission of the first random access message.
[0067] The UE transmits 610, to the network entity, a first random access message (e.g., a preamble or Msg1 or MsgA) on an available RO. The UE determines 612 a timing of the RAR window in order to receive the second random access message. To determine 612 the timing of the RAR window, the UE delays 614 a start of the RAR window when a propagation delay between the network entity and the UE exceeds a threshold. The UE determines 616 whether a first time instance is within the dwell time. Ifthe first time instance is within the dwell time, the UE starts 618 the RAR window. Ifthe first time instance is not within the dwell time, the UE starts 619 the random access response window in a subsequent dwell time.
[0068] FIGs. 7A and 7B are diagrams 700A and 700B illustrating examples of timing for a RAR window. The UE starts 719 a RAR window, after the transmission of the first random access message. The UE monitors 722 for a second random access message (e.g., RAR or Msg2 or MsgB) within the RAR window. The UE determines 724 whether a second time instance is within the dwell time. The monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the second time instance is within the dwell time. If the time instance is not within the dwell time, the UE suspends 726a the random access response window and the monitoring for the second random access message. The UE restarts 728 the random access response window in a second dwell time. In some aspects, if the time instance is not within the dwell time, the UE suspends 726b the monitoring for the second random access message. In such instances, the UE determines 729 whether a third time instance is within the dwell time. The monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the third time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the UE suspends 726b the monitoring for the second random access message when the third time instance is not within the dwell time.
[0069] FIGs. 8A and 8B are diagrams 800A and 800B illustrating examples of timing for a contention resolution timer. The UE determines 831 a, 83 1b the resources to monitor for a fourth random access message (e.g., Msg4) . For example, the UE starts 832 a contention resolution timer. The UE monitors 834 for the fourth random access message while the contention resolution timer is running. The UE determines 836 whether a fourth time instance is within the dwell time. If the fourth time instance is within the dwell time, the UE maintains monitoring 834 for the fourth random access message. In some aspects, ifthe fourth time instance is not within the dwell time, the UE suspends 838a the contention resolution timer or restarts 840 the contention resolution timer in a subsequent dwell time (as shown in 800A of FIG. 8A) . In some aspects, ifthe fourth time instance is not within the dwell time, the UE suspends 838b the monitoring 834 for the fourth random access message (as shown in 800B of FIG. 8B) .
[0070] FIG. 9 is a diagram 900 illustrating an example for updating a dwell time. For example, the UE optionally receives 905, from the network entity (and the network entity optionally transmits 905, to the UE) , a dwell time update indication. The UE monitors for and receives 920 the second random access message, during the RAR window, based on an updated dwell time. The UE optionally transmits 930, to the network entity (and the network entity optionally receives, from the UE) , the third random access message based on the updated dwell time. The UE optionally monitors for and receives 950, from the network entity 104 (and the network entity optionally transmits 950, to the UE) , a fourth random access message during a contention resolution timer based on the updated dwell time.
[0071] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart 1000 of a method of wireless communication at a UE. With reference to FIGs. 1-9, the method may be performed by the UE 102. In embodiments, the UE 102 receives 1002, from the network entity, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE 102 receives 402 a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration. The dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response.
[0072] The UE optionally receives 1004, from the network entity, an SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE optionally receives 404 an SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0073] The UE optionally receives 1005, from the network entity, a dwell time update indication. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE optionally receives 405 a dwell time update indication. The second random access message is received based on an updated dwell time.
[0074] The UE optionally determines 1006 to perform the RACH procedure based on the system information and the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 5 shows that the UE optionally determines 506 to perform the RACH procedure based on the system information and the dwell time configuration.
[0075] The UE transmits 1010, to the network entity and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE transmits 410, to the network entity and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration.
[0076] The UE optionally determines 1012 a timing of a random access response window to receive the second random access message. For example, FIG. 6 shows that the UE optionally determines 612 a timing of a random access response window to receive the second random access message.
[0077] The UE receives 420, from the network entity, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE receives 420, from the network entity, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration.
[0078] The UE optionally transmits 1030, to the network entity, the third random access message based on the resources indicated in the second random access message. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE optionally transmits 430, to the network entity, the third random access message based on the resources indicated in the second random access message.
[0079] The UE optionally determines 1031 resources to monitor for reception of a fourth random access message. For example, FIGs. 8A and 8B show that the UE optionally determines 83 1a, 83 1b resources to monitor for reception of a fourth random access message.
[0080] The UE optionally receives 1050, from the network entity, a fourth random access message. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the UE optionally receives 450, from the network entity, a fourth random access message.
[0081] FIG. 11 is a flowchart 1100 of a method of wireless communication at a network entity. With reference to FIGs. 1-9, the method may be performed by one or more network entities 104, which may correspond to a base station or a unit of the base station, such as the RU 106, the DU 108, and / or the CU 110. In embodiments, the network entity 104 transmits 1102, to a UE 102, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity transmits 402 a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration.
[0082] The network entity optionally transmits 1104, to the UE, an SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity optionally transmits 404, to the UE, an SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0083] The network entity optionally transmits 1105, to the UE, a dwell time update indication. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity optionally transmits 405, to the UE, a dwell time update indication.
[0084] The network entity receives 1110, from the UE and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity receives 410, from the UE and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration.
[0085] The network entity transmits 1120, to the UE 102, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity transmits 420, to the UE 102, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration.
[0086] The network entity optionally receives 1130, from the UE, a third random access message based on resources indicated in the second random access message. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity optionally receives 430, from the UE, a third random access message based on resources indicated in the second random access message.
[0087] The network entity optionally transmits 1150, to the UE, a fourth random access message while a contention resolution time is running based on the updated dwell time. For example, FIG. 4 shows that the network entity optionally transmits 450, to the UE, a fourth random access message while a contention resolution time is running based on the updated dwell time.
[0088] FIG. 12 is a diagram 1200 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a UE apparatus 1202. The UE apparatus 1202 may be the UE 102, a component of the UE 102, or may implement UE functionality. The UE apparatus 1202 may include an application processor 1206, which may have on-chip memory 1206’ . In examples, the application processor 1206 may be coupled to a secure digital (SD) card 1208 and / or a display 1210. The application processor 1206 may also be coupled to a sensor (s) module 1212, a power supply 1214, an additional module of memory 1216, a camera 1218, and / or other related components.
[0089] The UE apparatus 1202 may further include a wireless baseband processor 1226, which may be referred to as a modem. The wireless baseband processor 1226 may have on-chip memory 1226'. Along with, and similar to, the application processor 1206, the wireless baseband processor 1226 may also be coupled to the sensor (s) module 1212, the power supply 1214, the additional module of memory 1216, the camera 1218, and / or other related components. The wireless baseband processor 1226 may be additionally coupled to one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) card (s) 1220 and / or one or more transceivers 1230 (e.g., wireless RF transceivers) .
[0090] Within the one or more transceivers 1230, the UE apparatus 1202 may include a Bluetooth module 1232, a WLAN module 1234, an SPS module 1236 (e.g., GNSS module) , and / or a cellular module 1238. The Bluetooth module 1232, the WLAN module 1234, the SPS module 1236, and the cellular module 1238 may each include an on-chip transceiver (TRX) , or in some cases, just a transmitter (TX) or just a receiver (RX) . The Bluetooth module 1232, the WLAN module 1234, the SPS module 1236, and the cellular module 1238 may each include dedicated antennas and / or utilize antennas 1240 for communication with one or more other nodes. For example, the UE apparatus 1202 can communicate through the transceiver (s) 1230 via the antennas 1240 with another UE (e.g., sidelink communication) and / or with a network entity 104 (e.g., uplink / downlink communication) , where the network entity 104 may correspond to a base station or a unit of the base station, such as the RU 106, the DU 108, or the CU 110.
[0091] The wireless baseband processor 1226 and the application processor 1206 may each include a computer-readable medium / memory 1226', 1206', respectively. The additional module of memory 1216 may also be considered a computer-readable medium / memory. Each computer-readable medium / memory 1226', 1206', 1216 may be non-transitory. The wireless baseband processor 1226 and the application processor 1206 may each be responsible for general processing, including execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory 1226', 1206', 1216. The software, when executed by the wireless baseband processor 1226 / application processor 1206, causes the wireless baseband processor 1226 / application processor 1206 to perform the various functions described herein. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the wireless baseband processor 1226 / application processor 1206 when executing the software. The wireless baseband processor 1226 / application processor 1206 may be a component of the UE 102. The UE apparatus 1202 may be a processor chip (e.g., modem and / or application) and include just the wireless baseband processor 1226 and / or the application processor 1206. In other examples, the UE apparatus 1202 may be the entire UE 102 and include the additional modules of the apparatus 1202.
[0092] As discussed in FIG. 1 and implemented with respect to FIG. 10, the dwell component 140 is configured to receive, from a network entity, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response. The dwell component 140 is further configured to transmit, to the network entity and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble. The dwell component 140 is further configured to receive, from the network entity, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0093] The dwell component 140 may be within the application processor 1206 (e.g., at 140a) , the wireless baseband processor 1226 (e.g., at 140b) , or both the application processor 1206 and the wireless baseband processor 1226. The dwell component 140a-140b may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes / algorithm, implemented by one or more processors configured to perform the stated processes / algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by the one or more processors, or a combination thereof.
[0094] FIG. 13 is a diagram 1300 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for one or more network entities 104. The one or more network entities 104 may be a base station, a component of a base station, or may implement base station functionality. The one or more network entities 104 may include, or may correspond to, at least one of the RU 106, the DU, 108, or the CU 110. The CU 110 may include a CU processor 1346, which may have on-chip memory 1346'. In some aspects, the CU 110 may further include an additional module of memory 1356 and / or a communications interface 1348, both of which may be coupled to the CU processor 1346. The CU 110 can communicate with the DU 108 through a midhaul link 162, such as an F1 interface between the communications interface 1348 of the CU 110 and a communications interface 1328 of the DU 108.
[0095] The DU 108 may include a DU processor 1326, which may have on-chip memory 1326'. In some aspects, the DU 108 may further include an additional module of memory 1336 and / or the communications interface 1328, both of which may be coupled to the DU processor 1326. The DU 108 can communicate with the RU 106 through a fronthaul link 160 between the communications interface 1328 of the DU 108 and a communications interface 1308 of the RU 106.
[0096] The RU 106 may include an RU processor 1306, which may have on-chip memory 1306'. In some aspects, the RU 106 may further include an additional module of memory 1316, the communications interface 1308, and one or more transceivers 1330, all of which may be coupled to the RU processor 1306. The RU 106 may further include antennas 1340, which may be coupled to the one or more transceivers 1330, such that the RU 106 can communicate through the one or more transceivers 1330 via the antennas 1340 with the UE 102.
[0097] The on-chip memory 1306', 1326', 1346' and the additional modules of memory 1316, 1336, 1356 may each be considered a computer-readable medium / memory. Each computer-readable medium / memory may be non-transitory. Each of the processors 1306, 1326, 1346 is responsible for general processing, including execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory. The software, when executed by the corresponding processor (s) 1306, 1326, 1346 causes the processor (s) 1306, 1326, 1346 to perform the various functions described herein. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor (s) 1306, 1326, 1346 when executing the software. In examples, the configuration component 150 may sit at any of the one or more network entities 104, such as at the CU 110; both the CU 110 and the DU 108; each of the CU 110, the DU 108, and the RU 106; the DU 108; both the DU 108 and the RU 106; or the RU 106.
[0098] As discussed in FIG. 1 and implemented with respect to FIG. 11, the configuration component 150 is configured to transmit, to a UE, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response. The configuration component 150 is further configured to receive, from the UE and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble. The configuration component 150 is further configured to transmit, to the UE, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0099] The configuration component 150 may be within one or more processors of the one or more network entities 104, such as the RU processor 1306 (e.g., at 150a) , the DU processor 1326 (e.g., at 150b) , and / or the CU processor 1346 (e.g., at 150c) . The configuration component 150a-150c may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to carry out the stated processes / algorithm, implemented by one or more processors 1306, 1326, 1346 configured to perform the stated processes / algorithm, stored within a computer-readable medium for implementation by the one or more processors 1306, 1326, 1346, or a combination thereof.
[0100] The specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes and flowcharts disclosed herein is an illustration of example approaches. Hence, the specific order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes and flowcharts may be rearranged. Some blocks may also be combined or deleted. Dashed lines may indicate optional elements of the diagrams. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in an example order, and are not limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented in the claims, processes, and flowcharts.
[0101] The detailed description set forth herein describes various configurations in connection with the drawings and does not represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough explanation of various concepts. However, these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.
[0102] Aspects of wireless communication systems, such as telecommunication systems, are presented with reference to various apparatuses and methods. These apparatuses and methods are described in the following detailed description and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, call flows, systems, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements” ) . These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or combinations thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.
[0103] An element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented as a “processing system” that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs) , central processing units (CPUs) , application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs) , reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, systems-on-chip (SoC) , baseband processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) , programmable logic devices (PLDs) , state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other similar hardware configured to perform the various functionality described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system may execute software, which may be referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, or any combination thereof.
[0104] If the functionality described herein is implemented in software, the functions may be stored on, or encoded as, one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media and can include a random-access memory (RAM) , a read-only memory (ROM) , an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) , optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of these types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computer.
[0105] Aspects, implementations, and / or use cases described herein may be implemented across many differing platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, the aspects, implementations, and / or use cases may come about via integrated chip implementations and other non-module-component based devices, such as end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail / purchasing devices, medical devices, artificial intelligence (AD-enabled devices, machine learning (ML) -enabled devices, etc. The aspects, implementations, and / or use cases may range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular or non-chip-level implementations, and further to aggregate, distributed, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices or systems incorporating one or more techniques described herein.
[0106] Devices incorporating the aspects and features described herein may also include additional components and features for the implementation and practice of the claimed and described aspects and features. For example, transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily includes a number of components for analog and digital purposes, such as hardware components, antennas, RF-chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processor (s) , interleavers, adders / summers, etc. Techniques described herein may be practiced in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, aggregated or disaggregated components, end-user devices, etc., of varying configurations.
[0107] The description herein is provided to enable a person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not limited to the aspects described herein, but are to be interpreted in view of the full scope of the present disclosure consistent with the language of the claims.
[0108] Reference to an element in the singular does not mean “one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more. ” Terms such as “if, ” “when, ” and “while” do not imply an immediate temporal relationship or reaction. That is, these phrases, e.g., “when, ” do not imply an immediate action in response to or during the occurrence of an action, but simply imply that if a condition is met then an action will occur, but without requiring a specific or immediate time constraint for the action to occur. The terms “may” , “might” , and “can” , as used in this disclosure, often carry certain connotations. For example, “may” refers to a permissible feature that may or may not occur, “might” refers to a feature that probably occurs, and “can” refers to a capability (e.g., capable of) . The phrase “For example” often carries a similar connotation to “may” and, therefore, “may” is sometimes excluded from sentences that include “for example” or other similar phrases.
[0109] Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. Combinations such as “at least one of A, B, or C” or “one or more of A, B, or C”include any combination of A, B, and / or C, such as A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, and / or multiples of C, or may include A only, B only, or C only. Sets should be interpreted as a set of elements where the elements number one or more. Terms or articles such as “a” , “an” , and / or “the” may refer to one of an item, feature, element, etc., that the term or article precedes, or may refer to more than one of said item, feature, element, etc. that the term or article precedes. For example, the recitation “a widget” does not preclude reference to multiples of said widget, as “multiple widgets” necessarily includes “a widget” . Hence, the recitation “a widget” may be interpreted as “at least one widget” or, similarly, interpreted as “one or more widgets” .
[0110] Unless otherwise specifically indicated, ordinal terms such as “first” and “second” do not necessarily imply an order in time, sequence, numerical value, etc., but are used to distinguish between different instances of a term or phrase that follows each ordinal term.
[0111] Reference numbers, as used in the specification and figures, are sometimes cross-referenced among drawings to denote same or similar features. A feature that is exactly the same in multiple drawings may be labeled with the same reference number in the multiple drawings. A feature that is similar among the multiple drawings, but not exactly the same, may be labeled with reference numbers that have different leading numbers but have one or more of the same trailing numbers (e.g., 206, 306, 406, etc., may refer to similar features in the drawings) . Hence, like numbers may refer to like actions.
[0112] Structural and functional equivalents to elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are encompassed by the claims. The words “module, ” “mechanism, ” “element, ” “device, ” and the like may not be a substitute for the word “means. ” As such, no claim element is to be construed as a means plus function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for. ” As used herein, the phrase “based on” shall not be construed as a reference to a closed set of information, one or more conditions, one or more factors, or the like. In other words, the phrase “based on A” , where “A” may be information, a condition, a factor, or the like, shall be construed as “based at least on A” unless specifically recited differently.
[0113] The following examples are illustrative only and may be combined with other examples or teachings described herein, without limitation.
[0114] Example 1 is a method of wireless communication at a UE, including: receiving, from a network entity, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response; transmitting, to the network entity and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble; and receiving, from the network entity, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0115] Example 2 is the method of example 1, further including determining to perform the RACH procedure based on the system information and the dwell time configuration.
[0116] Example 3 is the method of any of examples 1-2, further including receiving, from the network entity, a SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0117] Example 4 is the method of any of examples 2-3, where the determining to perform the RACH procedure further including determining whether a first candidate RACH occasion is within a dwell time associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0118] Example 5 is the method of example 4, further including identifying a second candidate RACH occasion within the dwell time when the first candidate RACH occasion is not within the dwell time; or selecting a transmission power of the first random access message based on the SSB transmission power indication when the first candidate RACH occasion is within the dwell time, wherein the first random access message is transmitted via the first candidate RACH occasion or the second candidate RACH occasion.
[0119] Example 6 is the method of any of examples 1-5, further including determining a timing of a random access response window to receive the second random access message.
[0120] Example 7 is the method of example 6, where the determining the timing of the random access response window further comprising delaying a start of the random access response window when a propagation delay between the network entity and the UE exceeds a threshold; determining whether a first time instance is within the dwell time; and starting the random access response window when the first time instant is within the dwell time; or starting the random access response window in a subsequent dwell time when the first time instant is not within the dwell time.
[0121] Example 8 is the method of any of examples 6-7, further including monitoring for the second random access message within the random access response window; and determining whether a second time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the second time instance is within the dwell time.
[0122] Example 9 is the method of example 8, further including suspending the random access response window and the monitoring for the second random access message when the second time instance is not within the dwell time; and restarting the random access response window in a second dwell time.
[0123] Example 10 is the method of example 8, further including suspending the monitoring for the second random access message when the random access response window is not within the dwell time; and determining whether a third time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the third time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the suspending of the monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the third time instance is not within the dwell time.
[0124] Example 11 is the method of any of examples 1-10, where resources for transmission of a third random access message are indicated in the second random access message, further including transmitting, to the network entity, the third random access message based on the resources indicated in the second random access message.
[0125] Example 12 is the method of any of examples 1-11, further includes determining resources to monitor for reception of a fourth random access message; and receiving, from the network entity, the fourth random access message based on the determined resources.
[0126] Example 13 is the method of example 12, where the determining the resources to monitor for reception of the fourth random access message further including starting a contention resolution timer; monitoring for the fourth random access message while the contention resolution timer is running; and determining whether a fourth time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the monitoring for the fourth random access message is maintained when the fourth time instance is within the dwell time.
[0127] Example 14 is the method of example 13, further including at least one of suspending the contention resolution timer when the fourth time instance is not within the dwell time; or restarting the contention resolution timer in a subsequent dwell time.
[0128] Example 15 is the method of example 13, further including suspending the monitoring for the fourth random access message when the fourth time instance is not within the dwell time.
[0129] Example 16 is the method of any of examples 1-15, further including receiving, from the network entity, a dwell time update indication, wherein the second random access message is received based on an updated dwell time; transmitting, to the network entity, the third random access message based on the updated dwell time; and receiving, from the network entity, a fourth random access message during a contention resolution timer based on the updated dwell time.
[0130] Example 17 is a method of wireless communication at a network entity, including transmitting, to a UE, a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response; receiving, from the UE and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a RACH procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble; and transmitting, to the UE, a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.
[0131] Example 18 is the method of example 17, further including transmitting, to the UE, a SSB transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.
[0132] Example 19 is the method of any of examples 16-18, further including receiving, from the UE, a third random access message based on resources indicated in the second random access message.
[0133] Example 20 is the method of any of examples 16-19, further including transmitting, to the UE, a dwell time update indication, wherein the second random access message is transmitted based on an updated dwell time; receiving, from the UE, the third random access message based on the updated dwell time; and transmitting, to the UE, a fourth random access message while a contention resolution time is running based on the updated dwell time.
[0134] Example 21 is an apparatus for wireless communication for implementing a method as in any of examples 1-20.
[0135] Example 22 is an apparatus for wireless communication including means for implementing a method as in any of examples 1-20.
[0136] Example 23 is a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable code, the code when executed by a processor causes the processor to implement a method as in any of examples 1-20.
Claims
1.A method of wireless communication at a user equipment, UE, (102) , comprising:receiving (402) , from a network entity (104) , a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response;transmitting (410) , to the network entity (104) and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a random access channel, RACH, procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble; andreceiving (420) , from the network entity (104) , a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.2.The method of claim 1, further comprising:determining (506) to perform the RACH procedure based on the system information and the dwell time configuration.3.The method of any of claims 1-2, further comprising:receiving (404, 504) , from the network entity (104) , a synchronization signal block, SSB, transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.4.The method of any of claims 2-3, wherein the determining (506) to perform the RACH procedure further comprises:determining (507) whether a first candidate RACH occasion is within a dwell time associated with the dwell time configuration.5.The method of claim 4, further comprising:identifying (508) a second candidate RACH occasion within the dwell time when the first candidate RACH occasion is not within the dwell time; orselecting (509) a transmission power of the first random access message based on the SSB transmission power indication when the first candidate RACH occasion is within the dwell time,wherein the first random access message is transmitted (510) via the first candidate RACH occasion or the second candidate RACH occasion.6.The method of any of claims 1-5, further comprising:determining (612) a timing of a random access response window to receive the second random access message.7.The method of claim 6, wherein the determining (612) the timing of the random access response window further comprises:delaying (614) a start of the random access response window when a propagation delay between the network entity (104) and the UE (102) exceeds a threshold;determining (616) whether a first time instance is within the dwell time; andstarting (618) the random access response window when the first time instant is within the dwell time, orstarting (619) the random access response window in a subsequent dwell time when the first time instant is not within the dwell time.8.The method of any of claims 6-7, further comprising:monitoring (722) for the second random access message within the random access response window; anddetermining (724) whether a second time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the second time instance is within the dwell time.9.The method of claim 8, further comprising:suspending (726a) the random access response window and the monitoring for the second random access message when the second time instance is not within the dwell time; andrestarting (728) the random access response window in a second dwell time.10.The method of claim 8, further comprising:suspending (726b) the monitoring for the second random access message when the random access response window is not within the dwell time; anddetermining (729) whether a third time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the third time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the suspending (726b) of the monitoring for the second random access message is maintained when the third time instance is not within the dwell time.11.The method of any of claims 1-10, wherein resources for transmission of a third random access message are indicated in the second random access message, the method further comprising:transmitting (430) , to the network entity (104) , the third random access message based on the resources indicated in the second random access message.12.The method of any of claims 1-11, further comprising:determining (831) resources to monitor for reception of a fourth random access message; andreceiving (450) , from the network entity (104) , the fourth random access message based on the determined resources.13.The method of claim 12, wherein the determining (831) the resources to monitor for reception of the fourth random access message further comprises:starting (832) a contention resolution timer;monitoring (834) for the fourth random access message while the contention resolution timer is running; anddetermining (836) whether a fourth time instance is within the dwell time, wherein the monitoring (834) for the fourth random access message is maintained when the fourth time instance is within the dwell time.14.The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of:suspending (838a) the contention resolution timer when the fourth time instance is not within the dwell time; orrestarting (840) the contention resolution timer in a subsequent dwell time.15.The method of any of claims 1-14, further comprising:receiving (405, 905) , from the network entity (104) , a dwell time update indication, wherein the second random access message is received (920) based on an updated dwell time;transmitting (430, 930) , to the network entity (104) , the third random access message based on the updated dwell time; andreceiving (450, 950) , from the network entity (104) , a fourth random access message during a contention resolution timer based on the updated dwell time.16.A method of wireless communication at a network entity (104) , comprising:transmitting (402) , to a user equipment, UE, (102) , a configuration associated with system information and a dwell time configuration, the dwell time configuration including timing information for at least one of random access occasion or a random access response;receiving (410) , from the UE (102) and via the random access occasion, a first random access message of a random access channel, RACH, procedure based on the dwell time configuration, the first random access message comprising at least a preamble; andtransmitting (420) , to the UE (102) , a second random access message based on the dwell time configuration, the second random access message comprising at least the random access response in response to the first random access message.17.The method of claim 16, further comprising:transmitting (404) , to the UE (102) , a synchronization signal block, SSB, transmission power indication associated with the dwell time configuration.18.The method of any of claims 16-17, further comprising:transmitting (405, 905) , to the UE (102) , a dwell time update indication, wherein the second random access message is transmitted based on an updated dwell time;receiving (430) , from the UE (102) , the third random access message based on the updated dwell time; andtransmitting (450, 950) , to the UE (102) , a fourth random access message while a contention resolution time is running based on the updated dwell time.19.An apparatus for wireless communication comprising a memory, a transceiver, and a processor coupled to the memory and the transceiver, the apparatus being configured to implement a method as in any of claims 1-18.
Citation Information
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Multefire design of random access channel and random access channel procedure for internet of things device operation in unlicensed spectrum
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