Method performed by user equipment in a communication system and user equipment

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. The present disclosure provides a method performed by user equipment in a communication system and user equipment. According to one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method performed by user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising: receiving a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation before receiving a secondary cell activation command; performing deactivated secondary cell measurement based on first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window, wherein, the first time window is related to at least one of: transition period, measurement period based on the first reference signal after adaptation, and reporting time of valid layer 3 measurement results.

Description

METHOD PERFORMED BY USER EQUIPMENT IN A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND USER EQUIPMENT

[0001] The present application relates to the field of communications, and more particularly, to methods and user equipment performed by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system.

[0002] 5G mobile communication technologies define broad frequency bands such that high transmission rates and new services are possible, and can be implemented not only in "Sub 6GHz" bands such as 3.5GHz, but also in "Above 6GHz" bands referred to as mmWave including 28GHz and 39GHz. In addition, it has been considered to implement 6G mobile communication technologies (referred to as Beyond 5G systems) in terahertz bands (for example, 95GHz to 3THz bands) in order to accomplish transmission rates fifty times faster than 5G mobile communication technologies and ultra-low latencies one-tenth of 5G mobile communication technologies.

[0003] At the beginning of the development of 5G mobile communication technologies, in order to support services and to satisfy performance requirements in connection with enhanced Mobile BroadBand (eMBB), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communications (URLLC), and massive Machine-Type Communications (mMTC), there has been ongoing standardization regarding beamforming and massive MIMO for mitigating radio-wave path loss and increasing radio-wave transmission distances in mmWave, supporting numerologies (for example, operating multiple subcarrier spacings) for efficiently utilizing mmWave resources and dynamic operation of slot formats, initial access technologies for supporting multi-beam transmission and broadbands, definition and operation of BWP (BandWidth Part), new channel coding methods such as a LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) code for large amount of data transmission and a polar code for highly reliable transmission of control information, L2 pre-processing, and network slicing for providing a dedicated network specialized to a specific service.

[0004] Currently, there are ongoing discussions regarding improvement and performance enhancement of initial 5G mobile communication technologies in view of services to be supported by 5G mobile communication technologies, and there has been physical layer standardization regarding technologies such as V2X (Vehicle-to-everything) for aiding driving determination by autonomous vehicles based on information regarding positions and states of vehicles transmitted by the vehicles and for enhancing user convenience, NR-U (New Radio Unlicensed) aimed at system operations conforming to various regulation-related requirements in unlicensed bands, NR UE Power Saving, Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) which is UE-satellite direct communication for providing coverage in an area in which communication with terrestrial networks is unavailable, and positioning.

[0005] Moreover, there has been ongoing standardization in air interface architecture / protocol regarding technologies such as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) for supporting new services through interworking and convergence with other industries, IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) for providing a node for network service area expansion by supporting a wireless backhaul link and an access link in an integrated manner, mobility enhancement including conditional handover and DAPS (Dual Active Protocol Stack) handover, and two-step random access for simplifying random access procedures (2-step RACH for NR). There also has been ongoing standardization in system architecture / service regarding a 5G baseline architecture (for example, service based architecture or service based interface) for combining Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) and Software-Defined Networking (SDN) technologies, and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) for receiving services based on UE positions.

[0006] As 5G mobile communication systems are commercialized, connected devices that have been exponentially increasing will be connected to communication networks, and it is accordingly expected that enhanced functions and performances of 5G mobile communication systems and integrated operations of connected devices will be necessary. To this end, new research is scheduled in connection with eXtended Reality (XR) for efficiently supporting AR (Augmented Reality), VR (Virtual Reality), MR (Mixed Reality) and the like, 5G performance improvement and complexity reduction by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML), AI service support, metaverse service support, and drone communication.

[0007] Furthermore, such development of 5G mobile communication systems will serve as a basis for developing not only new waveforms for providing coverage in terahertz bands of 6G mobile communication technologies, multi-antenna transmission technologies such as Full Dimensional MIMO (FD-MIMO), array antennas and large-scale antennas, metamaterial-based lenses and antennas for improving coverage of terahertz band signals, high-dimensional space multiplexing technology using OAM (Orbital Angular Momentum), and RIS (Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface), but also full-duplex technology for increasing frequency efficiency of 6G mobile communication technologies and improving system networks, AI-based communication technology for implementing system optimization by utilizing satellites and AI (Artificial Intelligence) from the design stage and internalizing end-to-end AI support functions, and next-generation distributed computing technology for implementing services at levels of complexity exceeding the limit of UE operation capability by utilizing ultra-high-performance communication and computing resources.

[0008] Considering the development of wireless communication from generation to generation, the technologies have been developed mainly for services targeting humans, such as voice calls, multimedia services, and data services. Following the commercialization of 5th-generation (5G) communication systems, it is expected that the number of connected devices will exponentially grow. Increasingly, these will be connected to communication networks. Examples of connected things may include vehicles, robots, drones, home appliances, displays, smart sensors connected to various infrastructures, construction machines, and factory equipment. Mobile devices are expected to evolve in various form-factors, such as augmented reality glasses, virtual reality headsets, and hologram devices. In order to provide various services by connecting hundreds of billions of devices and things in the 6th-generation (6G) era, there have been ongoing efforts to develop improved 6G communication systems.

[0009] 6G communication systems, which are expected to be commercialized around 2030, have various significantly improved metrics compared to the current 5G communication systems. The peak data rate will reach at least 50 Gbit / s, and the user experienced data rate will reach at least 300 Mbit / s, the air-interface latency will be less than 1 ms, and the air-interface reliability will reach 10-5. In addition to the above basic communication metrics, the 6G communication systems will also have sensing capabilities, AI-related capabilities, better security, better interoperability and better sustainability.

[0010] In order for the 6G communication systems to fulfill the above metrics, more advanced air-interface technologies and network technologies need to be developed. The evolution of extreme Multiple Input Multiple Output (extreme MIMO) has been already under consideration, including the use of ultra-large scale antenna arrays, the development and evolution of distributed antenna systems, and the design of MIMO air-interface algorithms assisted by Artificial Intelligence (AI). This technology enables higher spectral efficiency, greater coverage, and precise localization and sensing capabilities. Additionally, technologies that contribute to improve high-frequency band coverage, including metamaterial-based lenses and antennas, new antenna architectures, and reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS), etc., need to be better evolved and developed.

[0011] In order to meet some of newly added functions of the 6G communication systems, new technologies need to be developed in the terms of network energy saving, air-interface security, and network security, meanwhile the feasibility of fusion technologies such as Integrated Sensing and Communication, needs to be studied.

[0012] Moreover, in order to improve the spectral efficiency and the overall network performances, the following technologies have been developed for 6G communication systems: a full-duplex technology for enabling an uplink transmission and a downlink transmission to simultaneously use the same frequency resource at the same time; a network technology for utilizing satellites, high-altitude platform stations (HAPS), and the like in an integrated manner; an improved network structure for supporting mobile base stations and the like and enabling network operation optimization and automation and the like; a dynamic spectrum sharing technology via collision avoidance based on a prediction of spectrum usage; an use of artificial intelligence (AI) in wireless communication for improvement of overall network operation by utilizing AI from a designing phase for developing 6G and internalizing end-to-end AI support functions; and a next-generation distributed computing technology for overcoming the limit of user equipment (UE) computing ability through reachable super-high-performance communication and computing resources (such as mobile edge computing (MEC), clouds, and the like) over the network. In addition, through designing new protocols to be used in 6G communication systems, developing mechanisms for implementing a hardware-based security environment and safe use of data, and developing technologies for maintaining privacy, attempts to strengthen the connectivity between devices, optimize the network, promote softwarization of network entities, and increase the openness of wireless communications are continuing.

[0013] It is expected that research and development of 6G communication systems in hyper-connectivity, including person to machine (P2M) as well as machine to machine (M2M), will allow the next hyper-connected experience. Particularly, it is expected that services such as truly immersive extended reality (XR), high-fidelity mobile hologram, and digital replica could be provided through 6G communication systems. In addition, services such as remote surgery for security and reliability enhancement, industrial automation, and emergency response will be provided through the 6G communication system such that the technologies could be applied in various fields such as industry, medical care, automobiles, and home appliances.

[0014] The problem is that mismatches between legacy and adapted reference signal timing configurations lead to excessive delay and overhead when a UE attempts deactivated secondary cell measurements and rapid cell activation under network energy saving adaptations.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:

[0016] receiving a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation before receiving a secondary cell activation command;

[0017] performing deactivated secondary cell measurement based on first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window,

[0018] wherein, the first time window is related to at least one of: transition period, measurement period based on the first reference signal after adaptation, and reporting timing of valid layer 3 measurement results.

[0019] In an implementation, performing deactivated secondary cell measurement based on first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window at least comprises performing the deactivated secondary cell measurement based on a periodicity of the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0020] In an implementation, the method further comprising receiving the secondary cell activation command,

[0021] wherein, if a condition related to a cell to be known is satisfied, activating a known secondary cell based on the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0022] In an implementation, the condition related to a cell to be known is satisfied, if the UE has sent a valid layer 3 measurement report with the first reference signal index, the secondary cell activation command is received by the UE within a second time period after a valid layer 3 measurement report, and the first reference signal with reported first reference signal index remain detectable.

[0023] In an implementation, the second time period is related to a periodicity of the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0024] In an implementation, the transition period comprises a processing time for the first reference signal adaptation.

[0025] In an implementation, the processing time is related to UE capability.

[0026] In an implementation, a start of the transition period is a time when the first indication is received, and an end of the transition period is a time when the UE may receive the first burst of the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0027] In an implementation, the method further comprising:

[0028] receiving an indication related to the first reference signal adaptation deactivation, and receiving a second indication related to the first reference signal adaptation after a third time period;

[0029] after receiving the second indication, measuring the deactivated secondary cell based on the first reference signal after adaptation within the first time window,

[0030] wherein during the third time period, the secondary cell remains detectable and the reported measurement result is still valid.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:

[0032] receiving a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation when receiving a secondary cell activation command;

[0033] activating the secondary cell based on the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0034] In an implementation, activating the secondary cell based on first reference signal after adaptation comprises:

[0035] during activation of the secondary cell, the UE performs at least one of automatic gain control (AGC), cell detection, layer 1 measurement and time or frequency tracking based on the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0036] In an implementation, the secondary cell activation command is multiple secondary cells activation command, and during activation of the multiple secondary cells, delay extension is reduced according to a dense periodicity based on the first reference signal after adaptation,

[0037] wherein, the multiple secondary cells include at least one network energy-saving (NES) secondary cell.

[0038] In an implementation, the delay extension includes at least one of an interruption delay extension related to an interruption location happened during activation and a multi-cell detection delay extension related to the number of secondary cells to be activated.

[0039] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:

[0040] receiving a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation during measurement of an activated serving cell;

[0041] at transition for the first reference signal adaptation, defining a measurement period based on a longer measurement period before transition or after transition;

[0042] after the transition for the first reference signal adaptation, the measurement period is based on an additional SMTC configuration corresponding to the first reference signal adaptation.

[0043] In an implementation, the measurement period after transition is related to at least one of: a periodicity of a first reference signal after adaptation, a DRX cycle, and a NES-related carrier specific scale factor CSSF.

[0044] In an implementation, the NES-related CSSF is related to at least one of: a priority of an NES secondary component carrier and the number of configured NES secondary cells.

[0045] In an implementation, the method further comprising: reporting a valid measurement result no later than the measurement period after transition based on the first reference signal after adaptation.

[0046] In an implementation, the first reference signal is SSB.

[0047] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system is provided, the method comprising:

[0048] receiving, from a network node, first information related to a first reference signal and second information related to a second reference signal;

[0049] measuring the first and second reference signals, respectively, based on the received first and second information, wherein the second reference signal is related to network energy saving;

[0050] determining a cell measurement result based on measurement results of the first reference signal, measurement results of the second reference signal, a scaling factor related to the measurement results of the first reference signal and the measurement results of the second reference signal, in case that the UE is in a radio resource control (RRC) idle mode.

[0051] In an implementation, the determining the cell measurement result includes:

[0052] using a first scaling factor related to the measurement results of the first reference signal and a second scaling factor related to the measurement results of the second reference signal to perform a weighted average on the measurement results of the first reference signal and the measurement results of the second reference signal, to determine the cell measurement result.

[0053] In an implementation, the determining the cell measurement result includes:

[0054] based on indication information on whether to use the measurement results of the first reference signal, using a first scaling factor related to the measurement results of the first reference signal and a second scaling factor related to the measurement results of the second reference signal to perform a weighted average on the measurement results of the first reference signal and the measurement results of the second reference signal, to determine the cell measurement result.

[0055] In an implementation, the indication information is obtained through downlink control information DCI sent by the network node.

[0056] In an implementation, measuring the second reference signal includes:

[0057] measuring the second reference signal by using a second measurement interval associated with a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and / or second measurement period configuration information, based on received second information.

[0058] In an implementation, measuring the second reference signal includes:

[0059] measuring the second reference signal by using at least one of a DRX cycle, a first measurement interval related to the first measurement period configuration information, and a second measurement interval related to the second measurement period configuration information, based on the received first and second information.

[0060] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:

[0061] monitoring, from a network node, third information related to a first paging and / or fourth information related to a second paging;

[0062] obtaining paging information based on monitored third information and / or fourth information, wherein the fourth information related to the second paging is related to network energy saving;

[0063] in case the UE is in an RRC idle mode, evaluating a measurement result according to an evaluation time that is related to a relaxation factor, wherein:

[0064] The relaxation factor is related to at least one of: DRX cycle, first measurement period configuration information, second measurement period configuration information, paging configuration information, DRX active time, a scaling factor.

[0065] In an implementation, the evaluation time is in unit of a DRX cycle or in unit of a first period different from the DRX cycle.

[0066] In an implementation, the first period is related to at least one of: a DRX cycle, first measurement period configuration information, second measurement period configuration information.

[0067] In an implementation, the paging configuration information includes at least one of first paging configuration information and second paging configuration information.

[0068] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:

[0069] receiving first information related to a first reference signal and second information related to a second reference signal from a network node;

[0070] in case that the UE is in an RRC connected mode, measuring at least one of the first reference signal and the second reference signal based on the received first and second information, the second reference signal being related to network energy saving, wherein:

[0071] a measurement period for measuring at least one of the first reference signal and the second reference signal is related to at least one of:

[0072] an overlapping between DRX cycle, the first reference signal, and the second reference signal;

[0073] sharing between the second reference signal, a second measurement period configuration, a second measurement gap MG;

[0074] overlapping between the first reference signal and the second reference signal from multiple cells related to the UE;

[0075] overlap of the first reference signal and the second reference signal from a multi-panel base station in one cell related to the UE.

[0076] In an implementation, the overlapping includes: for a first DRX cycle, the first reference signal and the second reference signal overlap in time domain,

[0077] based on the overlapping, the measurement period is associated with a relaxation factor，which is larger than 1.

[0078] In an implementation, measuring at least one of the first reference signal and the second reference signal based on the received first information and second information includes:

[0079] receiving, by the UE, the first reference signal no earlier than a first time after receiving the second information,

[0080] the first time is related to at least one of: a time for automatic gain control (AGC) setting and fine synchronization, a pre-defined time margin, a time related to the first second reference signal indicated by configuration information of the second reference signal.

[0081] In an implementation, if the UE is set with a transmission configuration indication (TCI) state, a TCI state switching command is received no later than the second time,

[0082] wherein the second time is related to a first measurement period configuration and / or a second measurement period configuration.

[0083] In an implementation, if the UE is not set with a TCI state, a TCI state switching command is received no later than a third time,

[0084] wherein the third time is related to at least one of:

[0085] a measurement period of the first reference signal, a measurement period of the second reference signal, a time of transmission of the first second reference signal, a time of AGC setting and fine synchronization based on the second reference signal.

[0086] In an implementation, the measurement is a layer 1 measurement.

[0087] In an implementation, the first reference signal and the second reference signal are synchronization signal physical broadcast channel blocks (SSBs) corresponding to different configuration information.

[0088] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:

[0089] receiving, from a network node, first information related to a first reference signal, second information related to a second reference signal related to network energy saving, third information related to a first measurement period configuration related to the first reference signal and fourth information related to a second measurement period configuration related to the second reference signal, configured for a secondary cell,

[0090] activating, by the UE, a secondary cell within a first duration when receiving a first secondary cell activation command from the network node in a first time unit n1,

[0091] wherein the first duration is related to at least one of: an automatic repeat request feedback time, a secondary cell activation delay related to network energy saving, and a time related to reporting of channel quality indicator information.

[0092] In an implementation, if a command to activate the second reference signal adaptation is received in a second time unit n2 within the first duration, then after a second duration, the UE performs at least one of the following operations on the secondary cell based on at least one of the received first reference signal, second reference signal, first measurement period configuration, and second measurement period configuration: Layer 1 measurement, Layer 3 measurement, synchronization signal detection, time index detection, RF link warm-up, AGC adjustment, fine time synchronization, mode transition between network energy saving and non-energy saving states.

[0093] In an implementation, the second duration relates to a processing time of information for activating the second reference signal adaptation.

[0094] In an implementation, the secondary cell activation delay related to network energy saving is related to at least one of: a time related to reception of MAC signaling, an end time of the first second reference signal burst indicated by the fourth measurement period configuration, a switching time between a first reference signal related mode and a second reference signal related mode, a Layer 1 measurement period related to the second reference signal, a time from completion of decoding of MAC signaling to reception of a second reference signal activating a TCI state, an AGC adjustment time.

[0095] In an implementation, a secondary cell is determined to be known if the secondary cell satisfies a known condition (or called a condition related to a cell to be known), otherwise determined to be unknown,

[0096] wherein the known condition relates to at least one of:

[0097] a frequency range corresponding to the secondary cell, a power class supported by the UE, whether the secondary cell and an already activated cell belong to intra-band or inter-band, the synchronization signal detection period of the secondary cell, the time index detection period of the secondary cell, and the secondary cell measurement period.

[0098] In an implementation, the known condition comprises at least one of:

[0099] the UE has reported a valid measurement result obtained by measurement of a reference signal during a first time period before receiving the first activation command, wherein if the secondary cell corresponds to frequency range 2, the reported valid measurement result includes indexes of the reference signals;

[0100] the reference signal measured in the first time period remains measurable within the first duration;

[0101] during the time from the reporting of the valid measurement result to the reporting of the valid channel quality indicator information, the reference signals with the indexes of the reference signals remains detectable, and the TCI state associated with the second reference signal is determined based on the reference signal index;

[0102] wherein, the reference signal is the first reference signal or the second reference signal is the first reference signal and / or the second reference signal, and the first reference signal and the second reference signal are of QCL type D.

[0103] In an implementation, wherein the first activation command includes at least one of:

[0104] the command to activate a second reference signal adaptation;

[0105] the first secondary cell activation command;

[0106] a TCI activation command associated with a second reference signal;

[0107] a semi-persistent CSI-RS activation command for channel quality indicator information reporting.

[0108] In an implementation, the valid measurement result is obtained based on the first measurement period configuration and / or the second reference measurement period configuration,

[0109] for frequency domain range 2, the valid measurement result is reported together with an index of the first reference signal or the second reference signal,

[0110] the first time period relates to at least one of:

[0111] a timing jitter,

[0112] a frequency range,

[0113] a power class supported by the UE,

[0114] a cell identification period based on the second measurement period configuration,

[0115] a DRX cycle,

[0116] a first secondary cell measurement period,

[0117] a second secondary cell measurement period,

[0118] a measurement period of the second reference signal.

[0119] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a user equipment (UE), and the UE includes:

[0120] a transceiver configured to transmit and / or receive signals;

[0121] a controller configured to control the UE to perform a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0122] The disclosure provides a method enabling the UE to perform deactivated secondary cell measurements within a tightly defined time window.

[0123] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts:

[0124] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0125] FIG. 2 illustrates an example base station according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0126] FIG. 3 illustrates an example user equipment according to embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0127] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic graph of an energy consumption model;

[0128] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram of a legacy scenario;

[0129] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of operating on SCell using adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0130] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram of the UE monitoring paging occasions in the DRX cycle;

[0131] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic diagram of a scenario where NES-only cells and normal cells overlap;

[0132] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic diagram of a NES cell;

[0133] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic diagram of a NES-only cell;

[0134] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic diagram of UE behavior when DCI indicates SSB adaptation;

[0135] FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic diagram in which UE measures adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation;

[0136] FIG. 13 illustrates a schematic diagram in which UE measures adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation;

[0137] FIG. 14 illustrates a schematic diagram of a legacy PO and an adaptable / adapted PO;

[0138] FIG. 15 illustrates a schematic diagram of different coverage scenarios of NES cells and normal cells;

[0139] FIG. 16 illustrates a schematic diagram of averaging of measurement results;

[0140] FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic diagram of a cell search procedure;

[0141] FIG. 18 illustrates a schematic diagram of multiple-cell activation;

[0142] FIG. 19 illustrates a schematic diagram of a cell activation;

[0143] FIG. 20 illustrates a schematic diagram of a UE measurement procedure;

[0144] FIG. 21 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0145] FIG. 22 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a network device according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0146] FIG. 23 illustrates a schematic diagram of UE measurement in NES scenario according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0147] FIG. 24 illustrates a schematic diagram of SCell activation in a NES scenario according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0148] FIG. 25 illustrates a schematic diagram comparing the solution according to an embodiment of the present disclosure with existing SMTC-based measurement;

[0149] FIG. 26 illustrates an example diagram of a scenario of FTW-based fast measurement of a deactivated SCell;

[0150] FIG. 27 illustrates a schematic diagram of cell activation;

[0151] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term "couple" and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms "transmit," "receive," and "communicate," as well as derivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication. The terms "include" and "comprise," as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term "or" is inclusive, meaning and / or. The phrase "associated with," as well as derivatives thereof, means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The term "controller" means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation. Such a controller may be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and / or firmware. The functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. The phrase "at least one of," when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, "at least one of: a, B, and C" includes any of the following combinations: a, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. Likewise, the term "set" means one or more. Accordingly, a set of items can be a single item or a collection of two or more items.

[0152] Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms "application" and "program" refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase "computer readable program code" includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase "computer readable medium" includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. A "non-transitory" computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

[0153] Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

[0154] The figures included herein, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Further, those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged wireless communication system.

[0155] FIGs. 1-22 below describe various embodiments of the present disclosure implemented in wireless communications systems. The descriptions of FIGS. 1-3 are not meant to imply physical or architectural limitations to the manner in which different embodiments may be implemented. Different embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably-arranged communications system.

[0156] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wireless network according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the wireless network shown in FIG. 1 is for illustration only. Other embodiments of the wireless network 100 could be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0157] As shown in FIG. 1, the wireless network includes a base station (next generation nodeB, gNB or gNodeB) 101, a gNB 102, and a gNB 103. The gNB 101 communicates with the gNB 102 and the gNB 103. The gNB 101 also communicates with at least one network 130, such as the Internet, a proprietary Internet Protocol (IP) network, or other data network.

[0158] The gNB 102 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for a first plurality of user equipments (UEs) within a coverage area 120 of the gNB 102. The first plurality of UEs includes a UE 111, which may be located in a small business; a UE 112, which may be located in an enterprise (E); a UE 113, which may be located in a WiFi hotspot (HS); a UE 114, which may be located in a first residence (R1); a UE 115, which may be located in a second residence (R2); and a UE 116, which may be a mobile device (M), such as a cell phone, a wireless laptop, a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA), or the like. The gNB 103 provides wireless broadband access to the network 130 for a second plurality of UEs within a coverage area 125 of the gNB 103. The second plurality of UEs includes the UE 115 and the UE 116, as well as subscriber stations (SS, for example, UEs) 117, 118 and 119. In some embodiments, one or more of the gNBs 101-103 may communicate with each other and with the UEs 111-116 using existing wireless communication techniques, and one or more of the UE 111-119 may communicate directly with each other (e.g., UEs 117-119) using other existing or proposed wireless communication techniques.

[0159] Depending on the network type, the term "base station" or "BS" can refer to any component (or collection of components) configured to provide wireless access to a network, such as transmit point (TP), transmit-receive point (TRP), an enhanced (or "evolved") base station (eNodeB or eNB), a 5G base station (gNB), a macrocell, a femtocell, a wireless fidelity (WiFi) access point (AP), or other wirelessly enabled devices. Base stations may provide wireless access in accordance with one or more wireless communication protocols, e.g., 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE Advanced (LTE-A), high speed packet access (HSPA), Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n / ac, etc. For the sake of convenience, the various names for a base station-type apparatus and functionality are used interchangeably in this patent document to refer to network infrastructure components that provide wireless access to remote terminals. Also, depending on the network type, the term "user equipment" (UE) can refer to any component such as a mobile station (MS), subscriber station (SS), remote terminal, wireless terminal, receive point, or user device. For the sake of convenience, the various names for a user equipment-type device and functionality are used interchangeably in this patent document to refer to remote wireless equipment that wirelessly accesses a BS, whether the UE is a mobile device (such as a mobile telephone or smartphone) or is normally considered a stationary device (such as a desktop computer or vending machine).

[0160] Dotted lines show the approximate extents of the coverage areas 120 and 125, which are shown as approximately circular for the purposes of illustration and explanation only. It should be clearly understood that the coverage areas associated with gNBs, such as the coverage areas 120 and 125, may have other shapes, including irregular shapes, depending upon the configuration of the gNBs and variations in the radio environment associated with natural and man-made obstructions.

[0161] As described in more detail below, one or more of the UEs 111-119 include circuitry, programing, or a combination thereof. In certain embodiments, and one or more of the gNBs 101-103 includes circuitry, programing, or a combination thereof.

[0162] Although FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a wireless network, various changes may be made to FIG. 1. For example, the wireless network could include any number of gNBs and any number of UEs in any suitable arrangement. Also, the gNB 101 could communicate directly with any number of UEs and provide those UEs with wireless broadband access to the network 130. Similarly, each gNB 102-103 could communicate directly with the network 130 and provide UEs with direct wireless broadband access to the network 130. Further, the gNBs 101, 102, and / or 103 could provide access to other or additional external networks, such as external telephone networks or other types of data networks.

[0163] FIG. 2 illustrates an example base station according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the gNB 102 illustrated in FIG. 2 is for illustration only, and the gNBs 101 and 103 of FIG. 1 could have the same or similar configuration. However, gNBs come in a wide variety of configurations, and FIG. 2 does not limit the scope of the present disclosure to any particular implementation of a gNB.

[0164] As shown in FIG 2, the gNB 102 includes multiple antennas 200a-200n, multiple radio frequency (RF) transceivers 201a-201n, transmit (TX) processing circuitry 203, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 204. The gNB 102 also includes a controller / processor 205, a memory 206, and a backhaul or network interface 207.

[0165] The RF transceivers 201a-201n receive, from the antennas 200a-200n, incoming RF signals, such as signals transmitted by UEs in the network 100. The RF transceivers 201a-201n down-convert the incoming RF signals to generate intermediate frequency (IF) or baseband signals. The IF or baseband signals are sent to the RX processing circuitry 204, which generates processed baseband signals by filtering, decoding, and / or digitizing the baseband or IF signals. The RX processing circuitry 204 transmits the processed baseband signals to the controller / processor 205 for further processing.

[0166] The TX processing circuitry 203 receives analog or digital data (such as voice data, web data, electronic mail, or interactive video game data) from the controller / processor 205. The TX processing circuitry 203 encodes, multiplexes, and / or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generate processed baseband or IF signals. The RF transceivers 201a-201n receive the outgoing processed baseband or IF signals from the TX processing circuitry 203 and up-converts the baseband or IF signals to RF signals that are transmitted via the antennas 201a-201n.

[0167] The controller / processor 205 can include one or more processors or other processing devices that control the overall operation of the gNB 102. For example, the controller / processor 205 could control the reception of forward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceivers 201a-201n, the RX processing circuitry 204, and the TX processing circuitry 203 in accordance with well-known principles. The controller / processor 205 could support additional functions as well, such as more advanced wireless communication functions.

[0168] For instance, the controller / processor 205 could support beam forming or directional routing operations in which outgoing signals from multiple antennas 200a-200n are weighted differently to effectively steer the outgoing signals in a desired direction. Any of a wide variety of other functions could be supported in the gNB 102 by the controller / processor 205.

[0169] The controller / processor 205 is also capable of executing programs and other processes resident in the memory 206, such as an operating system (OS). The controller / processor 205 can move data into or out of the memory 206 as required by an executing process.

[0170] The controller / processor 205 is also coupled to the backhaul or network interface 207. The backhaul or network interface 207 allows the gNB 102 to communicate with other devices or systems over a backhaul connection or over a network. The interface 207 could support communications over any suitable wired or wireless connection(s). For example, when the gNB 102 is implemented as part of a cellular communication system (such as one supporting 5G, LTE, or LTE-A), the interface 207 could allow the gNB 102 to communicate with other gNBs over a wired or wireless backhaul connection. When the gNB 102 is implemented as an access point, the interface 207 could allow the gNB 102 to communicate over a wired or wireless local area network or over a wired or wireless connection to a larger network (such as the Internet). The interface 207 includes any suitable structure supporting communications over a wired or wireless connection, such as an Ethernet or RF transceiver.

[0171] The memory 206 is coupled to the controller / processor 205. Part of the memory 206 could include a random access memory (RAM), and another part of the memory 206 could include a Flash memory or other read only memory (ROM).

[0172] Although FIG. 2 illustrates one example of gNB 102, various changes may be made to FIG. 2. For example, the gNB 102 could include any number of each component shown in FIG. 2. As a particular example, an access point could include a number of interfaces 207, and the controller / processor 205 could support routing functions to route data between different network addresses. As another particular example, while shown as including a single instance of TX processing circuitry 203 and a single instance of RX processing circuitry 204, the gNB 102 could include multiple instances of each (such as one per RF transceiver). Also, various components in FIG. 2 could be combined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional components could be added according to particular needs.

[0173] FIG. 3 illustrates an example user equipment according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The embodiment of the UE 116 illustrated in FIG. 3 is for illustration only, and the UEs 111-115 and 117-119 of FIG. 1 could have the same or similar configuration. However, UEs come in a wide variety of configurations, and FIG. 3 does not limit the scope of the present disclosure to any particular implementation of a UE.

[0174] As shown in FIG. 3, the UE 116 includes an antenna 301, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 302, TX processing circuitry 303, a microphone 304, and receive (RX) processing circuitry 305. The UE 116 also includes a speaker 306, a controller or processor 307, an input / output (I / O) interface (IF) 308, an input device 309, a touchscreen display 310, and a memory 311. The memory 311 includes an OS 312 and one or more applications 313.

[0175] The RF transceiver 302 receives, from the antenna 301, an incoming RF signal transmitted by a gNB of the network 100. The RF transceiver 302 down-converts the incoming RF signal to generate an IF or baseband signal. The IF or baseband signal is sent to the RX processing circuitry 305, which generates a processed baseband signal by filtering, decoding, and / or digitizing the baseband or IF signal. The RX processing circuitry 305 transmits the processed baseband signal to the speaker 306 (such as for voice data) or to the processor 307 for further processing (such as for web browsing data).

[0176] The TX processing circuitry 303 receives analog or digital voice data from the microphone 304 or other outgoing baseband data (such as web data, e-mail, or interactive video game data) from the processor 307. The TX processing circuitry 303 encodes, multiplexes, and / or digitizes the outgoing baseband data to generate a processed baseband or IF signal. The RF transceiver 302 receives the outgoing processed baseband or IF signal from the TX processing circuitry 303 and up-converts the baseband or IF signal to an RF signal that is transmitted via the antenna 301.

[0177] The processor 307 can include one or more processors or other processing devices and execute the OS 312 stored in the memory 311 in order to control the overall operation of the UE 116. For example, the processor 307 could control the reception of forward channel signals and the transmission of reverse channel signals by the RF transceiver 302, the RX processing circuitry 305, and the TX processing circuitry 303 in accordance with well-known principles. In some embodiments, the processor 307 includes at least one microprocessor or microcontroller.

[0178] The processor 307 is also capable of executing other processes and programs resident in the memory 311, such as processes for channel state information (CSI) reporting on uplink channel. The processor 307 can move data into or out of the memory 311 as required by an executing process. In some embodiments, the processor 307 is configured to execute the applications 313 based on the OS 312 or in response to signals received from gNBs or an operator. The processor 307 is also coupled to the I / O interface 308, which provides the UE 116 with the ability to connect to other devices, such as laptop computers and handheld computers. The I / O interface 308 is the communication path between these accessories and the processor 307.

[0179] The processor 307 is also coupled to the touchscreen display 310. The user of the UE 116 can use the touchscreen display 310 to enter data into the UE 116. The touchscreen display 310 may be a liquid crystal display, light emitting diode display, or other display capable of rendering text and / or at least limited graphics, such as from web sites.

[0180] The memory 311 is coupled to the processor 307. Part of the memory 311 could include RAM, and another part of the memory 311 could include a Flash memory or other ROM.

[0181] Although FIG. 3 illustrates one example of UE 116, various changes may be made to FIG. 3. For example, various components in FIG. 3 could be combined, further subdivided, or omitted and additional components could be added according to particular needs. As a particular example, the processor 307 could be divided into multiple processors, such as one or more central processing units (CPUs) and one or more graphics processing units (GPUs). Also, while FIG. 3 illustrates the UE 116 configured as a mobile telephone or smartphone, UEs could be configured to operate as other types of mobile or stationary devices.

[0182] Various aspects of the present disclosure will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that in this disclosure, the use of names is exemplary only and other names may also be used. For example, for convenience of presentation, names of information or parameters, etc. that relate to Network Energy Saving (NES) or adaptable / adaptation (meaning adaptable, or adaptation, or adaptive, or adaptable) transmissions include NES or r19, or use NES or r19 as a prefix, suffix, superscript, or subscript to distinguish from names of corresponding parameters or information in legacy networks or transmissions. For example, represents a measurement timing configuration for network energy saving or adaptable / adaptive SSB transmission, corresponding to and distinguished from SSB-based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) in legacy networks. Such naming examples are not intended to limit information or parameter names to only the names described, but may also be replaced by other corresponding names. For example, the corresponding name may also have r20, ps, etc. as a prefix or suffix, or the illustrated prefix or suffix may also be included elsewhere in the name, or other names that do not include similar prefixes or suffixes may also be used. All of these are within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0183] The purpose of NES is to reduce total network energy consumption . Meanwhile, for NR, downlink (DL) transmit power / energy is defined in terms of energy per RE (resource element).

[0184] NES in time domain. In time domain, the base station transmits / receives common signals / channels, e.g. including at least one of: synchronization signals / Physical Broadcast Channel Block (SSB), SIB1, other SI (Other System Information), paging, Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), to ensure that the UE can access the right cell through signal or channel detection, and conduct subsequent normal network-UE (NW <-> UE) interaction and communication. For the above three energy-intensive signals / channels: SSB, paging and PRACH, how the NW reduces the proportion of active time when it has to maintain its necessary transmission, such as in low load situations, how the NW obtains deeper and longer sleep occasions becomes one of the research focuses. Adaptable / adaptive transmission of common signals / channels is an effective solution. One aspect of the present disclosure relates to adaptable / adaptive transmission of SSB and paging in time domain.

[0185] Common signal / channel adaptable / adaptive transmission

[0186] One of the benefits of adaptable / adaptive common signal / channel transmission is that it provides the possibility that the NW can sleep deeper and longer between transmission occasions or after consecutive transmission occasions in low load situations.

[0187] ▶ Paging with adaptable / adaptive transmission in time domain

[0188] In case the paging latency is not increased, at least one of the following methods may be included:

[0189] 1. Under a DRX cycle, modify the PF distribution, such as using centralized / compressed / restricted distribution PF;

[0190] 2. Increase the number of POs in PF.

[0191] UE behavior and RRM requirements

[0192] ▶ Scenarios that may exist

[0193] Not all cells support NES, and cells may be divided into NES cells that support NES and normal cells that do not support NES. A user equipment served by a normal cell or a user equipment not supporting NES may be referred to as a legacy UE in the present disclosure.

[0194] The behavior of legacy UEs in normal cells may comply with all requirements defined by standard 38.133.

[0195] For Idle mode (or called RRC Idle mode)

[0196] A. UE needs to perform cell search, cell selection, cell re-selection and paging reception in idle mode. The defined RRM (Radio resource management) requirements mainly include measurement and evaluation of serving cells, measurement of intra-frequency NR cells, measurement of inter-frequency NR cells, and maximum interruption in paging reception

[0197] Connected mode

[0198] In the intra-cell connected mode, the measurements considered may include L1-measurement measurements, etc., where L1-measurement includes Layer 1-Reference Signal Received Power (L1-RSRP), Layer 1-Signal to Noise and Interference Ratio (L1-SINR), Radio Link Monitoring (RLM), Beam Failure Detection (BFD), Candidate Beam Detection (CBD). The reference signal corresponding to the measurement may include SSB and CSI-RS. In the description of this patent, taking the reference signal being SSB as a non-limiting example.

[0199] 1. For idle mode

[0200] 1. In the above method, no two measurement timing configurations are introduced for serving cell measurement and evaluation requirements in idle mode, i.e. no second timing configuration per cell is introduced. But when the NES cell may serve not only the first type of UEs (e.g., NES capable UEs) but also legacy UEs, the NW may transmit reference signals (SSB) or paging based on two configurations (such as enable / disable based on the load of the service, or trigger based on L1 signaling), and both configurations may be active, and the NES capable UE may understand the newly defined SSB configuration, but also the legacy configuration. In such case, when the two configurations are received at the same time, the NES UE will make new processing behaviors different from those of the legacy UE, which will have a new impact on the measurement and evaluation requirements, then the measurement and evaluation requirements defined in the above method need to be improved when considering the two SSB configurations.

[0201] 2. The measurement and evaluation requirements of the serving cell as defined in the above method, and the neighbor cell measurement requirements need to be improved and enhanced. SSB adaptable / adaptive transmission introduces a new periodicity (SSB periodicity greater than 160 ms or less than 5 ms may be defined), and a new resource activation method, in such case the SMTC periodicity applicable to legacy SSB configurations is no longer applicable or may not include SSB adaptable / adaptive resources, and all SMTC based decisions may not be applicable. At the same time, SSB adaptable / adaptive transmission will introduce a new SSB transmission mode, such as changing the location of the SSBs in an SSB burst to make it more dense. In such case, if SSB based on the new mode is used for evaluation, the DRX cycle as the granularity of the evaluation time is no longer suitable, and the smaller unit related to the new SSB mode may be redefined as the granularity. In addition, due to the introduction of new periodicities or new SSB mode configurations, new conflict relationships may be introduced, and the relaxation factor may also have a new definition. Also, due to triggering SSB transmission adaptation, it may occur to average RSRP / RSRQ measurements using SSB after adaptation and legacy SSB simultaneously over a period of time. In such case, the existing definition of averaging measurement results is no longer applicable, otherwise it may cause performance loss in cell selection or subsequent reselection.

[0202] 3. At the same time, according to the measurement mechanism involved in the above method, the NW configures a fixed pattern of SSB / SSB burst within one SSB periodicity / measurement time window, so the UE needs to wake up multiple times to perform measurements (as shown in FIG. 7), and may lose inter-frequency measurement occasions in extreme cases (such as for DRX = 320 ms, SMTC = 160 ms, inter-frequency measurements are not performed). According to the SSB / SSB burst design in NES, if the UE may measure according to SSBs distributed with dense periodicity, it may have the opportunity to enter a longer sleep state to save power, and may provide additional opportunity for inter-frequency measurements.

[0203] 4. The maximum interruption requirement at paging reception may be affected. It may be considered to define the maximum interruption requirement based on the new measurement timing.

[0204] 2. For connected mode

[0205] 1. In the above approach, the latency requirements defined for L3 and L1 measurements in intra-cell scenarios no longer apply.

[0206] The present disclosure relates to measurement-related aspects of NES capable UEs in both idle mode and connected mode situations within a NES cell.

[0207] In the NES cell single carrier scenario, based on the situation that both configurations of the new NES-specific SSB and the legacy SSB are active / transmitted at the same time, the NES capable UE in any RRC state (RRC idle state or connected state) may perform RRM measurements on at most two types of reference signals according to a scaling rule according to the information related to the second reference signal and / or the first reference signal (for example, adaptation activation / enable indication) transmitted by the network. For example, the two types of reference signals may include a first reference signal and a second reference signal, and the first reference signal and the second reference signal have different configurations. In an implementation, the first reference signal may be a legacy SSB, and the second reference signal may be an adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation. For example, relative to the configuration of the first reference signal, the configuration of the second reference signal may involve a different SSB pattern, a different SSB periodicity, or the periodicity of the second reference signal may be a subset of the optionally configured periodicities of the first reference signal, etc. In other words, the transmission of the SSB as the second reference signal is adaptable / adapted relative to the transmission of the legacy SSB.

[0208] In an implementation, in idle mode, the UE completes measurement and evaluation of the serving cell within a first time at most.

[0209] The secondary cell RRM measurement comprises at least one of: a measurement of a serving cell, an intra-frequency neighbor measurement, or an inter-frequency neighbor measurement, in idle mode; at least one of L3-RSRP measurement, L1-RSRP measurement and CBD measurement, in connected mode.

[0210] * The reference signal may be SSB

[0211] * The adaptable / adaptation activation / enable indication from the network may be L1 signaling DCI, L2 signaling MAC-CE or higher-layer indication, the higher-layer indication may include SIB configuration update.

[0212] ** L1 signaling may include a new DCI format with S-RNTI or new RNTI, or adding indication information related to reference signal configuration adaptation to the existing DCI. The existing DCI may be at least one of DCI format 2_7, DCI format 1_0, and paging DCI;

[0213] ** L2 signaling: indication information related to reference signal configuration adaptation may be added to the existed MAC-CE with new content, or indicated by a newly defined MAC-CE.

[0214] * The first time is related to at least one of the following factors:

[0215] ** DRX cycle, RF chain on duration for performing intra-frequency neighbor cell measurements, measurement configuration timing period for adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation TSMTC_NESand measurement configuration timing period TSMTCfor legacy SSB;

[0216] ** The relationship between paging occasion (PO) and time domain configuration of SMTC, PO may correspond to two configurations: NES-specific paging (or called second paging) and / or legacy paging

[0217] * the scaling rule comprising at least one of:

[0218] 1. The UE determines the new evaluation granularity for serving cell and / or neighbor cell measurement based on the DRX cycle length, TSMTC_NES / periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation (second SSB periodicity);

[0219] 2. The UE determines a new scaling factor M1 based on the DRX cycle length, TSMTC_NESand PO slot location, and determines the condition for relaxing serving cell measurement period using M1under NES scenario;

[0220] 3. The UE combines the measurement results (for example, SS-RSRP / SS-RSRQ results) calculated based on the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation and the legacy SSB according to the scaling relationship, and uses at least X5 measurement values to perform measurement averaging / measurement filtering on the SS-RSRP / RSRQ of the serving cell, determines the UE's current cell quality from the strongest N SSB blocks (adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation + legacy SSB) that meet the quality threshold, and obtains stable and reliable cell-level measurement values. The interval between the X5 measurements may be related to at least one of DRX cycle length, TSMTC_NESand TSMTC.

[0221] ** X5 may be related to the newly defined SSB pattern, SSB signal strength, which is at least 2.

[0222] 4. The UE determines a new relaxation factor M2 according to at least one of DRX cycle, second SSB periodicity / TSMTC_NES, PO slot location, RF processing time, and determines the condition to use M2 to relax intra-frequency and inter-frequency NES neighbor measurement periods;

[0223] (In addition, if the UE may measure according to a specific new SSB pattern, such as denser SSB, the UE may also measure centrally and does not need to wake up multiple times, which provides a new UE-side power saving mode).

[0224] ** For cell reselection, the NES UE determines a new period for detection, measurement and evaluation based on at least one of DRX cycle, second SSB periodicity / TSMTC_NES, M2.

[0225] * In addition,

[0226] in connected mode, for a known transmission configuration indication (TCI) state, a TCI state transition command is received within a second time, wherein the second time is related to TSMTC_NES.

[0227] UEs that may acquire and understand the new configuration information for SSB / PRACH / paging sent by the NW in the NES cell are called UEs of the first type, such as NES-capable UEs, while UEs that do not understand the new configuration information are called legacy UEs. It may be divided into the following scenarios: scenario 1: the coverage of NES only cell overlaps with that of the normal cell. In this scenario, as shown in FIG. 8, the coverage areas of NES cells and normal cells overlap, but the coverage area of NES cell 2 is smaller than that of normal cell 1; scenario 2: NES cell, which may serve NES-capable UEs as well as legacy UEs

[0228] In this scenario, the NES cell may serve both NES UEs and legacy UEs, i.e. the network may configure two SSB configurations, additional configuration and default configuration, and both configurations may be active or valid simultaneously. Scenario 3: NES only cell, which may only serve UEs that support NES

[0229] In this scenario, as shown in FIG. 9, the NW may broadcast a cellBarred indication through the MIB to prohibit legacy UEs from camping in this NES cell.

[0230] The solution of the present disclosure will be described in detail below for scenarios in which the NES UE may receive new NES SSB adaptation configuration and default configuration, including scenario 1 and scenario 2. In addition, there may be only NES-compliant SSB adaptation configuration in scenario 3. Because legacy UEs will not be affected in performance and requirement regardless of the scenarios, the UE in this disclosure refers to a UE that may perform NES or may receive adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation or adaptable paging / paging after adaptation, etc., such as a NES capable UE.

[0231] 2.2. 2 Measurements in idle mode

[0232] ▶ In the case where the NW configures two sets of SSB configurations, how and when the NW triggers / activates / enables SSB adaptation configuration

[0233] Because in idle mode, there is no L2 signaling, such as MAC-CE, the NW may trigger in at least one of the following ways:

[0234] 1. Option 1: DCI

[0235] 2. Option 2: SIB1

[0236] ▶ With DCI, SSB adaptable / adaptation configuration may be triggered or activated by at least one of: DCI format 1_0 with new RNTI or new DCI format X_X with S-RNTI or new RNTI, for example, a new DCI field may be used to directly indicate pattern or periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation; DCI format 2_7 with 1-bit SSB adaptable / adaptation activation configuration indication; Paging DCI with 1-bit SSB adaptable / adaptation activation configuration indication.

[0237] ▶ With SIB1, in idle mode, the UE decodes related SSB parameters from SIB1, and the update of these SSB parameters may also be notified through SIB1 update. SIB1 update is indicated by a short message in DCI format 1_0. It may be broadcast as one group common signaling for multiple UEs per default paging cycle * {2, 4, 8, 16}. The update cycle through SIB1 is slow. The SIB1 scheme may be applied to stationary users or low-speed moving users.

[0238] * The new behavior of the UE based on DCI indication is shown in FIG. 11.

[0239] As shown in FIG. 11, UE finds a suitable cell and normally camps on the cell, UE receives DCI indication for SSB adaptation at time t1, UE expects to receive adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation (which may be SSB with changed periodicity or changed pattern) after a certain period of time

[0240] Option 1: Because the NW has already configured multiple SSB configurations, one of them is an SSB adaptable / adaptation configuration that only NES users understand. Therefore, the DCI may have a 1-bit SSB adaptable / adaptation activation indication, and the UE obtains the SSB adaptable / adaptation activation indication by decoding the DCI, so that the corresponding new SSB configuration may be obtained from SIB1.

[0241] Option 2: DCI content is directly indicated to one of the pre-configured SSB candidates. For example, a few bits (e.g., one or more bits) are used to indicate the changed SSB pattern.

[0242] The UE receives the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation at time t2 after T1+T3. In such case, T = T1+T3, including DCI processing time and time margin.

[0243] Since the UE only wakes up to monitor paging during DRX on duration in idle mode, the network also configures a timer for DRX on duration (e.g. DRX active time), up to 1200 ms. According to the relationship among the DRX active time, , T1+T3, there are the following cases:

[0244] Case 1: active time >> T1+T3 + . The UE is configured for a very long active time, much greater than T1+T3, so the UE may receive the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation during the on-duration. If the newly configured SSB / SSB burst pattern is dense or compact configuration and the SSB periodicity is very short, is very short, the UE may receive the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation and perform measurements during the on-duration without additional measurements during the DRX off-duration, which may achieve the purpose of power saving.

[0245] Case 2: t1+T3 < DRX active time < ,

[0246] This case includes two possibilities: the DRX active time itself is very short and may only cover the time of T1+T3. Another possibility is that the DRX timer expires for the UE after the elapse of T1+T3. In such case, the UE may decode the DCI within the DRX active time and / or during active of the DRX InactivityTimer to obtain the SSB adaptation information, but since may not be included during the running of the DRX timer, the UE may only wake up again during the DRX off duration (for example, the UE is in sleep mode) to perform additional SSB measurements. However, according to configuration of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation, the UE does not need to perform measurements multiple times in multiple DRX cycles. For example, the UE may concentrate dense measurements within 1 DRX cycle, and then does not need to measure SSB again and enters sleep mode, until the SSB adaptable / adaptation deactivation indication is received within a certain following DRX active time, and then performs necessary measurements based on legacy SSB (or called non-adaptable / non-SSB after adaptation, default SSB, etc.) with . This may also achieve the purpose of power saving.

[0247] Case 3: DRX active time < T1+T3

[0248] In this case, because the UE does not know when the NW sends DCI, it needs to keep monitoring the paging DCI / or the adaptable / adapted DCI related to the adaptable / adapted transmission during the on-duration, keep monitoring of DCI indicating SSB adaptation until the DCI is received at time t1. In such case, the UE needs to perform SSB measurements during the additional DRX off duration.

[0249] Case 1 and Case 2 are shown in FIG. 12. As shown in FIG. 12, the default SSB periodicity is, for example, 80ms.

[0250] In case 1, the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation corresponds to SSB with a denser distribution pattern (e.g., SSB compressed or dense in time domain). During the DRX active time, the UE may receive the DCI for SSB adaptation, start receiving the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation after a certain period of time and may complete the reception of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation (e.g., the measurement timing configuration period TSMTC_NESfor the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is within the active time of DRX), and then enter sleep mode. Thereafter, except for monitoring paging information, the UE does not need to wake up in sleep mode to perform measurements, so power may be saved.

[0251] In case 2, the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation has a different periodicity configuration than the SSB in the default case, and its transmission periodicity is shorter, for example, the second SSB periodicity = 20ms. During DRX active time, the UE may receive the DCI for SSB adaptation, start receiving the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation after a certain period of time, but may not complete the reception of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation during DRX active time (e.g., the measurement timing configuration period TSMTC_NESfor adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation exceeds the active time of DRX, overlaps with the off duration of DRX). In case 2, the UE needs to wake up from sleep mode to perform measurements during the DRX off duration in the DRX cycle in which the DCI for SSB adaptation is received, but does not need to receive the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation in the following DRX cycle to perform measurements until receiving the DCI for deactivating SSB adaptation. In case 2, the UE only needs to wake up once in sleep mode to perform measurements and then enter sleep mode except for monitoring paging, thus saving power.

[0252] * During cell selection or cell reselection, when the two configurations corresponding to the new NES-specific SSB and the legacy SSB are active or valid at the same time, and / or when the legacy PO exists, the behavior related to network energy saving may include at least one of:

[0253] A. PO impact in measurements, e.g., impact of PO with , involves at least one of:

[0254] 1. Relaxation factor M1 determination for serving cell measurement and evaluation;

[0255] 2. Relaxation factor M2 determination for intra-frequency and inter-frequency NES neighbor cell measurements;

[0256] 3. A maximum interruption in paging reception;

[0257] B. measurement results averaging algorithm when resources for different SSBs (default SSB and adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation) overlap.

[0258] This will be described in detail below.

[0259] √ Relaxation factor M1 determination for serving cell measurement and evaluation.

[0260] Combined with adaptable / adapted / legacy paging configuration and adaptable / adapted / legacy SSB configuration, there are the following four possible cases:

[0261] Case 1: Paging is of legacy paging configuration, when DRX is used, UE only needs to monitor one PO per DRX cycle. However, the SSB adaptation indication / short message is included in the paging DCI. An example schematic diagram of this situation is shown in FIG. 13.

[0262] For serving cell idle mode measurements, when the UE receives a DCI indication for SSB adaptation at the beginning of the measurement (e.g., adaptation start 1 in FIG. 13), the NES UE selects configuration of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation with high priority. At this point, for the new SSB pattern or periodicity, a new timing window period SMTC_NES or called SMTC_NES cycle or TSMTC_NESmay be introduced. For the setting of the relaxation factor, at least one of the following two methods may be involved:

[0263] Method 1: SSB adaptation configure is of dense periodicity or dense SSB / SSB burst pattern, SMTC_NES period is TDMed with PO and larger than a first threshold, e.g. the threshold is related to RF chain on time, e.g. but not limited to 20 ms, when DRX cycle is less than or equal to 0.64 s, a relaxation factor larger than 1 may be introduced, e.g. M1 = 2, to acquire synchronization and perform measurements, e.g.,

[0264] M1 = 2 if SMTC_NES period (TSMTC_NES) > 20 ms and DRX cycle 0.64 sec otherwise M1 1.

[0265] Method 2: SSB adaptation configuration is of dense periodicity or dense SSB / SSB burst pattern, and TSMTC_NES< 20 ms, no relax is performed, for example, the relaxation factor is set to 1, M1 = 1.

[0266] ▶ When the UE receives the SSB adaptation DCI indication in the measurement gap (e.g., adaptation starting point 2), there is no need to use the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation for synchronization because the UE has already used the previous sparse SSB for synchronization, but if the SMTC period TSMTC_NESof the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is greater than a second threshold, which is related to the RF chain on time, for example TSMTC_NES> 20 ms, the NES UE still needs to wake up to perform measurement and synchronization before monitoring and reception of the next PO

[0267] Case 2: Paging is of legacy paging configuration, SSB is also of default or legacy configuration

[0268] In such case, there will be no impact on the requirements of NES UEs.

[0269] Case 3: Paging is of adaptable / adapts paging configuration, SSB is of legacy or default configuration.

[0270] As mentioned before, possible adaptable / adapted configurations for paging may involve modifying PF distribution in one DRX cycle, such as centralized / compressed / limited distribution for PFs or increasing the number of POs in a PF, as shown in FIG. 14. Possible scenarios then include the following:

[0271] Because the configuration of SSB remains unchanged, the following two problems will arise:

[0272] 1. The adaptable paging / paging after adaptation overlaps with configured SSB. In the extreme case, the SSB for synchronization before paging overlaps in time domain with the adaptable paging / paging after adaptation. Since paging will not be dropped, in order not to affect the existing measurement occasions and measurement performance, the measurement requirements may be relaxed, and a relaxation factor M3 = 1.5 may be introduced.

[0273] 2. In the case where the NES cell is configured with two paging configurations (e.g., including default paging configuration and configuration of adaptable paging / paging after adaptation), up to two configurations may be active, the NES UE may still read the legacy paging configuration information, so it may happen that the same UE ID (corresponding PO) appears twice in one paging cycle but in different time units, such as slots, the UE may wake up twice to monitor "different" POs. However, in some ways, the UE only monitors one PO per DRX cycle in idle mode. Therefore, the UE may perform at least one of the following operations:

[0274] Option 1: if the UE is a NES UE, if the UE has received a DCI indication for adaptable paging / paging after adaptation, the UE searches for PDCCH / paging messages according to the new paging configuration.

[0275] Option 2: if the UE is a NES UE, if the UE receives a DCI indication for adaptable paging / paging after adaptation, the UE may search for PDCCH / paging messages according to the new paging configuration and the legacy paging configuration. This process may be regarded as paging repetition, which may increase the accuracy of the results and reduce detection miss of paging.

[0276] Case 4: paging is of configuration of adaptable paging / paging after adaptation, SSB is of adaptable / adapted configuration

[0277] In this case, paging adaptation and SSB adaptation may be indicated by one DCI. If the NES UE receives this indication, it directly performs measurements according to configuration of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation and adaptable paging / paging after adaptation. In this case, the relaxation factor M1 may be set according to different conditions determined by at least one of TSMTC_NES, period of adaptable paging / paging after adaptation PO_NES, and DRX cycle. For example: if (TSMTC_NES) > X4 and DRX cycle Y3, M1= C, otherwise M1 = 1. C is a number greater than 1, and may be 1.5 or 2, for example. The criterion for determining the above threshold X4 or Y3 is: not losing all or any of measurement occasions, and at the same time ensuring synchronous reception of paging in the next DRX cycle.

[0278] √ Relaxation factor M2 determination for intra-frequency and inter-frequency NES neighbor cell measurements.

[0279] Assuming M2 is the relaxation factor considered in intra-frequency and inter-frequency neighbor measurements, the relaxation factor M2 may involve the following aspects:

[0280] Case 1: the serving cell is a normal cell, and the neighboring cell is an NES cell (normal cell ⇒ NES cell).

[0281] The scenario is shown in FIG. 15, where the NES cell in scenario 1 is a NES only cell.

[0282] Because the SSB distribution period of normal cells is denser than the SSB distribution period of NES cells, it is a switching of small periodicity ⇒ long periodicity / periodicity of a new SMTC pattern.

[0283] A． For NES only cells (as in FIG. 10), the NW may only configure SSB / paging configuration that complies with the NES cell, e.g. is configuration of an adaptable SSB / paging / SSB / paging after adaptation.

[0284] Option 1: if the SMTC period of SSB for NES is a subset of smtc2-LP-r16 configuration and smtc2-LP-r16 exists, then when NES UE reselects to a neighbor cell, it obeys the behavior of smtc2-LP-r16:

[0285]

[0286] The relaxation factor M2 may be set to a value greater than 1, for example M2 may be selected to be 1.5 or 2. For example, when DRX = 320 ms, if the SMTC period of the measured intra-frequency cell > a third threshold (related to the RF chain on time), for example 20 ms, then M2 may be a value greater than 1, for example M2 may be selected to be 1.5 or 2; Otherwise M2 = 1;

[0287] Option 2: if TSMTC_NESof NES is sparser or a new pattern is defined, which may not be a subset of smtc2-LP-r16 configuration in such case, for example, a new IE may be defined, the name of which may be smtcNES-r19 or other names, the IE may contain SMTC configuration of sparser or new pattern (such as new offset or duration) and NES cell pci-List. The related configuration of the SSB for NES may be broadcast via SIB2 or SIB4. Such as:

[0288]

[0289] The determination of the M2 condition at this time is related to at least one of the DRX cycle, the time the RF remains on (e.g., RF processing time), the TSMTCand TSMTC_NESof the measured intra / inter-frequency cells.

[0290] There may be the following cases: 20ms < TSMTC< TSMTC_NES, TSMTC 20 ms < TSMTC_NES, TSMTC_NES 20 ms (such as SSB_NES is more densely distributed).

[0291] For example, the relaxation factor may be set as: when DRX = 320 ms, if TSMTC_NES< Y4 for the measured intra-frequency cell, then M2 = 1; Otherwise M2 is a value greater than 1, for example M2 = 1.5 / 2.

[0292] B. For a NES cell (as shown in FIG. 9), both smtcNES-rl9 and smtc2-LP-rl6 may be present because this cell may serve both legacy UEs and NES UEs. For the selection of SMTC, the NES UE may preferentially select the configuration in smtcNES-r19, or the selection of SMTCs to be used is up to UE implementation.

[0293] In case the SMTC period of the NES cell is larger than the DRX cycle, a new DRX ratio may be introduced, which is related to the DRX cycle and TSMTC_NESand TSMTCof the measured intra-frequency or inter-frequency cell. For example, the relaxation factor may be set as: , the operator may be: one of, max, min, or least common multiple

[0294] Case 2: the serving cell is an NES cell, and the neighboring cell is a normal cell (NES cell ⇒ normal cell).

[0295] It is a switching of long periodicity / periodicity of a new SMTC pattern ⇒ short periodicity.

[0296] Possible cases at this time include:

[0297] TSMTC> a fifth threshold (fifth threshold is related to RF chain on time, take 20 ms as an example), TSMTC_NES< TSMTC< 20 ms, 20ms < TSMTC< TSMTC_NES, the relaxation factor may be set as:

[0298] When DRX = a sixth threshold, e.g. 320 ms, if for the measured intra-frequency cell, TSMTC> a fourth threshold (related to RF chain on time), e.g. 20 ms, then M2 is a number greater than 1, such as 1.5 or 2; Otherwise M2 = 1.

[0299] √ Maximum interruption in paging reception

[0300] Mainly aiming at normal cell ⇒ NES cell. If the reselected cell is a NES cell, the Ttarget_cell_SMTC_periodof the target cell is determined by the TSMTC_NESand / or TSMTCof the neighbor cell configuration. The maximum interruption time at this time may be:

[0301] TSI-NR+ 2 * operator (Ttarget_cell_SMTC_NES_period, Ttarget_cell_SMTC_period) ms.

[0302] where TSI-NR= TMIB+ TSIB1

[0303] TSI-NRis the time required to receive all related system information data, and is jointly determined by the acquisition time of MIB and SIB1.

[0304] The system information for paging reception is provided by SIB1, and the scheduling of SIB1 is provided by MIB

[0305] The operator may be: take one of, least common multiple (LCM), or max, or min.

[0306] √ Averaging Method for Measurement results of Different SSBs (Default SSB / Existing SSB and Adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation)

[0307] Measurement results of different SSBs, such as SS-RSRP / SS-RSRQ and NES_SS-RSRP / NES_SS-RSRQ results, may be averaged.

[0308] For serving cell measurement and evaluation, the measurement requirements mainly focus on:

[0309] A． The measurement interval, related to how often a measurement is taken:

[0310] B． Averaging of measurement results, related to how many samples to average and how:

[0311] ▶ Measurement interval: For NES scenario, the measurement interval may be related to at least one of: relaxation factor M1, N1 (beam sweeping factor for FR2), DRX cycle, TSMTC_NESand second SSB periodicity, which may be:

[0312] The UE shall measure SS-RSRP and SS-RSRQ levels of the serving cell and evaluate the cell selection criteria defined for the serving cell in TS 38.304 at least once every M1 * N1 DRX cycles * ; wherein:

[0313] M1 may be: if (TSMTC_NES) > X1 and DRX cycle Y1, then M1 is a value greater than 1, such as M1 = 2, otherwise M1 = 1.

[0314] : DRX cycle length ratio, which may be equal to B in the following equation, taking the value from . Since a new SSB pattern may be introduced while the second SSB periodicity or TSMTC_NESis smaller than the existing DRX cycle, a new granularity may be introduced at this time, in addition, the measurement interval may also not be DRX / 2.

[0315] The new granularity may be related to at least one of DRX cycle length, TSMTC_NES, TSMTC. The new granularity may be B = mod (DRX cycle length / operator (TSMTC_NES, TSMTC)). The operator is an operator that may be at least one of: one of, LCM, min, max. Or the new granularity is only related to TSMTC_NES, for example B = mod (DRX cycle length / TSMTC_NES)

[0316] For measurement averaging: as shown in FIG. 16. Because after the UE receives the DCI for adaptation, there may be both legacy SSB and adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation within the measurement averaging window. The RSRP / RSRQ calculated by these two SSBs may not be at one level.

[0317] In order to obtain a fair comparison, the old RSRP / RSRQ is calculated using the last legacy SSB that may be received, while the first RSRP / RSRQ is calculated based on the first adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation, the obtained SSB periodicity is smaller than the previous SSB periodicity: a weighted average of the two results needs to be introduced, for example using the following formula to obtain the averaged measurement result:

[0318]

[0319] Where S is the total number, depending on how many samples are to be considered for measurement averaging. The selection of S is related to configuration of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation and is at least 2.

[0320] SS-RSRPk, the k-th RSRP measurement result of legacy SSB;

[0321] NES_SS-RSRPm, m-th RSRP measurement of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation; : the weighting value for measurement results of the legacy SSB, which is between 0 and 1, to compensate for different transmit powers. K indicates how many previous measurement results (such as the measurement results of legacy SSB) need to be averaged, which may be a fixed value configured by the network, such as 1, or it may be indicated by a DCI bit.

[0322] : the weighting value of the measurement results of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation, which is between 0 and 1, to compensate for different transmit powers. M indicates how many NES_SS-RSRP measurement results need to be averaged, which may be a fixed value configured by the network, such as 1, or it may be indicated by a DCI bit.

[0323] : indication of whether to consider previous measurement results, which may be indicated via DCI. The DCI may be a DCI indicating SSB adaptation. 1: indicates averaging is required, 0: indicates averaging is not required. Or the network broadcasts the same directly through SIB information.

[0324] * UE behavior under cell selection and cell reselection

[0325] The various parameters discussed above may affect the measurement / evaluation requirements during cell selection or cell reselection, as shown in the following table:

[0326] A serving cell measurement and evaluation period Nserv,

[0327] Case 1: the evaluation time setting for NES capable UE is at DRX cycle granularity and may be determined based on DRX ratio factor, scaling factor, and relaxation factor, as shown in Table 1 below:

[0328] Table 1: evaluation time for NES capable UEs Nserv_NES

[0329]

[0330] indicates the DRX ratio factor, etc., takes the value from , and is related to at least one of DRX cycle, TSMTC_NES, TSMTC, may be

[0331] Case 2: the evaluation of NES cells is based on the new granularity, as shown in Table 2 below:

[0332] Table 2: evaluation time for NES capable UEs Nserv_NES

[0333]

[0334] B = mod (DRX cycle length / operator (TSMTC_NES, TSMTC)), where the operator is an operator that may be at least one of: min, max.

[0335] * The following will take the new cell search process as an example to illustrate the changes in the entire procedure. An example procedure is shown in FIG. 17.

[0336] The procedure involved in FIG. 17 may not be initial access, and the UE has already registered PLMN. As shown in FIG. 17, the cell search procedure may include at least some of the following steps:

[0337] Step 1: Because it is a NES cell, the SSB periodicity used for initial access for this cell will be sparse. Both NES and legacy UEs use this SSB with sparse periodicity for initial access and cell search, including using sparse SSB configuration for downlink time / frequency synchronization, confirming cell ID, decoding PBCH for MIB acquisition, etc.

[0338] Step 2: NW broadcasts system information and DCI 1_0.

[0339] DCI option 1: SSB / paging adaptation indication may be broadcast through DCI 1_0, and multiple designs are possible as mentioned before.

[0340] According to the foregoing, adaptation-related configurations may also be performed through SIB1 updates.

[0341] Step 3: NES UE receives the DCI and starts measuring with adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation after a certain period of time.

[0342] Step 4: UE performs cell selection procedure. The purpose of cell selection is to find the most suitable cell to camp on. The cell selection procedure includes cell quality measurement and evaluation.

[0343] In this step, the NES UE may perform NES_SS-RSRP / NES_SS-RSRQ measurements based on different SSB related configurations, as previously described. The NES UE should measure the NES_SS-RSRP and NES_SS-RSRQ levels of the serving cell and evaluate the cell selection criteria of the serving cell at least once every M1 * N1 DRX cycles *

[0344] Step 5: the NES UE may monitor paging information in the cell where it is suitable to camp on.

[0345] According to the foregoing, the NES user may monitor configuration of the adaptable paging / paging after adaptation (if it receives the DCI for adaptation) or the legacy paging configuration.

[0346] RRC connection establishment may be entered after paging reception.

[0347] Measurements in connected mode

[0348] In solution 1, UE receives SSB adaptation command in slot n before receiving NES SCell activation command. After receiving SSB adaptation indication, UE performs measurement of deactivated NES SCell in fast time window (FTW) based on SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation and reports valid L3 measurement result. Among them, the fast time window is related to the measurement period based on the SSB measurement resource after adaptation and the corresponding valid L3 measurement result reporting time point. The SSB periodicity after adaptation is shorter than the default / existing SSB periodicity and the existing configuration parameter measCycleSCell. If the UE fails to receive the SSB adaptation command, the UE uses existing parameters measCycleSCell and DRX cycle to perform deactivated cell measurement;

[0349] If the UE receives an SCell activation command after reporting a valid result, and the NES SCell known condition is satisfied, the UE uses SSB measurement resources after adaptation with dense periodicity for time / frequency tracking and / or fine AGC setting during known NES SCell activation.

[0350] * The UE receive an SSB adaptation command in slot n, and after slot n + transition period T1, the UE perform NES SCell measurement in FTW based on the SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation

[0351] ** T1 is related to additional processing / preparation time and transmission duration until the first complete SSB burst after receiving SSB adaptation. The UE decides the additional processing time based on: RF / baseband parameter preparation and re-adjustment time of measurement resources after adaptation. In addition, the specific value of the additional processing time may be according to the UE capability report.

[0352] * If the UE receives NES SCell activation command within the last Xs reporting a valid result, and measurements based on SSB after adaptation remain detectable, the NES SCell known condition is fulfilled. Where X s is related to the SSB adaptation measurement resource periodicity.

[0353] * The UE utilizes the SSB measurement resource after adaptation with dense periodicity to reduce the delay in time / frequency tracking and / or fine AGC setting during SCell activation

[0354] In solution 2, for unknown NES SCell activation, the UE receives the SSB adaptation indication command in slot n at the same time when receiving the NES SCell activation command. Upon receiving the SSB adaptation indication and SCell activation command, the UE performs AGC, cell detection, measurement and time / frequency adjustment based on the SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation during the NES SCell activation procedure. The periodicity of the SSB after adaptation is related to different adaptation mechanisms and is smaller than the periodicity of SMTC.

[0355] * The UE reduce the L1-RSRP measurement period / delay with SSB measurement resource after adaptation with dense periodicity during unknown NES SCell activation

[0356] For activation of multiple unknown NES SCells, the UE receives the SSB adaptation indication when receiving a multi-NES SCell activation command. When receiving the SSB adaptation indication and the multi-NES SCell activation command, the additional delay extension reduction may be achieved according to the dense SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation for the multiple SCells.

[0357] * The delay extension includes an interruption delay extension, which is related to the location where the interruption occurs during activation and a multi-cell detection delay extension related to the number of unknown NES SCells to be deactivated.

[0358] In solution 3, the UE receives the SSB adaptation indication command within a measurement period. After receiving the SSB adaptation indication, the UE activates measurements of the SCell during the measurement period during the transition based on the SSB measurement resources before and after adaptation. After the measurement period of the transition period, the UE performs measurements based on the SSB measurement resources after adaptation, and reports the measurement results in the measurement period not later than the transition period

[0359] * The measurement period after the transition is related to the periodicity of the measurement resources after adaptation, DRX cycle and the NES CSSF parameter, and the CSSF depends on the frequency location relationship before and after adaptation.

[0360] Solution 1 and Solution 2 are further explained in conjunction with FIG. 24.

[0361]

[0362] 1. Advantageous effects of SCell operation based on SSB after adaptation: adaptation of SSB in time domain may provide NW with more sleep opportunities and achieve considerable energy saving gains for different traffic loads in gNB

[0363] 2. Advantageous effects of fast SCell activation: solve power consumption and performance degradation issues under slow SCell activation, and solve low throughput due to slow / failed SCell scheduling. Fast SCell activation may achieve high throughput performance in NES scenarios.

[0364] In the connected state, attention may also be paid to the adaptable / adapted transmission of SSB.

[0365]

[0366] ▶ The NW uses a set of SSB configurations (such as dense SSB configurations, including offsets between adaptable SSBs / SSBs after adaptation and legacy SSBs), and how and when the NW triggers / activates / enables SSB adaptation configurations may be configured or indicated using lower layer signaling, the low layer signaling such as L1 DCI or L2 MAC-CE, etc.

[0367] ▶ The NW configures two sets of SSB configurations (e.g. including legacy SSB configuration and configuration of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation), how and when the NW triggers / activates / enables SSB adaptation configuration

[0368] 1. Option 1: update according to RRC message, e.g. RRCReconfiguration;

[0369] 2. Option 2: NW activates adaptation configuration via MAC-CE command.

[0370] 3. Option 3: DCI.

[0371] Option 2 and option 3 involve different transition times (or called transition periods).

[0372] ▶ Description about option 2:

[0373] The NES UE uses the default SSB configuration, say a more sparse SSB periodicity 80 ms, for L1 measurements before the time T1. After receiving the PDCCH at time T1, the NES UE is ready to receive an adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation (possibly SSB with a smaller periodicity, or SSB with a new pattern) at time T2.

[0374] The total delay that adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation may be used for L1 measurement from T1 to T2 (i.e. the transition period described later, which may be expressed as Y5)

[0375] The purpose of Y5 ms: if the UE uses the SSB resources after adaptation to perform measurements on the deactivated SCell in the FTW, the UE shall know the location of the first "available / allowable" SSB burst after adaptation. The time interval during which the UE obtains the above information is the transition period.

[0376] Definition of transition period, or transition period:

[0377] A. Start point: SSB adaptation indication command is received from the following sources (RRC reconfiguration on PDSCH; MAC-CE under PDSCH; DCI on PDCCH)

[0378] B. End point: NES capable UE can receive adapt the first complete SSB burst after adaptation on SCell

[0379] The transition period may be composed of at least one of:

[0380] 1) HARQ ACK time delay of PDSCH ((K1+1) TTI)

[0381] 2) Signal decoding / processing time

[0382] 3) Additional processing / preparation time, the additional processing time may include at least one of:

[0383] 3-1) software overhead to baseband (BB) / RF programming time

[0384] 3-2) RF retuning time

[0385] 3-3) Margin for radio link configuration

[0386] 3-4) searcher scheduling time due to searcher limitations.

[0387] For the following different adaptation cases, the NES capable UE may flexibly receive SSB after adaptation on the SCell, as shown in FIG. 24.

[0388] Case 1: SSB adaptation command is received after SSB transmission of SCell, SSB after adaptation and legacy SSB have the same carrier frequency (same center frequency and bandwidth), but different periodicities

[0389] Case 2: SSB adaptation command is received after SSB transmission of SCell, where SSB after adaptation and legacy SSB have different carrier frequencies, e.g. a new SSB carrier frequency is added for the same PCI (Physical Cell Identity).

[0390] In this case,

[0391] 1) For the newly added SSB carrier frequency for the same PCI (e.g., referred to as the second SSB frequency), additional time may be added for RF / BB preparation and RF retuning (e.g., this additional time may be 1ms);

[0392] For additional processing / preparation time, it may be defined as

[0393] 1） UE capability with candidate values {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5} ms

[0394] 2） a value that encompasses all additional processing time, such as 5 ms, may be predefined.

[0395] If the NES UE receives the adaptation deactivation MAC CE command at time T3, the NES UE retains the L1 measurement results calculated by NES_SSB, but may release the related configuration of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation. After e.g. + MAC CE processing time (e.g. 3ms) + transition period, the NES UE may continue L1 measurements with the default SSB configuration. If the NES UE receives the SSB adaptation deactivation indication carried by RRCReconfiguration at T3, after a period of time (for example, Z ms), the NES UE may continue L1 measurements with the default SSB configuration. This Z ms includes the RRC message (e.g., RRCReconfiguration described above) processing latency.

[0396] A. In an implementation, the MAC-CE is a newly defined MAC-CE command specifically activating SSB adaptation, or indicated by adding new content to the existing MAC-CE, or by using a newly defined MAC-CE (including a new index and / or LCID (The Logical Channel ID, logical channel ID value)

[0397] B. When the UE receives multiple MAC-CE commands, but the MAC-CE for SSB adaptation does not arrive at the same time as other MAC-CEs (such as MAC-CE SCell activation command), on the basis of k0 + , a certain duration (e.g. Z_1 ms) is also required before normal L1 measurements may be made using adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation.

[0398] The first NES_SSB reception time indicated by NES_SMTC: tFirstNES_SSB_multiMAC-CE.

[0399] ▶ Description about option 3:

[0400] The SSB adaptation configuration may be activated through DCI format X_X with S-RNTI or new RNTI. In an implementation, the new DCI field or bit may directly indicate the pattern or periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation or time domain or frequency domain (mapping) relationship with existing resources. In another implementation, the DCI uses bits to provide an index indicating the corresponding available resource

[0401] ▶ About L1-RSRP results measured with NES_SSB

[0402] Regarding measurement averaging:

[0403] Because the strengths of L1-RSRPs measured with NES_SSB (may also be referred to as SSB after adaptation or adaptive SSB / adapted SSB / SSB adaptation) and default SSB may be different, and in order to ensure comparable reception performance, the L1-RSRP value measured by NES_SSB may be considered multiplied by a factor . The may be obtained jointly by L1-RSRP calculated from the last default SSB and the L1-RSRP calculated from the first valid adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation. Valid adaptive SSB / SSB after adaptation refers to the adaptive SSB / SSB after adaptation described above that may be actually used for L1-RSRP measurements.

[0404] ▶ resource overlap during L1 measurement

[0405] 1. SSB and NES_SSB overlap in time domain

[0406] A． SSBs of different configurations overlap in time domain (OFDM symbols overlap), and the measurement constraints are as follows:

[0407] Because there are two SSB configurations active in such case, the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation and the default SSB, the two SSBs may be FDMed, (for example, the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation in dense mode overlaps with the default SSB in time domain), and the measurement behavior of the NES UE in such case may include:

[0408] 1） Use the same RX chain to receive both SSBs simultaneously and perform L1 measurements respectively. If L1-RSRP measurements are performed simultaneously, both of the two measurements may be saved, or only the largest of them may be saved. This behavior depends on the UE implementation.

[0409] For example, the UE should be able to measure SSB and NES_SSB for L1-RSRP measurement without any restrictions.

[0410] 2） Both SSBs are received simultaneously with the same RX chain, but only the NES SSB related measurement results L1-NES_RSRP are measured and saved.

[0411] 3） Only one SSB is received with one Rx chain and measured.

[0412] For 2) and 3), a relaxation factor a may be added to extend the measurement period.

[0413] B. NES_SSB and SSB from two cells (inter-cell) or multi-panel cells overlap:

[0414] then the following relaxation factor P1_NES may be considered to extend the measurement delay. P1_NES may be derived from the second SSB periodicity, the first SSB periodicity, the sharing factor P1_1when SSB overlaps with SMTC and MG (that is, P1 defined in the existing standard), the sharing factor P2_1when NES_SSB overlaps with NES_SMTC, NES_MG, which may be defined as the following relationship:

[0415]

[0416] A． When there is overlap between NES_SSB, NES_SMTC and NES_MG, the measurement may be extended with the following relaxation factor P2_1.

[0417] Case 1: if the second SSB periodicity, TSMTC_NESis a subset of the first SSB periodicity and TSMTCrespectively. Depending on the overlapping relationship between SSB, SMTC and MG, the NES UE may follow the requirements related to legacy or default SSB

[0418] ▶ Case 2: if for the second SSB periodicity, TSMTC_NES, there defines a new periodicity, such as < 5ms or > 160ms, or defines a new pattern, then the sharing factor P1 will be related to at least one of the second SSB periodicity, TSMTC_NESand NES_MG, then P2_1needs to be defined for MAC-CE-based TCI state switching

[0419] For a known transmission configuration indication (TCI) state, the TCI state switching command is received within a first duration, where the first duration is related to TSMTC_NESand / or TSMTC, and the first duration may be expressed as 8 * operator (TSMTC_NES, TSMTC), operator may be max or min.

[0420] For an unknown TCI state, because additional L1-RSRP measurements need to be performed, the time T3' when the TCI state switching command is received may be expressed as:

[0421] T3'=n+ THARQ+ + operator(L1-RSRP measurement period based on first SSB, L1-RSRP measurement period based on second SSB) +TOuk*(Tfirst-NES_SSB+ TSSB_NES-proc+ TSSB_NES-usems) / NR slot length. （1）

[0422] Explanation:

[0423] The L1-RSRP measurement period based on the first SSB may be TL1-NES_RSRP,which represents the L1-RSRP measurement period of the NES SSB; NES SSB may be one of on-demand SSB, SSB adaptation, adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation; in this disclosure, for convenience of description, "SSB after adaptation " or "SSB adaptation" is used as an example for description, and the "adapted SSB" involved in the description may also be replaced by "adaptive SSB" or "adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation".

[0424] The L1-RSRP measurement period based on the second SSB may be TL1_RSRP, representing the L1-RSRP measurement period using the default / existing SSB

[0425] operator (): according to the foregoing, the NES UE may use at least one of SSB adaptation, on-demand SSB, SSB for L1-RSRP measurement, so the result of the operator may be TL1-ondemandSSB_RSRP, and / or TL1-NES_RSRPor TL1_RSRP, or the maximum or minimum of the three.

[0426] Tfirst-NES_SSB: the time of the first first-SSB transmission after the MAC CE command is decoded by the UE

[0427] TSSB_NES-proc: processing time of the first-SSB, e.g. 2 ms

[0428] TSSB_NES-use: time for AGC setting and fine time / frequency synchronization using the new NES_SSB, which may be 3 ms.

[0429] TOuk: 1 if the target TCI is not in the TCI state list activated for PDSCH, otherwise 0

[0430] : subframe slot indication.

[0431] Examples of measurement latency requirements for NES UEs are shown in Tables 3 and 4.

[0432] Table 3: measurement Period TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_NES_SSBfor FR1

[0433]

[0434] The first-SSB periodicity may be TSSB, and the second-SSB periodicity may be is another SSB configuration.

[0435] Table 4: measurement Period TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_NES_SSBfor FR2

[0436]

[0437] Explanation:

[0438] 1) operator(first-SSB periodicity, second-SSB periodicity), operator is an operator, and the result that may be obtained may be one of: first-SSB periodicity, , second-SSB periodicity, max(first-SSB periodicity, second-SSB periodicity), min(first-SSB periodicity, second-SSB periodicity), LCM(first-SSB periodicity, second-SSB periodicity);

[0439] 2) P is a scaling factor related to P1_NES and / or P2_1;

[0440] 3) operator(TDRX, second-SSB periodicity), since the second-SSB periodicity may be smaller than the DRX cycle, calulation may be with the second SSB periodicity. Here the operator2 may be max or min.

[0441] 4) c refers to a relaxation factor. SSB and NES_SSB (with a different pattern) overlap in time domain. In order to ensure the measurement occasions, the relaxation factor when measuring these two SSBs at the same time may be a value greater than 1, such as 1.5.

[0442] ▶ For L1 measurement steps for NES UEs, an example procedure is shown in FIG. 20, involving at least some of the following steps:

[0443] Step 1: UE capability information query;

[0444] Step 2: UE capability report;

[0445] Step 3: RRC measurement configuration.

[0446] In the NES cell, the network configures two sets of SSB configurations. One is the legacy SSB configuration, serving legacy users as well as NES capable UEs. The additional SSB configuration only serves users that support NES. The additional configuration is configuration of an adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation. If the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is only transmitted for a period of time, the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation in such case may be called on-demand SSB. For RRM measurements including intra-frequency in this patent, NES-specific SMTC configuration is required. The relationship between configuration and activation / indication is: configuring NES-related SMTC configuration with multiple candidate parameters in RRC, dynamically indicating flexible configuration configured in RRC using DCI and / or MAC-CE. SMTC after adaptation in RRC may be obtained according to one of three possible ways (i.e. interpretation of ):

[0447] 1. obtained from the same MeasObjectNR as legacy SMTC and define NES SMTC list

[0448] If higher layer signaling of smtcNES is configured, for the cell indicated in the pci-list parameter in smtcNES, if a NES capable UE receives the SSB adaptation indication in slot n, it may use the SMTC periodicity and / or SSB symbols corresponding to the smtcNES value for measurement after slot n + X ms;

[0449] 2. obtained from NES-dedicated MO

[0450] Challenges exist: L3 cell level measurements between different measObjectIds; 2) New mechanism: on identifying measurement report reporting triggered for NES using measObjectId;

[0451] 3. obtained from the serving cell related configuration SCellConfig.

[0452] Two feasible ways for indicating NES-related configuration: 1) 1-bit explicitly indicating admissibility of additional resources; 2) multiple bits indicating candidate configuration index

[0453] Specifically: configuring multiple candidate parameters in RRC, and use DCI / MAC-CE to flexibly indicate one or more RRC configurations

[0454] The reason for considering additional SMTC configuration after adaptation: one SMTC can not quickly match the change of adaptation of SSB periodicity. The problem of mismatch between fixed SMTC and SSB after adaptation will cause the UE to be unable to obtain accurate and fast measurement results of the considered cell.

[0455] Problem solved: SMTC configuration needs to be quickly aligned with different SSB adaptations.

[0456] advantageous effects: busy traffic is measured and measurement results thereof are reported immediately; increased throughput performance

[0457] Step 4: NW transmits SSB resources for L1-RSRP measurement. When the UE receives the first reference signal, the measurement starts.

[0458] In such case, during this procedure, the NW may activate the SSB adaptation configuration by sending a MAC-CE command, or use DCI to trigger the SSB adaptation configuration.

[0459] The UE performs measurements based on NES_SSB and / or default SSB according to the aforementioned measurement description and measurement restrictions.

[0460] It is worth noting that after receiving the corresponding MAC-CE / DCI, the NES_SSB may only be used for measurement after the transition period has elapsed.

[0461] If the NES UE misses the corresponding DCI command, it still follows the procedure related to the default SSB and performs related measurements based on the SSB without considering the newly defined transition period.

[0462] Step 5: NES UE reports measurement results no later than T2, T2 follows the measurement period configuration in Table 3 and Table 4 described above.

[0463] Step 6: NES UE receives TCI switching command, expected to be received within fixed 8 * operator (TSMTC_NES, TSMTC);

[0464] Step 7: When the TCI state is known, the UE receives the PDCCH with a new TCI state within T3 ms;

[0465] Step 7': For unknown TCI state switching, the NES UE needs to perform additional L1-RSRP measurements and receive the PDCCH with the new TCI state within T3', where T3 'refers to the aforementioned equation (1).

[0466] Similarly, the CBD requirements based on adaptation SSB are defined as follows:

[0467] Table 5: evaluation period TEvaluate_CBD_NES SSBfor FR2

[0468]

[0469] In a multi-carrier scenario, the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is used to operate SCells, including NES only SCell serving only NES users, NES SCell serving NES users and normal users. Measurement operations on SCell include L1 and L3 (layer 3) measurements. L3 measurements include measurements on deactivated SCell, L3 measurements for intra-frequency serving cells after SCell activation. L1 measurements include L1-RSRP, L1-SINR, CBD measurements, etc.

[0470] A schematic diagram of operation on SCell using SSB after adaptation (or adaptive SSB) is shown in FIG. 6.

[0471] Based on receiving SSB adaptation indication in different locations (e.g., Location 1, Location 2, Location 3 as shown in FIG. 24), different criteria to shorten or lengthen SCell activation time may be employed. In conjunction with FIG. 24, the example methods for locations 1, 2 are summarized as follows:

[0472] Table 6 location of receiving SSB adaptation indication and SCell activation time adjustment principle

[0473]

[0474] The SSB time domain adaptation indication locations may be # 1, # 2, and # 3 respectively corresponding to the SSB time domain adaptation indication location # 1, SSB time domain adaptation indication location # 2, and SSB time domain adaptation indication location # 3 in the figure, which may be indicated by DCI or MAC-CE. After receiving the SSB time domain adaptation indication at the corresponding location, the UE may receive the first allowed SSB resource after completing the signaling processing time and additional processing time, and start performing subsequent measurements according to the indicated SSB configuration. Among them, the SSB time domain adaptation indication location may correspond to the corresponding SSB configuration and the corresponding adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmission pattern. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the SSB time domain adaptation indication location # 1 may correspond to the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmission pattern # 1, SSB time domain adaptation indication location # 2 may correspond to adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmission pattern # 2, and SSB time domain adaptation indication location # 3 may correspond to adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmission pattern # 3.

[0475] * Among them, location # 1 occurs during measurement on the deactivated cell. If the NES capable UE receives the SSB time-domain adaptive / adaptation indication indicated by DCI in #1 location (the DCI may be issued by PCell), it starts receiving the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation after k0+X3 +Δ ms (k0 may be the time to decode PDCCH to obtain scheduled PDSCH as mentioned before), where X3 may be assumed to be DCI 2-9 processing time, following Table 7, as follows, Δ is an additional processing time. This additional processing time may be predefined as a fixed value of 5 ms or 3 ms, or based on UE capability report, NES UE performs measurement on deactivated SCell within fast time window (FTW) and reports quality of SCell based on received adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation (NES_SSB) or SMTC_NES configuration parameters.

[0476] Table 7: minimum time interval values

[0477]

[0478] ** Procedures that the UE may perform

[0479] *** Fast time window (FTW)-based fast deactivated NES SCell measurement

[0480] *** Fast NES SCell activation based on fast deactivated NES SCell measurement, including determining NES SCell known condition

[0481] *** In addition, because the NES UE may also receive legacy SSB or SMTC configuration, the measurement period in such case may still be measCycleSCell, that is, legacy measurement methods are used for measurement

[0482] * The # 2 location occurs during the SCell activation procedure and indicates that the NES capable UE receives the SSB time domain adaptation indication command and the SCell activation indication command at the same time through different mechanisms. If the NES capable UE receives the SSB time domain adaptive / adaptation indication activated by MAC / DCI at # 2 location, it will start to be ready to receive the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation for L3 / L1 measurement, AGC adjustment, time-frequency synchronization, etc. after the transition time (also called transition period), and perform fast new Channel Quality Indication (CQI) reporting to achieve fast SCell scheduling and subsequent data transmission, and after receiving the SCell activation indication command, the activated SCell reports cell CQI no later than D2 slot.

[0483] ** Procedures that the UE may perform

[0484] *** Fast single unknown NES SCell activation based on the SSB measurement resources after adaptation with short periodicity

[0485] **** It also includes cases where the cell is completely unknown, or the cell is known but requires MIB (Master information block) reading to obtain full time information

[0486] *** Fast multiple unknown NES SCells activation: delay extension reduction with SSB measurement resources after SSB adaptation with short periodicity

[0487] *** Delay extensions are caused by interruption and multi-cell detection

[0488] * The # 3 location occurs after the SCell is activated and available for use. In such case, the NES capable UE may receive an command for SSB adaptation transmission through MAC-CE or DCI, and the command may indicate SSB adaptation adjusted to another large periodicity. Adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation and / or legacy SSB are selected for L1 measurement, or SMTC_NES and / or SMTC are used for L3 measurement.

[0489] In addition,

[0490] 1. Measurement target configuration information may include: intra-frequency measurement configuration information;

[0491] 2. For additional SSB resource configuration (e.g., how to achieve SSB periodicity adaptation through one or more SSB periodicity values):

[0492] Implementation 1: implementing adaptability / adaptation based on default SSB configuration (e.g., periodicity) combined with additional adjust parameters.

[0493] 1) If the default SSB configuration is legacy SSB periodicity, such as 20 ms or 40 ms. The additional configuration may be 5 ms or 160 ms. According to task requirements, the network may adapt the SSB periodicity from the legacy periodicity to the additional periodicity through DCI, and may also mask / mute some SSB transmissions to achieve sparse SSB transmission / long SSB periodicity to obtain power saving gain.

[0494] 2) If the network wants to gain power saving gain, default SSB configuration is SSB with long periodicity. In such case, when fast measurement is required, the existing SSB configuration periodicity may be scaled / adjusted (this may be achieved by network configuration and indicating the adjustment parameters), and adding timing / frequency offset (such as the network configures and indicates the timing offset of the adjusted SSB to the original SSB, if for SCell activation scenarios, the timing offset may be the time domain location offset of the adapted SSB to PCell SSB, or the time domain location offset of the adapted SSB to the original SCell SSB), thereby obtaining dense SSB transmission / short SSB periodicity. The NW activates or indicates the UE through MAC-CE / DCI that the SSB periodicity changes.

[0495] Implementation 2: two SSB configurations are given directly to implement adaptation. The transmission periodicity with respect to SSB is completely different in these two configurations. The location of sending SSBs in the half frame may be the same or different (for example, the time domain location of SSBs transmitted in the SSB-burst may be the same or different). For example, the SSB patterns may be the same or different. Both configurations are possible.

[0496] Implementation method 3: default SSB long periodicity configuration combined with the discontinuous transmission function (DTX) function of the cell to realize SSB transmission with different periodicities. For example, one SSB periodicity is used during the DTX active time, and another SSB periodicity is used during the DTX inactive time. One SSB periodicity is the default SSB with long periodicity. In the present patent application, the default SSB with long periodicity may also be referred to as legacy SSB periodicity.

[0497] The overall steps are as follows:

[0498] Step 1: NES capable UE receives measurement configuration information through RRC command.

[0499] Step 2: Network requests NES capable UE to report measurement results.

[0500] Step 3: Based on the measurement results, the NW configures SCell parameters for the NES capable UE, the parameters may be embodied in the SCellConfig configuration.

[0501] Additional configuration parameters may include, but are not limited to, at least one of: 1) timing / frequency offset of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation from legacy SSB (including SSB on PCell and SCell); 2) transmission periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation; 3) adaptive / adapted measurement timing configuration related to adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmission (e.g., SMTC_NES); 4) parameter information of scaling / adjusting the existing SSB configuration periodicity (e.g., parameter information related to the time domain and / or frequency domain of configuration of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation); 5) enhanced DTX (Discontinuous Transmission Reception) parameter information, such as DTX cycle, DTX on duration timer, DTX inactivity duration timer, etc., specifically considered for NES_SSB transmission; 6) time domain location of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmitted in SSB-burst; 7) pattern of the adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation; 8) correspondence between adaptive / adapted SMTC and adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation.

[0502] Step 4: NES UE performs measurements on deactivated SCell in FTW according to SCell configuration information.

[0503] The comparison with existing SMTC-based measurements is shown in FIG. 25.

[0504] * Procedure:

[0505] ** Step 4-1: after the UE receives the SSB adaptation indication, the UE performs fast deactivated SCell measurement in the FTW based on the SSB after adaptation

[0506] *** The FTW is one-shot and is related to a start point, an end point, and a length

[0507] *** The length of the FTW is related to the transition period, the deactivated cell measurement or detection time based on the SSB periodicity after adaptation, and the L3 measurement reporting period based on the SSB periodicity after adaptation

[0508] ** Step 4-2: after FTW, the UE performs deactivated cell measurement based on legacy parameters measCycleSCell and DRX

[0509] * Further Energy Saving: interval between multiple FTWs T_FTW

[0510] To further save network (NW) energy, an interval T_FTW between multiple FTWs may be defined;

[0511] The start point of T_FTW is the time when the UE receives the SSB adaptation deactivation command (or called SSB adaptation deactivation indication command), and the end point of T_FTW is the time when the UE receives the SSB adaptation activation command (or called SSB adaptation indication command) again, the granularity of time may be various suitable time units, such as slots, symbols, or absolute time (for example, milliseconds), etc.

[0512] The benefit of defining the start point of T_FTW as the UE receiving SSB adaptation deactivation command is to obtain a trade-off between target NW energy saving and UE measurement / detection performance based on SSB after adaptation

[0513] * Applicable scenarios:

[0514] For FTW-based fast deactivated SCell measurements, the adaptation scenario is shown in FIG. 26

[0515] ** Scenario 4: Fast deactivated NES SCell measurements based on FTW

[0516] *** Within the FTW, the UE performs fast NES SCell measurements based on dense periodicity after SSB adaptation

[0517] **** Location to receive SSB adaptation deactivation command: before UE receives SCell activation command

[0518] *** After FTW, the UE falls back to slow measurement mode related to legacy parameters measCycleSCell and DRX

[0519] *** T_FTW restriction when multiple FTWs: after T_FTW, the UE performs a new round of fast measurements of deactivated SCell based on dense SSB periodicity

[0520] ** Scenario 5: FTW based fast deactivated measurements and fast NES SCell activation

[0521] *** In the fast time window, the UE performs fast deactivated NES SCell measurement based on the dense SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation

[0522] *** Within X s before receiving NES SCell activation command, UE reports valid measurement results

[0523] **** Location where SSB adaptation deactivation command is received: within next SCell deactivated state

[0524] The factors for determining X are related to FR1 and FR2.

[0525] For FR1: X is related to the configured DRX cycle, measCycleSCell parameter, such as may be defined as max (5 * measCycleSCell, 5 * DRX cycles),

[0526] For FR2: related to acceptable time jitter for different power classes, e.g. may be defined as: 4 s, for UE supporting power class 1 or 5; and 3 s, for UE supporting power class 2, 3, or 4.

[0527] For the start point of the FTW, in one implementation, the FTW starts when the UE receives the SSB adaptation command, includes:

[0528] ** transition period

[0529] ** deactivated cell measurement or detection time based on SSB periodicity after adaptation

[0530] ** L3 measurement reporting period based on SSB periodicity after adaptation

[0531] A. Deactivated cell measurement or detection time based on periodicity of SSB after adaptation. Here, the measurement period TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NESis used as an example to illustrate the specific UE behavior, and is for scenario 4: FTW-based fast deactivated NES SCell measurements.

[0532] * Measurement sampling is related to at least one of: SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation , how many carriers are configured to be measured, NES SCell SSB measurement opportunities or occasions punctured by MG.

[0533] ** SSB periodicity after SSB adaptation

[0534] *** Change from measCycleSCell to , < measCycleSCell

[0535] *** If periodicity adaptation is based on two SSB configurations, and both configurations are activated, then = (default SSB periodicity, additional SSB periodicity), is an operator, may be the operation of taking minimum value

[0536] ** How many carriers are configured to be measured, e.g., expressed by NES carrier-specific scaling factor (CSSF)

[0537] *** = 1 when configured NES SCell = 1 or NES SCC is of highest priority. The NES SCC being the highest priority SCC may be notified to the UE through network indication.

[0538] *** Or = CSSFintraNES, assuming one searcher for all SCCs including NES SCC

[0539] ** NES SCell SSB measurement opportunities punctured by MG, scaling factor Kp_NES

[0540] Kp_NES = Ntotal / Navailable

[0541] Ntotal: total number of SSB measurement occasions within the FTW window;

[0542] Navailable: the number of SSB measurement occasions within the FTW window that do not overlap with MG;

[0543] ** To ensure the accuracy of deactivated NES measurements: averaging of sufficient M samples may be considered

[0544] According to the above, in such case TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NESis redefined as:

[0545] TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NES= Ceil (M x Kp NES) x x

[0546] The SSB periodicity after adaptation may be one of 5 ms, 10 ms, 20 ms, 40 ms, 80 ms, or 160 ms

[0547] B. L3 measurement report period base on SSB periodicity after adaptation

[0548] It may be divided into event reporting or the UE autonomously reporting valid measurement results when the accuracy meets the following conditions:

[0549] a preconfigured threshold;

[0550] Combined with the transition period, the deactivated measurement period and the L3 measurement reporting period of the NES SCell, the UE performs fast deactivated SCell measurement in the FTW within the following time

[0551] , is an operator, may be max of (·) or min of (·)

[0552] T_FTW restriction in case of multiple FTWs (T_FTW is shown as T2 in the figure): to further save NW energy, the restriction on the UE and NW in T_FTW is that the NW does not expect to resend the SSB adaptation indication command, so the UE does not expect to perform fast deactivated SCell measurements based on the SSB after adaptation, accordingly:

[0553] < T_FTW, : the time when UE receives SSB adaptation indication command retransmission; : a time when receiving an SSB adaptation deactivation indication. " " denotes the time interval between and , e.g., the time from to . A restriction of < T_FTW may indicate that starting from , the NW does not expect to resend the SSB adaptation indication command for a time less than the time interval T_FTW, and therefore the UE does not expect to perform fast deactivated SCell measurements based on the SSB after adaptation;

[0554] * conditions for defining T_FTW: the cell remains measurable and detectable; the reported measurement results meet the accuracy requirements

[0555] ** bad impact if T_FTW is not defined: SSB-based inaccurate adaptation results do not ensure that NES SCell has good enough channel conditions to quickly activate burst data traffic scheduling

[0556] Step 5: activation of SCell. Depending on whether the SCell being activated belongs to different frequency bands FR1 / FR2, whether the SCell being activated is known or unknown, it may be divided into the following cases: case 1: the SCell being activated belongs to FR1, but is an unknown SCell; case 2: the SCell belongs to FR1, but is known; case 3: the SCell belongs to FR2, but there is at least one active serving cell on the FR2 band; case 4: the SCell belongs to FR2, but there is no active serving cell on this FR2 band. However, for all situations, after the NES UE receives the SCell activation command in slot n, the activated SCell reports valid CQI no later than slot .

[0557] For scenario 5: Known NES SCell activation based on fast deactivated NES SCell measurements

[0558] The purpose of defining the known condition: is a precondition for the activated cell to become a known cell.

[0559] How to define known cells:

[0560] 1) Report valid results within Xs

[0561] 1: UE uses the SSB measurement resources after adaptation to perform measurements and report one (or the first, or the latest) valid L3 measurement result with SSB index information

[0562] A. This valid measurement result is reported within X s before receiving the NES SCell activation command

[0563] B. X is related to the SSB resource periodicity after SSB adaptation and DRX cycle configuration, as an example, for FR1, it may be X = Max(5* T_(SSB_NES), 5*DRX cycle)

[0564] 2: NES SCell is detectable according to cell identification criteria within X s

[0565] Taking the FR1 SCell cell as an example, if 1 and 2 above are satisfied, the NES SCell becomes a known cell, otherwise it is an unknown cell.

[0566] How to activate the corresponding NES SCell within a short delay if the known conditions are satisfied depends on when the SSB adaptation deactivation command is received.

[0567] Case 1: For SSB adaptation deactivation indication command received before NES SCell activation command received.

[0568] In such case, the corresponding NES SCell will be activated based on SSB resources before adaptation with default (e.g., sparse) periodicity

[0569] (Challenge faced: Known condition definition and using different SSB resources for NES SCell activation)

[0570] For the two kinds of resources, there are different SSB time domain locations (e.g., different locations and / or positions), for example, location of SSB may involve system frame number (SFN) offset and / or half-frame index corresponding to the SSB, the position of SSB may involve position of the SSB within an SSB burst.

[0571] Bad impact: existing activation delay can not cover extra delay including SFN detection and TCI selection, which may lead to failure or abortion of SCell activation.

[0572] Solution: define applicability conditions: to ensure that the timing, coarse AGC and Tx beam information available from the SSB resources after adaptation may be reused into the known NES SCell activation with legacy SSB, the following assumptions need to be taken into account:

[0573] A． The frequency locations of SSB resources are the same before and after SSB adaptation

[0574] B． The spatial locations of SSB resources are the same before and after SSB adaptation

[0575] C． The time positions of SSB in an SSB burst within a half frame before and after SSB adaptation are the same

[0576] D． The SSB offsets are the same before and after SSB adaptation

[0577] If the above conditions are satisfied, the cell detection and coarse AGC setting on the target NES SCell may be skipped, and it is related to the existing intra-band cell activation timeline, the known NES SCell may be activated according to the following existing timeline using the SSB resources before adaptation.

[0578] Case 2: In the next deactivated SCell state, the SSB adaptation deactivation command is received after the SCell deactivation command.

[0579] FR1 cell activation for case 1 (that is, for SSB adaptation deactivation command received before the NES SCell activation command received) may include the following two cases (the cases after the cell becomes a known cell, called known case 1 and known case 2 respectively):

[0580] known case 1: + 5ms (< = X1)

[0581] known case 2: + 5ms (otherwise)

[0582] Known case 1 and known case 2 depend on whether the measurement period of the SCell to be activated is less than or equal to X1, X1 is related to the measurement period, which may take 2400 ms.

[0583] Where is the time / frequency tracking time based on traditional SSB; is the time for fine AGC synchronization based on legacy SSB.

[0584] FR1 cell activation for case 2 (that is, in the next deactivated SCell state, the SSB adaptation deactivation command is received after the SCell deactivation command):

[0585] Corresponding SCell activation is performed based on dense SSB periodicity after adaptation (activation time or activation delay is Tactivation_time_NES), where is changed to : the time for completing T / F tracking on the target NES SCell, which is related to the time when receiving the first complete SSB burst after adaptation for T / F tracking

[0586] is changed to : the time to complete fine AGC on the target NES SCell, which is related to the time to receive the first complete SSB burst after adaptation for fine AGC, where:

[0587] It is assumed that there is no active FR2 serving cell supporting SSB adaptation within the band where the SCell is located, while the NES SCell cell is the first unknown SCell to be activated; as well as

[0588] TfirstSSB_NES< SMTC period

[0589] Thus,

[0590] Known case 1:Tactivation_time= + 5ms

[0591] Known case 2: Tactivation_time= - + 5ms

[0592] All parameters are based on SSB resources after adaptation. The changes are illustrated in FIG. 19

[0593] Where TfirstSSB_NESrepresents the time allowing for reception of the first possible SSB_NES

[0594] Tactivation_time_NESis the activation delay of NES SCell or NES only SCell.

[0595] Specifically, based on the above main parameters, unknown cell activation may have different activation timelines according to the configuration of different resources after adaptation (when SCell belongs to FR1 and is unknown)

[0596] Activation of unknown cells may perform AGC, cell detection, L1 measurement and time / frequency tracking based on SSB resources after adaptation with short periodicities, to achieve activation delay reduction.

[0597] Advantageous effects: using SSB resources after adaptation for cell activation may shorten the delay by tens of milliseconds, especially when a long SMTC cycle is configured, enabling fast scheduling of SCell.

[0598] A. If activation is based on only one SSB configuration, and SSBs differ only in periodicity before and after adaptation

[0599] The UE only uses SSB resources after adaptation to perform secondary cell activation, which may achieve accelerated activation delay Tactivation_time.

[0600] accelerated Tactivation_time: from 6ms + 24 * SMTC period+ TL1-RSRP, measure+ TL1-RSRP, report+ THARQ+ max(Tuncertainty_MAC+ SMTC period + 2ms, Tuncertainty_SP) to 6ms + TFirstSSB_NES_MAX+ 15* + 8*Trs+ TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NES + TL1-RSRP, report+ THARQ+ max(Tuncertainty_MAC+ TFinetiming_NES+ 2ms, Tuncertainty_SP)

[0601] terms 1 and 2 (TFirstSSB_NES_MAX+ 15* + 8*Trs): time for cell detection / cell synchronization acquisition + time for AGC adjustment: changed from SMTC period to periodicity of SSB after adaptation. Among them, TFirstSSB_NES_MAXis the periodicity of SSB after adaptation;

[0602] term 3 (TFinetiming_NES, that is, T / F tracking on the target NES SCell): in such case, is a fine time synchronization adjustment based on SSB after adaptation. Changing from SMTC period to dense periodicity of SSB after adaptation ;

[0603] Assumptions: no activated FR2 serving cell supports SSB adaptation, SCell is measured using SSB after adaptation;

[0604] term 4 (TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NES): time / delay of L1 measurement, depending on NES specific measurement sample interval and DRX related measurement priority:

[0605] 1) Time interval between two SSBs: from TSSBto dense TSSB_NES

[0606] 2) DRX-related measurement priority: once SSB adaptation is triggered, the most important task is for the UE to complete L1 measurement and transmit beam selection as soon as possible.

[0607] Layer 1 measurements in non-DRX mode may be prioritized or even if DRX is configured, dense perioicitiess after SSB adaptation may be applied for measurements;

[0608] Combined with TSSB_NES, DRX-related measurement priority, the L1-RSRP measurement period based on SSB resources after adaptation may be defined as Table 8:

[0609] Table 8 Measurement period TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NESfor FR2

[0610]

[0611] B. If configured based on two SSBs, and the two SSBs have different frequencies and periodicities and both need to be measured

[0612] accelerated Tactivation_time: changing from 6ms + 24 * SMTC period+ TL1-RSRP, measure+ TL1-RSRP, report+ THARQ+ max(Tuncertainty_MAC+ SMTC period + 2ms, Tuncertainty_SP) to 6ms + TFirstSSB_NES_MAX+15 * + 8 * Trs_NES+ TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NES+TL1-RSRP, report+ THARQ+ max(Tuncertainty_MAC+ TFinetiming_NES+ 2ms, Tuncertainty_SP)

[0613] term 1:

[0614] How to speed up AGC: if the first complete SSBs of two resources are not aligned in the same slot, the activation time should be based on the first common SSB of all resources in the same band

[0615] TFirstSSB_NES_MAX+15 * TFirstSSB_NES_MAXis max (TFirstSSB_default SSB resource, TFirstSSB_second SSB resource)

[0616] Among them, TFirstSSB_default SSB resourcerepresents the default SSB resource periodicity, TFirstSSB_second SSB resourcerepresents the second SSB resource periodicity, TFirstSSB_default SSB resourceand TFirstSSB_second SSB resourcerepresent the two SSB periodicities before and after adaptation.

[0617] How to speed up cell detection: two SSBs on the same SCell have the same half frame.

[0618] UE flexibly uses default resource or NES-specific resource with a dense periodicity for cell detection

[0619] 8 * Trs_NES, Trs_NEScorresponds to min(Tdefault SSB resource, Tsecond SSB resource)

[0620] Otherwise: obtain SCell coarse timing based on default resources of SSB

[0621] term 2: AGC adjustment

[0622] (A challenge exists: the start of the first complete SSBs corresponding to the two resources are not aligned in the same slot.)

[0623] Existing method limitation: in FR1 band, AGC time is determined by the longest AGC setting time at multi-SCell activation

[0624] The activation delay needs to be based on the first common SSB of both SSB resources, defined as TFirstSSB_NES_MAX

[0625] In such case, TAGC_NES ~TFirstSSB_NES_MAX, where "~" means "related to".

[0626] As a possibility:

[0627] The AGC adjustment or setting time may be TFirstSSB_NES_MAX= operator4(TSMTC_MAX_NES SSB, TSMTC_MAX, TSSB_NES), where operator 4 may be: one of, min, or max.

[0628] term 3: acquiring fine T / F tracking

[0629] The UE flexibly uses the default resource or NES dense periodicity SSB resource for fine T / F tracking and is the same as the SSB resources for cell detection.

[0630] TFinetiming_NES~ min (TFinetiming_default SSB resource, TFinetiming_additional SSB resource)

[0631] term 4: L1 measurement. The UE flexibly use default resource or NES dense periodicity SSB resource for L1 measurement

[0632] L1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NES: max(TReport, ceil(M=1*P*N)*TSSB_NES), TSSB_NES=min (Tdefault SSB resource, Tsecond SSB resource)

[0633] Combined with terms 1 to 4, the timeline for unknown single NES SCell may be defined as:

[0634] Tunknown NES SCell activation_time~ Trs_NES+ TAGC_NES+ TFinetiming_NES+ TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NES

[0635] C. The UE executes terms 1, 2, 3 only based on the first default SSB or the second NES dedicated SSB resource, depending on which is faster (shorter periodicity)

[0636] TFirstSSB_NES_MAX: the duration of the first SSB adaptation resource indicated by the measurement timing configuration. The measurement timing configuration may be SMTC_NES or legacy SMTC, and the SSB may be an adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation (SSB_NES) or legacy SSB that the NES UE may receive. If both SSBs are present, the NES-capable UE may define measurement rules based on implementation, such as in order to obtain NW power saving gain, the NES UE may prefer to receive and measure SSB_NES. In such case, TFirstSSB_NES_MAXmay represent the duration of the first SSB_NES indicated by the measurement timing configuration;

[0637] 1) If the periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is less than 5 ms and / or greater than 160 ms, or the pattern of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is the same as legacy SSB, TFirst SSB_NES_MAXmay be the time when the first SSB_NES burst indicated by the measurement timing configuration SMTC ends;

[0638] 2) If the periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is less than 5 ms and / or greater than 160 ms, or the pattern of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation is different from legacy SSB, TFirstSSB_NES_MAXmay be the time when the first SSB_NES burst indicated by the measurement timing configuration SMTC_NES ends.

[0639] When the SCell being activated is not fully known, for the case where the target cell is not fully known and the half-frame time needs to be obtained through MIB reading, in such case, the total duration of the UE for PSS / SSS cell detection and MIB reading is TA= operator4(TSMTC_MAX_NES SSB, TSMTC_MAX, TSSB_NES), where operator 4 may be: one of, min, max. Wherein,

[0640] -The original SMTC periodicity range may include the periodicity of adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation;

[0641] -Serving cell SMTC configuration, may be configured as long periodicity or normal periodicity.

[0642] Among them, TSMTC_MAX_NES SSB: longer SMTC period between active serving cell and activated SCell in case cell-specific reference signal for PSS / SSS timing acquisition and MIB reading is provided for NES UE.

[0643] Tuncertainty_MAC_NES: indicates the uncertain time related to the UE receiving the MAC CE activation command.

[0644] For example, for the known cell case, the time duration from the NES UE receiving the SCell activation command to receiving the last activation command. The activation command may include at least one of: activation command for PDCCH TCI, activation command for PDSCH TCI, semi-persistent CSI-RS activation command for CQI reporting, SCell activation command, SSB time domain adaptation transmission command.

[0645] If all of the above commands may be received simultaneously by the NES UE, then Tuncertainty_MAC_NES= 0;

[0646] If the NES UE can not receive the SCell activation command and the SSB time domain adaptive / adaptive transmission command at the same time, then Tuncertainty_MAC_NES= U1, and U1 is a non-zero value, which may be by NW configuration or a fixed value. If the NES UE can not receive at least two of the above commands simultaneously, Tuncertainty_MAC_NESmay be a configured or predefined value, the value of which may be related to the type of commands that can not be received simultaneously.

[0647] Tuncertainty_transition: the mode transition period between adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation transmission and legacy SSB transmission or the transition period from NES mode to normal mode. Such time may be a fixed value specified by the standard, or may be TB= operator5(TSMTC _NES, TSMTC, TSSB _NES), operator5 may be: min, or one of.

[0648] TL1-RSRP,report_NES: L1-RSRP measurement reporting time based on adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation;

[0649] THARQ: automatic repeat request feedback time;

[0650] Tuncertainty_SP: the duration to receive the activation command of the semi-persistent CSI-RS resource set for CQI reporting;

[0651] Tuncertainty_RRC: the duration of receiving the RRC configuration message for TCI of periodic CSI-RS for CQI reporting;

[0652] TRRC_delay: RRC processing delay;

[0653] Wherein the duration of Tactivation_time_NESis shorter than that of Tactivation_time. Therefore, the NES UE may quickly report the valid CQI, and then quickly activate the SCell and transmit on the SCell. After completing data transmission quickly, the NW may enter sleep mode, thereby achieving network power saving mode.

[0654] In an implementation, the known conditions of the NES cell are divided into intra-frequency and inter-frequency identification, and the known conditions of the NES cell are defined as follows, taking intra-frequency as an example:

[0655] Tidentify_intra_without_index_NES= (TPSS / SSS_sync_intra_NES+ TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NES) ms or

[0656] Tidentify_intra_with_index_NES= (TPSS / SSS_sync_intra_NES+ TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NES+ TSSB_time_index_intra_NES) ms

[0657] Tidentify_intra_without_index_NES: NES cell identification time when SSB index detection is not required;

[0658] TPSS / SSS_sync_intra_NES: PSS / SSS detection duration / period for NES cell;

[0659] TSSB_time_index_intra_NES: SSB index detection duration for NES cell;

[0660] TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NES: measurement period based on SSB measurement for NES cells.

[0661] The improved cell PSS / SSS detection and time index detection are shown in Tables 9-10 below, taking FR1 as an example:

[0662] Table 9 SSB measurement period for intra-frequency measurement (FR2) of NES without considering measurement gaps

[0663]

[0664] Where Mmeas_period_w / o_gapsrepresents the total number of samples measured.

[0665] Table 10 SSB measurement period for intra-frequency measurement (FR2) of NES considering measurement gaps

[0666]

[0667] The operator may be: max or one of or min.

[0668] Among them, X may be an integer greater than zero and may be pre-set. MGRP stands for measurement gap period.

[0669] In an implementation, the UE may report the measurement results.

[0670] If the condition related to signal to noise ratio is fulfilled during shorten TSSB_measurement_period_intra_NES, the UE shall be able to trigger the L3 report based on activated measurement resources after adaptation.

[0671] Because the measurement here is a multi-sample measurement, if legacy SSB and adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation exist at the same time, the measurement results need to be averaged over multiple samples through rules, and the measurement result processing rules are as mentioned above.

[0672] After completing RF warm-up, AGC adjustment, receiving reference signals for cell detection, time index detection, and measurement, and fine time synchronization, the UE measures CQI and reports the first valid CQI to complete the cell activation procedure.

[0673] Step 6: the NW schedules the already activated Scell and performs data reception and normal L1 / L3 measurement tasks on the serving Scell. If the NES UE receives an adaptable SSB / SSB after adaptation indication activation command at this stage, the NES UE performs measurements based on SSBs of different periodicities.

[0674] The measurement period in case that transition is involved when performing measurement of an already activated SCell may involve the following aspects:

[0675] 1. If SSB adaptation occurs within one measurement period, the larger values of the measurement periods before and after the transition may be taken into account.

[0676] For example, a transition occurs in the following cases: within one measurement period, RRM measurements transition from measurements made on SSB / SMTC based resource configurations to measurements made on resource configurations based on SSB / SMTC after adaptation , or vice versa (e.g., RRM measurements transition from measurements made on resource configurations based on SSB / SMTC after adaptation to measurements made on SSB / SMTC based resource configurations), then for measurements involving transitions, the measurement period is determined as the longer measurement delay (or measurement period) before and after the transition. For example, the measurement period is:

[0677] Ttransition = max {measurement period of the first pattern, measurement period of the second pattern},

[0678] Among them, the first pattern and the second pattern are the SSB-related patterns involved before and after the transition, respectively. For example, the first pattern is the legacy SSB pattern or the normal pattern, and the second pattern is the SSB pattern after adaptation or the network energy saving (NES) pattern.

[0679] 2. Measurements in Ttransition may be performed according to one of the following ways to ensure that appropriate multiple samples are selected to ensure measurement accuracy:

[0680] Method 1: NES capable UE may measure two measurement resources with different periodicities, but the UE only reports one of them, for example, the best and / or valid L3 measurement result among the results measured on the two measurement resources.

[0681] For example, if there are legacy measurement resources (e.g., legacy SSB-related measurement resources), the UE measures the legacy resources within one cycle and measures resources after adaptation (e.g., SSB-related measurement resources after adaptation) after the entire measurement period unit. If the legacy measurement resources and resources after adaptation are time division multiplexed (TDMed), the UE may measure the resources in a time division manner.

[0682] Method 2: Based on NES scenario, prioritize measurement of resources after adaptation.

[0683] For example, after the transition period, the UE measures the measurement resource after adaptation with the highest priority and performs L1 measurement filtering on X samples (where X is a positive integer), whether the measurement results based on legacy resources are released depends on the UE implementation.

[0684] Method 3: NES capable UE may measure resources of different periodicities and combine the measurement results. Based on the premise assumption: SSB resources are transmitted on the same frequency location

[0685] The measurement result may be defined as follows:

[0686]

[0687] Where is the measurement result of the k-th L1 sample before transition;

[0688] is the measurement result of the m-th L1 sample after transition;

[0689] = 0 / 1, is an indicator indicating whether to combine the measurement results before and after the transition, for example, c = 0 indicates not combining the measurement results before and after the transition, c = 1 indicates combining the measurement results before and after the transition, or vice versa;

[0690] S denotes the total number of samples that need to be averaged, e.g. S = M if c = 0, otherwise S = K + M, or vice versa.

[0691] In an implementation, if SSB adaptation occurs after or before a complete measurement period, the UE prioritizes using resources after adaptation for measurement.

[0692] For example, after the measurement period at the transition, the UE performs measurements based on resources after adaptation (for example, second SMTC resources after adaptation or called NES_SMTC resources or called additional SMTC resources), and flexibly reports measurement results within the measurement period.

[0693] How to define the measurement period based on SSB adaptation measurement resource depends on the periodicity of measurement resource after adaptation, the ratio factor of different measurement resources conflicting in time domain, and NES CSSF, are related to DRX cycle configuration.

[0694] Regarding the period:

[0695] Case 1: if the adaptation is based on one SSB configuration, and only the SSB periodicity is after adaptation:

[0696] an NES-specific SMTC period: or ( < SMTC period);

[0697] Case 2: if adaptation is based on two SSB configurations and at most two configurations are activated:

[0698] = (SMTC period, ), where is an operator, may select the shortest period between the two, and select one of the periods between the two.

[0699] Regarding the scaling factor when different SSB measurement resources overlap in the time domain:

[0700] Furthermore, SSB resources overlapping in time domain may occur when adaptation of the SSB periodicity and mode (e.g., the mode includes energy saving mode or non-energy saving mode) occurs.

[0701] Possible reasons for overlap of default measurement resources and additional measurement resources for adaptation on the same frequency overlapping in time domain: different offsets, compressed SSB

[0702] In such case, which SMTC resource to use and whether to define may be one of:

[0703] 1) Always choose legacy SMTC (SMTC before transition), no ;

[0704] 2) NES-specific SMTC is of highest priority, no ;

[0705] 3) base on scenario, UE flexibly selects legacy SMTC or NES-specific SMTC;

[0706] 4) If two resources need to be measured, relax the measurement period by introducing a scaling factor .

[0707] Regarding the NES carrier-specific scaling factor CSSFNES(different frequency locations before and after SSB adaptation):

[0708] In addition, if the frequency location relationship before and after SSB adaptation changes, the NES carrier-specific scaling factor CSSFNESmay be introduced to determine the measurement period.

[0709] NES carrier specific scale factor: CSSFNES= 1 when the number of configured SCells (i.e. NES SCell) = 1 or the NES SCC is of the highest priority (if inter-frequency MO is configured for this SCC); else, CSSFNES= CSSFintra, or = CSSFintraNES, based on the assumption: all SCCs including the NES SCC share one

[0710] For example, in conjunction with , scaling factor , CSSFNES, and conditions, the measurement periods for the corresponding intra-frequency may be defined according to Table 9 and Table 10 with and without considering the measurement gap MG.

[0711] For location 2, multi-cell activation, as shown in FIG. 18,

[0712] assumption: multiple to-be-activated SCells are NES SCells, only the periodicity changes before and after adaptation

[0713] The time for multi-cell activation is:

[0714]

[0715] : additional delay extension of the terminal due to in the same band

[0716] Challenge: the exact location of the interruption is unknown. The activation of the concerned SCell will cause the loss of RS reception occasions, and the NES SCell can not be activated.

[0717] Solution: Consider delay extension in multi-SCell activation scenarios to guarantee sufficient allowable resources for AGC, cell detection and T / F tracking.

[0718] Principle: depending on the interruption occurring in different parts of SCell activation, there is a need to wait for the next allowable measurement occasion of SSB resources after adaptation.

[0719] If the interruption occurs during AGC setting using SSB:

[0720] needs to wait for 1 extra TFirstNES_SSB_MAX_multiple_scellsfor AGC setting

[0721] If the interruption occurs during cell synchronization or T / F tracking using SSB:

[0722] needs to wait for 1 extra TFirstNES_SSBfor cell synchronization or T / F tracking

[0723] Where TFirstNES_SSB_MAX_multiple_scellsand TFirstNES_SSBare related to the dense periodicity of SSB after adaptation

[0724] : cell detection delay due to the limitation in which all unknown cells share one searcher, where N is the number of unknown SCells to be activated.

[0725] Principle: Because all unknown cells share a searcher, but cell detection is a sequential procedure, N should be considered for delay extension.

[0726] Thus,Tactivate_basic_multi_NESCells: cell activation delay based on SSB adaptation dense SSB periodicity based on different adaptation SSB mechanisms. Related to the following three parameters: TFirstNES_SSB_MAX_multiple_scells，TNES_SSB_MAX_multiple_scells， TL1-RSRP_Measurement_Period_SSB_NES

[0727] TFirstNES_SSB_MAX_multiple_scellis the time to the first complete SSB burst after adaptation,

[0728] TNES_SSB_MAX_multiple_scells: longest SSB periodicity among multiple SCells, or called SSB periodicity of SCell to be activated.

[0729] The AGC setting is to be based on the maximum NES SSB periodicity instead of the maximum SMTC period, and the L1-RSRP is also to be based on the NES SSB periodicity.

[0730] FIG. 21 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a user equipment 2100 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 21, the user equipment 2100 includes a transceiver 2101 and a controller 2102. The transceiver 2101 is configured to transmit data or signals and to receive data or signals. The controller 2102 is coupled with the transceiver 2101 and configured to perform control such that the user equipment 2100 performs a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an implementation, the user equipment 2100 may also include a memory (not shown) on which computer-executable instructions are stored. When the instructions are performed by the controller 2102, the user equipment 2100 may perform at least one method corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0731] FIG. 22 illustrates a schematic structural diagram of a network device 2200 according to at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 22, the network device 2200 includes a transceiver 2201 and a controller 2202. The transceiver 2201 is configured to transmit data or signals and to receive data or signals. The controller 2202 is coupled with the transceiver 2201 and configured to perform control such that the network device 2200 performs a method according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. In an implementation, the network device 2200 may also include a memory (not shown) on which computer-executable instructions are stored. When the instructions are performed by the controller 2202, the network device 2200 may perform at least one method corresponding to the above-mentioned embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0732] The above description is only an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc. made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

[0733] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention includes reference to devices for performing one or more of the operations described herein. These devices may be specially designed and manufactured for the required purposes, or they may comprise known devices found in general purpose computers. These devices have computer programs stored therein that are selectively activated or reconfigured. Such a computer program may be stored in a device (e.g., a computer) readable medium, including, but not limited to, any type of disk including a floppy disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a CD-ROM, and a magnetic-optical disk, a ROM (Read-Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory), a flash memory, a magnetic card, or an optical card, or in any type of media suitable for storing electronic instructions, respectively coupled to a bus. That is, a readable medium includes any medium that stores or transmits information in a form readable by a device (e.g., a computer).

[0734] It will be understood by those skilled in the art that each block of the structural diagrams and / or block diagrams and / or flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the structural diagrams and / or block diagrams and / or flow diagrams, may be implemented by computer program instructions. Those skilled in the art may understand that these computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing method for implementation, so that the solution specified in the structural diagrams and / or block diagrams and / or flow diagrams disclosed in the present invention may be executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing method.

[0735] Those skilled in the art may understand that the steps, measures, and solutions in the various operations, methods, and processes that have been discussed in the present invention may be alternated, changed, combined, or deleted. Furthermore, other steps, measures, and solutions in the various operations, methods, and processes that have been discussed in the present invention may also be alternated, changed, rearranged, decomposed, combined, or deleted. Furthermore, the steps, measures, and solutions in the various operations, methods, and processes disclosed in the present invention in the prior art may also be alternated, changed, rearranged, decomposed, combined, or deleted.

[0736] The above are only some embodiments of the present invention. It should be noted that those of ordinary skill in the art may also make several improvements and modifications without departing from the principles of the present invention. These improvements and modifications are also It should be regarded as the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1.A method performed by user equipment (UE) in a communication system, the method comprising:receiving, from a network node, a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation before receiving a secondary cell activation command;performing deactivated secondary cell measurement based on a first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window,wherein, the first time window is related to at least one of: transition period, measurement period based on the first reference signal after adaptation, and reporting timing of valid layer 3 measurement results.2.The method of claim 1, wherein performing deactivated secondary cell measurement based on the first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window at least comprises performing the deactivated secondary cell measurement based on a periodicity of the first reference signal after adaptation.3.The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, from the network node, the secondary cell activation command; andin case that a condition related to a cell to be known is satisfied, activating a known secondary cell based on the first reference signal after adaptation,wherein, the condition related to a cell to be known is satisfied in case that the UE has sent a valid layer 3 measurement report with the first reference signal index, the secondary cell activation command is received by the UE within a second time period after a valid layer 3 measurement report, and the first reference signal with reported first reference signal index remain detectable,wherein the second time period is related to a periodicity of the first reference signal after adaptation.4.The method of claim 1,wherein the transition period comprises a processing time for the first reference signal adaptation,wherein the processing time is related to UE capability.5.The method of claim 1, wherein a start of the transition period is a time when the first indication is received, and an end of the transition period is a time when the UE may receive the first burst of the first reference signal after adaptation.6.The method of claim 1, further comprising:receiving, from the network node an indication related to the first reference signal adaptation deactivation, and receiving a second indication related to the first reference signal adaptation after a third time period; andafter receiving the second indication, measuring the deactivated secondary cell based on the after adaptation first reference signal within the first time window,wherein during the third time period, the secondary cell remains detectable and the reported measurement result is still valid.7.A method performed by a network node, the method comprising:transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation before receiving a secondary cell activation command;wherein deactivated secondary cell measurement is performed based on a first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window,wherein, the first time window is related to at least one of: transition period, measurement period based on the first reference signal after adaptation, and reporting timing of valid layer 3 measurement results.8.The method of claims 7,wherein the transition period comprises a processing time for the first reference signal adaptation,wherein the processing time is related to UE capability.9.A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, comprising:a transceiver; anda controller coupled to the transceiver and configured to:receive, from a network node, a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation before receiving a secondary cell activation command, andperform deactivated secondary cell measurement based on a first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window,wherein, the first time window is related to at least one of: transition period, measurement period based on the first reference signal after adaptation, and reporting timing of valid layer 3 measurement results.10.The UE of claim 9, wherein performing deactivated secondary cell measurement based on the first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window at least comprises performing the deactivated secondary cell measurement based on a periodicity of the first reference signal after adaptation.11.The UE of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to:receive, from the network node, the secondary cell activation command; andin case that a condition related to a cell to be known is satisfied, activate a known secondary cell based on the first reference signal after adaptation,wherein, in case that the condition related to a cell to be known is satisfied and the UE has sent a valid layer 3 measurement report with the first reference signal index, the secondary cell activation command is received by the UE within a second time period after a valid layer 3 measurement report, and the first reference signal with reported first reference signal index remain detectable,wherein the second time period is related to a periodicity of the first reference signal after adaptation.12.The UE of claim 9,wherein the transition period comprises a processing time for the first reference signal adaptation,wherein the processing time is related to UE capability.13.The UE of claim 9, wherein a start of the transition period is a time when the first indication is received, and an end of the transition period is a time when the UE may receive the first burst of the first reference signal after adaptation.14.The UE of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to:receive, from the network node, an indication related to the first reference signal adaptation deactivation, and receive a second indication related to the first reference signal adaptation after a third time period, andafter receiving the second indication, measure the deactivated secondary cell based on the after adaptation first reference signal within the first time window,wherein during the third time period, the secondary cell remains detectable and the reported measurement result is still valid.15.A network node in a wireless communication system, comprising:a transceiver; anda controller coupled to the transceiver and configured to:transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a first indication related to a first reference signal adaptation before receiving a secondary cell activation command;wherein deactivated secondary cell measurement is performed based on a first reference signal after adaptation within a first time window,wherein, the first time window is related to at least one of: transition period, measurement period based on the first reference signal after adaptation, and reporting timing of valid layer 3 measurement results.

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