Terminal, wireless communication method, and base station

Abstract

One aspect of the present disclosure is a terminal that has a reception unit that receives a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SSB) in one serving cell that includes a plurality of physical cell IDs (PCI) and a control unit that identifies the PCI that correspond to the plurality of SSB. The one aspect of the present disclosure makes it possible to improve communication throughput.

Description

Terminal, Wireless Communication Method, and Base Station , ,

[0004] , ,

[0003] ,

[0005]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a terminal, a wireless communication method, and a base station in a next-generation mobile communication system.

[0002] In a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, Long Term Evolution (LTE) was specified for the purpose of achieving higher data rates, lower latency, etc. (Non-Patent Document 1). Also, for the purpose of further increasing capacity and sophistication of LTE (Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)) Release (Rel.) 8, 9), LTE-Advanced (3GPP Rel. 10-14) was specified.

[0003] Successor systems to LTE (for example, also referred to as 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 5G+ (plus), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), New Radio (NR), 3GPP Rel. 15 and later, etc.) are also being considered.

[0004] 3GPP TS 36.300 V8.12.0, "Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN); Overall description; Stage 2 (Release 8)", April 2010

[0005] In existing systems (e.g., NR), during cell edge handover, the network (NW) transmitted information regarding the reconfiguration of Radio Resource Control (RRC) to the terminal (user terminal, User Equipment (UE)). The UE then needed to perform tasks such as switching RRC settings, initial access (e.g., uplink (UL) / downlink (DL) synchronization), and beam management. During the period in which these operations were performed, there was an interruption time during which the UE could not communicate, resulting in a decrease in communication throughput.

[0006] Furthermore, while existing systems have specified procedures / methods that allow for the pre-configuration of multiple candidate cells and eliminate the need to transmit information regarding RRC reconfiguration, changes to higher layers in the UE still require time.

[0007] In future wireless communication systems (e.g., 6G), efforts are being made to reduce the transmission of RRC reconfiguration information and handovers that involve changes to higher layers.

[0008] However, specific methods for reducing handovers involving the transmission of RRC reconfiguration information and changes at higher layers have not been sufficiently considered. Without sufficient consideration, such handovers may not be reduced, potentially leading to a decrease in communication throughput.

[0009] Therefore, one of the objectives of this disclosure is to provide a terminal, a wireless communication method, and a base station that can improve communication throughput.

[0010] A terminal according to one aspect of the present disclosure is characterized by having a receiving unit that receives a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a single serving cell including a plurality of physical cell IDs (PCIs), and a control unit that identifies the PCI corresponding to each of the plurality of SSBs.

[0011] According to one aspect of this disclosure, communication throughput can be improved.

[0012] Figures 1A and 1B show an overview of MIMO. Figure 2A shows an overview of a cellular system. Figure 2B shows an overview of a cell-free system. Figure 3A shows an example overview of hypothetical configuration 1 of cell-free. Figure 3B shows an example overview of hypothetical configuration 2 of cell-free. Figure 3C shows another example overview of hypothetical configuration 2 of cell-free. Figure 4A shows an example of UE movement in Rel. 17. Figure 4B shows an example of UE movement in Rel. 18. Figure 5 shows an example of supercell / PCI / SSB correspondence according to the first embodiment. Figure 6 shows an example of PCI / sub-PCI / SSB correspondence according to the second embodiment. Figure 7 shows an example of PCI / SSB correspondence according to the third embodiment. Figure 8 shows an example of handover operation according to the fourth embodiment. Figure 9 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. Figure 10 shows an example of a base station configuration according to one embodiment. Figure 11 shows an example of a user terminal configuration according to one embodiment. Figure 12 shows an example of the hardware configuration of a base station and a user terminal according to one embodiment. Figure 13 shows an example of a vehicle according to one embodiment.

[0013] (Cell-free) Existing wireless communication systems (e.g., 5G NR) employ a cellular system in which, in principle, one antenna / transmit / receive point (TRP) forms one cell. The area formed by such a cell is a fixed / static area.

[0014] Furthermore, existing wireless communication systems (e.g., Rel. 16 and later) have introduced Distributed Multi Input Multi Output (Distributed MIMO, e.g., multi-TRP using multiple TRPs) which forms a communication area by the coverage of multiple antennas / TRPs. Distributed MIMO allows for simultaneous communication using multiple antennas / TRPs, as well as communication using a single antenna / TRP.

[0015] By adopting distributed MIMO, a more favorable line-of-sight environment can be established, and MIMO performance can be improved.

[0016] Figures 1A and 1B are diagrams illustrating the overview of MIMO. Figure 1A shows an example of Co-located MIMO. In Co-located MIMO, one UE communicates with one antenna / TRP.

[0017] On the other hand, Figure 1B shows an example of distributed MIMO. In distributed MIMO, one UE communicates with multiple coordinated antennas / TRPs.

[0018] In future wireless communication systems (e.g., Rel. 20 and beyond), the introduction of self-free communication is being considered with the aim of further improving performance and energy efficiency through reducing interference between multiple antennas / TRPs, creating a line-of-sight environment that supports the use of high frequencies, improving the overall frequency utilization efficiency of the system, and applying equal and high-quality communication to each user.

[0019] Selfly may also be called selfly massive MIMO (mMIMO) or large-scale distributed MIMO (D-MIMO). Selfly uses coherent coordination of a large number of access points. Selfly may include at least one of the following: ultra-dense deployment, scalable cooperation, user-centric clustering, supercarrier aggregation, or analog fronthaul. The user plane for selfly may provide more flexible scheduling than existing scheduling. The control plane for selfly may retain several forms of cells to facilitate signaling.

[0020] In cell-free systems, unlike conventional cellular systems, a single area (which may also be called a cell or subcell) may be formed by multiple antennas / TRPs. In other words, this area may mean a cell that does not depend on the position of the antennas / TRPs.

[0021] In self-free systems, the set of antennas / TRPs used for area formation may be changed according to the needs of the user audience (UE). For example, the set of antennas / TRPs may be changed based on factors other than antenna / TRP coverage, such as the number of UEs, traffic volume, or communication purpose (e.g., initial access, data communication, measurement, reporting, etc.).

[0022] In other words, in a self-free setup, coverage between multiple antennas / TRPs may overlap.

[0023] In a cell-free configuration, the direction in which each antenna / TRP transmits a synchronization signal (which may be called, for example, a synchronization signal block (SSB), a synchronization signal / physical broadcast channel (SS / PBCH) block, etc.) may be controlled.

[0024] Furthermore, in a self-free system, the central unit (CU) and distributed unit (DU) may be virtualized for each antenna. Alternatively, each antenna may be managed by the CU alone.

[0025] Figure 2A is a diagram illustrating the overview of the cellular system. Figure 2A shows the cells formed by each antenna / TRP, and the UE communicates based on these cells.

[0026] On the other hand, Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating the overview of a cell-free system. In the example shown in Figure 2B, the installed antennas / TRPs do not form fixed / static cells in the cellular system. As shown in Figure 2B, in a cell-free system, one or more antennas / TRPs form areas depending on the conditions. Therefore, in a cell-free system, each antenna / TRP does not have to correspond to the same physical cell ID, and areas between multiple antennas / TRPs may overlap.

[0027] Self-reliance may be achieved, for example, by adjusting a set of antennas / TRPs controlled by a central control unit (e.g., a CU).

[0028] In a cell-free system, a first cell (which may be called, for example, a cell / supercell / macrocell / large cell) with a fixed physical range, similar to a cell in a 5G NR system, and a second cell (which may be called, for example, a subcell / area / microcell / cell / small cell / second cell within the first cell) whose physical range changes quasi-statically / dynamically based on conditions, may be formed.

[0029] For example, the first cell may be called a supercell to distinguish it from a second cell. If a supercell consists of multiple second cells, the second cells may have the same definition / operation / coverage as existing cells in the NR. For example, the second cells may be called subcells to distinguish them from the first cell. If a supercell or cell consists of multiple subcells, the subcells may have the same definition / operation / coverage as existing cells in the NR.

[0030] The first cell may be a cell newly defined in a future wireless communication system, or a cell definition from an existing wireless communication system may be reused.

[0031] The configurations of the first and second cells can be assumed to be as follows: Assumption 1: The first cell consists of multiple TRPs, each with a single cell ID (Physical Cell ID (PCI)). Multiple TRPs can cooperate in sending and receiving data. Assumption 2: The first cell consists of multiple TRPs (or subcells) with different cell IDs. Multiple TRPs / subcells can cooperate in sending and receiving data.

[0032] Figure 3A shows an example of the overview of hypothetical configuration 1 for cell-free operation. In the example shown in Figure 3A, each TRP included in the first cell (supercell / cell) has the same PCI (PCI #0). Multiple TRPs can communicate in cooperation with a single UE.

[0033] Figure 3B shows an example of an overview of hypothetical configuration 2 for cell-free operation. In the example shown in Figure 3B, each TRP included in the first cell (supercell / cell) has a different PCI (PCI #0 to #9). Multiple TRPs can communicate in cooperation with a single UE.

[0034] Figure 3C shows another example of the overview of assumption 2 of the cell-free configuration. In the example shown in Figure 3C, a PCI is assigned to each TRP contained in the first cell (supercell / cell). In the example shown in Figure 3C, unlike the example in Figure 3B, the same one PCI may correspond to multiple TRPs. Multiple TRPs can communicate in cooperation with a single UE.

[0035] Transmitting / receiving with TRP / subcell coordination may be based on at least one of the following methods supported in NR: - Single TRP / subcell transmission with dynamic TRP / subcell switching (single TRP transmission). - Joint transmission using multiple TRP / subcells (multi-TRP joint transmission). The joint transmission may be based on single DCI or multi-DCI. The joint transmission may be non-coherent joint transmission (NCJT) or coherent joint transmission (CJT).

[0036] Assuming an ideal backhaul and close coordination for self-free operation, CJT may be preferred over NCJT in a joint transmission scheme, and single DCI-based joint transmission may be preferred over multi-DCI-based joint transmission.

[0037] Selfly can enable large-scale distributed MIMO, low-layer (e.g., L2 / L1) mobility, and flexible TRP clustering. For example, when applied to ultra-high-density TRP, cell / TRP clustering for mobility / control and data can be separated.

[0038] Cell-free design offers several advantages, including: • Increased TRP density per cell. This improves the Signal-Noise Ratio (SNR) across all UEs, including conventional cell edge areas. • Flexible (e.g., UE-centric) TRP clustering for cell construction. This reduces the number of UEs affected by inter-cell / inter-TRP interference. • Enhanced mobility at lower layers. A single clustering can accommodate more TRPs, enabling seamless movement through, for example, L1-level operations.

[0039] With regard to self-free design, either Concept 1 or 2 below may be applied.

[0040] <Concept 1> Selfly targets the selection of multiple TRPs / access points (APs), and transmission / reception with TRPs / APs is limited to data only (e.g., PDSCH / PUSCH) (e.g., at the physical / MAC layer). In this case, there is no significant impact on cell selection, initial access, or mobility compared to existing methods. LTM (L1 / L2-triggered mobility, e.g., LTM prior to Rel. 18) may be reusable, or LTM functionality may be enhanced. L1 measurement / reporting or enhanced SRS transmission may be performed for the selection of multiple TRPs / APs, CSI measurement / reporting or enhanced SRS transmission for CSI of TRPs / APs with different clusterings, etc.

[0041] <Concept 2> The selection of multiple TRP / APs and transmission / reception with TRP / APs applies to both control channels / signals (e.g., in RRC) and data (e.g., PDSCH / PUSCH) (e.g., in the physical / MAC layer).

[0042] In this case, compared to existing methods, there are impacts on cell selection, initial access, and mobility, in addition to the measurement / reporting of L1 / CSI for data in Concept 1. For example, since the UE needs to access multiple TRP / APs during initial access, the SSB / SI / RACH also needs to be redesigned.

[0043] When clustering multiple TRPs / APs for control channels / signals and data, the clustering method (e.g., TRPs / APs within a cluster) may be the same or different. In this case, when clustering is performed at multiple DUs / CUs located at geographically different positions, potential impacts may occur.

[0044] <CCs (Carrier Aggregation (CA) scenario) with different frequencies> Self-free may be applied to CCs (CA scenario) with different frequencies. The above-mentioned multiple TRPs / APs may be processed individually for each CC or jointly across multiple CCs. For example, clustering and scheduling may be considered together in the dimensions of TRP and CC.

[0045] (Initial access procedure in an existing system) In the initial access procedure of an existing system (e.g., NR), the UE (RRC_IDLE mode) performs reception of the SS / PBCH block (SSB), transmission of Msg1 (PRACH / random access preamble / preamble), reception of Msg2 (PDCCH, PDSCH including random access response (RAR)), transmission of Msg3 (PUSCH scheduled by the RAR UL grant), and reception of Msg4 (PDCCH, PDSCH including UE contention resolution identity). Thereafter, when an ACK for Msg4 is transmitted from the UE by the base station (network), the RRC connection is established (RRC_CONNECTED mode).

[0046] The reception of SSB includes PSS detection, SSS detection, PBCH-DMRS detection, and PBCH reception. PSS detection performs detection of a part of the physical cell ID (PCI), detection (synchronization) of OFDM symbol timing, and (coarse) frequency synchronization. SSS detection includes detection of the physical cell ID. PBCH-DMRS detection includes detection of (a part of) the SSB index within a half radio frame (5 ms). PBCH reception includes detection of the system frame number (SFN) and radio frame timing (SSB index), reception of configuration information for receiving the remaining minimum system information (RMSI, SIB1), and recognition of whether the UE can camp on its cell (carrier).

[0047] SSB has a bandwidth of 20 RBs and a time of 4 symbols. The transmission period of SSB can be set from {5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160} ms. In a half frame, multiple symbol positions of SSB are defined based on the frequency range (FR1, FR2).

[0048] PBCH has a payload of 56 bits. N repetitions of PBCH are transmitted within a period of 80 ms. N depends on the SSB transmission period.

[0049] System information consists of the MIB carried by PBCH, RMSI (SIB1), and other system information (OSI). SIB1 includes RACH configuration and information for performing the RA procedure. The time / frequency resource relationship between SSB and the PDCCH monitoring resource for SIB1 is set by PBCH.

[0050] The base station using beam correspondence transmits multiple SSBs using multiple beams for each SSB transmission period. The multiple SSBs each have multiple SSB indexes. The UE that detects one SSB transmits PRACH in the PRACH occasion (RACH occasion, RO) associated with that SSB index and receives RAR in the RAR window.

[0051] (Beam reporting in existing systems) <Intra-cell beam reporting in Rel. 15 / 16> Intra-cell beam reporting is supported in Rel. 15 / 16. For example, L1-RSRP / SINR reporting can be configured by upper-layer signaling (RRC).

[0052] For example, in the calculation of L1-RSRP, the UE may configure either or both a CSI-RS resource and / or an SS / PBCH block resource if the resource is associated with QCL type C / type D.

[0053] Furthermore, the UE may configure up to 16 CSI-RS resource sets, each containing up to 64 resources. In all resource sets, the total number of different CSI-RS resources is 128 or less.

[0054] In L1-RSRP reporting, if the upper layer parameter nrofReportedRS (for example, in CSI-ReportConfig) is set to 1, the reported L1-RSRP value is defined as a 7-bit value in the range of [-140 to -44] dBm with a step size of 1 dB.

[0055] Here, the maximum measurement of L1-RSRP is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range of [-140 to -44] dBm with a step size of 1 dB. The difference value of L1-RSRP is quantized to a 4-bit value.

[0056] The difference value is calculated with a step size of 2 dB, referencing the largest measurement that is part of the same L1-RSRP reporting instance.

[0057] For example, in L1-SINR calculation and channel measurement, the UE may configure either the NZP CSI-RS resource and / or the SS / PBCH block resource. Furthermore, for interference measurement, the UE may configure either the NZP CSI-RS resource or the CSI-IM resource.

[0058] For channel measurement, the UE can configure CSI resource settings for up to 64 CSI resources or up to 16 CSI-RS resource sets having SS / PBCH block resources.

[0059] In L1-SINR reporting, if the upper layer parameter nrofReportedRS is set to 1, the reported L1-SINR value is defined as a 7-bit value in the range of [-23 to 40] dBm with a step size of 0.5 dB.

[0060] If the upper layer parameter nrofReportedRS is set to a value greater than 1, or if the upper layer parameter groupBasedBeamReporting is set to "enabled", the UE will use the difference-based L1-SINR value for reporting.

[0061] The difference value is calculated with a step size of 1 dB, referencing the largest measurement that is part of the same L1-SINR reporting instance.

[0062] In this disclosure, the intra-cell beam report of Rel. 15 / 16 (which may also be simply called the intra-cell beam report) may be called a type 1 beam report (beam report type 1), or a beam report for intra-cell beam switching.

[0063] <Inter-cell beam report for Rel. 17> As mentioned above, L1 / L2 inter-cell mobility (inter-cell beam management (ICBM)) is supported in Rel. 17. For example, a UE can send and receive UL / DL channels / signals to and from a PCI of a different cell than the PCI of the serving cell. For example, if a non-serving cell has a larger RSRP than the serving cell, the UE can send and receive UL / DL channels / signals to and from the non-serving cell without performing a handover.

[0064] In the L1-RSRP report, the absolute value / difference value of L1-RSRP may be used, as in Rel. 15 / 16. In the inter-cell beam report of Rel. 17 (Type 2-1 beam report described later), each L1-RSRP value is associated with a PCI ID (for the serving cell / additional cell / candidate cell). The association between the L1-RSRP value and the PCI ID may be set / instructed by upper-layer signaling / physical-layer signaling.

[0065] The configuration using upper-layer signaling supports up to seven additional cells. Note that ID=0 indicates the PCI of the serving cell.

[0066] In this disclosure, inter-cell beam reporting (in Rel. 17 / 18) may be referred to as Type 2 beam reporting (Beam reporting type 2). Type 2 beam reporting can be further classified into types 2-1 and 2-2, as described below.

[0067] In this disclosure, the beam report of Rel. 17 may be referred to as a type 2-1 beam report, or a beam report for inter-cell beam switching.

[0068] <Inter-cell beam reporting for Rel. 18> Furthermore, beam reporting for Rel. 18 is only supported as SSB-based L1-RSRP reporting (beam reporting). Here, the number of candidate cells L is one from 1 to 4, and the number of beams M per cell may be one from 1 to 4. For example, in beam reporting, a 7-bit absolute value (the largest L1-RSRP value among all cells) is reported for one cell, and all remaining L1-RSRP values ​​are reported as difference values.

[0069] Regarding beam selection in SSB-based L1-RSRP reporting, the maximum value of M*L and the combination of M and L that can be set in RRC may vary depending on the UE capabilities.

[0070] In the L1-RSRP report, the absolute value / difference value of L1-RSRP may be used, as in Rel. 15 / 16 / 17.

[0071] In L1-RSRP reporting, the reported L1-RSRP value is defined as a 7-bit value in the range of [-140 to -44] dBm with a step size of 1 dB.

[0072] Here, the maximum measurement of L1-RSRP is quantized to a 7-bit value in the range of [-140 to -44] dBm with a step size of 1 dB. The difference value of L1-RSRP is quantized to a 4-bit value.

[0073] The difference value is calculated with a step size of 2 dB, referencing the largest measurement that is part of the same L1-RSRP reporting instance.

[0074] The L1-RSRP report includes the SSBRI between the configured candidate cells. In other words, the L1-RSRP report includes the SSBRI of the configured candidate cells and the corresponding L1-RSRP. The format may be the same as the existing specification.

[0075] In this disclosure, the beam report of Rel. 18 may also be referred to as a type 2-2 beam report or a beam report for cell switching. Note that the type 2-2 beam report does not include PCI information (PCI ID). Instead, the SSBRI may include PCI information. For example, if four cells have 64 SSBs, the SSBRI will be one of {0, 1, ..., 255}.

[0076] (L1 / L2 Inter-Cell Mobility (L1L2-triggered mobility (LTM))) It is being considered that a UE will make UL transmissions to one or more cells / TRPs. In this case, the following Scenario 1 or Scenario 2 is possible. In this disclosure, a serving cell may be interpreted as a TRP within a serving cell. Layer 1 / layer 2 (L1 / L2) and DCI / Medium Access Control Control Element (MAC CE) may be interpreted as mutually exclusive. In this disclosure, a PCI different from the Physical Cell Identity (PCI) of the current serving cell may be simply referred to as a "different PCI". Non-serving cells, cells with different PCIs, and additional cells may be interpreted as mutually exclusive.

[0077] <Scenario 1> Scenario 1 is, for example, a scenario that corresponds to inter-cell mobility in a multi-TRP, but it may also be a scenario that does not correspond to inter-cell mobility in a multi-TRP.

[0078] (1) The UE receives from the serving cell the SSB settings for beam measurement of the TRP corresponding to a PCI different from that of the serving cell, and the settings necessary to use wireless resources for data transmission and reception, including the resources of the different PCI. (2) The UE performs beam measurement of the TRP corresponding to the different PCI and reports the beam measurement results to the serving cell. (3) Based on the above report, the Transmission Configuration Indication (TCI) status associated with the TRP corresponding to the different PCI is activated by L1 / L2 signaling from the serving cell. (4) The UE transmits and receives using a dedicated channel on the TRP corresponding to the different PCI. (5) The UE must always cover the serving cell, including in the case of multiple TRPs. The UE must use a common channel from the serving cell (Broadcast Control Channel (BCCH), Paging Channel (PCH)), etc., as in conventional systems.

[0079] In Scenario 1, when the UE sends and receives signals with the additional cell / TRP (the TRP corresponding to the PCI of the additional cell), the serving cell (the UE's assumption of the serving cell) remains unchanged. The UE sets higher-layer parameters related to the PCI of the non-serving cell from the serving cell. Scenario 1 may be applied, for example, in Rel. 17.

[0080] Figure 4A shows an example of UE movement in Rel. 17. It assumes a UE moving from a PCI#1 cell (serving cell) to a PCI#3 cell (additional cell) (overlapping with the serving cell). In this case, Rel. 17 does not support L1 / L2 switching of serving cells.

[0081] An additional cell is a cell with an additional PCI that is different from the PCI of the serving cell. UEs can receive and transmit UE-dedicated channels from additional cells. UEs need to be within the coverage of the serving cell to receive UE common channels (e.g., system information / paging / short messages). If a UE moves outside the coverage of the serving cell, a cell switch is required, such as through a handover (also called L3 mobility).

[0082] <Scenario 2> In Scenario 2, L1 / L2 cell mobility is applied. With L1 / L2 cell mobility, serving cell changes can be made using functions such as beam control without RRC reconfiguration. In other words, transmission and reception with additional cells are possible without handover. Since handover requires RRC reconnection and other factors, resulting in a period of no data communication, applying L1 / L2 cell mobility that does not require handover allows data communication to continue even when the serving cell is changed. Scenario 2 may be applied, for example, in Rel. 18. In Scenario 2, for example, the following procedure is performed.

[0083] (1) The UE receives the SSB configuration of a cell with a different PCI (additional cell) from the serving cell for beam measurement / serving cell change. (2) The UE performs beam measurement on the cell using the different PCI and reports the measurement results to the serving cell. (3) The UE may receive the configuration of the cell with the different PCI (serving cell configuration) by upper layer signaling (e.g., RRC). In other words, a pre-configuration regarding the serving cell change may be performed. This configuration may be performed together with the configuration in (1) or separately. (4) Based on the above report, the TCI state of the cell with the different PCI may be activated by L1 / L2 signaling in accordance with the serving cell change. The activation of the TCI state and the serving cell change may be performed separately. (5) The UE changes the serving cell (assumed serving cell) and starts receiving / transmitting using the pre-configured UE-specific channel and TCI state.

[0084] In other words, in Scenario 2, the serving cell (the assumed serving cell in the UE) is updated by L1 / L2 signaling. Scenario 2 may also be applied in Rel. 18.

[0085] Figure 4B shows an example of UE movement in Rel. 18. In Rel. 18, serving cells are switched via L1 / L2 (e.g., DCI / MAC CE). UEs can receive / transmit UE-dedicated / common channels to and from the new serving cell (or target serving cell). UEs may move out of coverage of the current serving cell (e.g., Current serving cell).

[0086] (Analysis) In existing systems (e.g., NR), during cell edge handover, the network (NW) had to send information about RRC reconfiguration to the UE, which then had to perform RRC configuration switching, initial access (e.g., UL / DL synchronization), beam management, etc. During the period in which these operations were performed, there was an interruption time during which the UE could not communicate, resulting in a decrease in communication throughput.

[0087] Furthermore, in existing systems, procedures / methods have been specified that allow for the pre-configuration of multiple candidate cells, as described above with LTM, eliminating the need to transmit information regarding RRC reconfiguration. However, changes to higher layers in the UE still require modification time.

[0088] In future wireless communication systems (e.g., 6G), efforts are being made to reduce the transmission of RRC reconfiguration information and handovers that involve changes to higher layers.

[0089] However, specific methods for reducing handovers involving the transmission of RRC reconfiguration information and changes at higher layers have not been sufficiently considered. Without sufficient consideration, such handovers may not be reduced, potentially leading to a decrease in communication throughput.

[0090] Therefore, the inventors conceived of the following embodiments.

[0091] The embodiments of this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Each wireless communication method according to the embodiments may be applied individually or in combination.

[0092] (Various substitutions) In this disclosure, words enclosed in parentheses () may indicate an explanation of the preceding word (e.g., an explanation of spelling), a paraphrase, a specific example, or supplementary explanation. Also, in this disclosure, words enclosed in square brackets ([]) may be interpreted as part of the overall meaning of the text, or they may be interpreted as being excluded (ignored). Note that parentheses () and square brackets ([]) may be used for purposes / meanings other than those described above.

[0093] In this disclosure, "A / B" and "at least one of A and B" may be interpreted as mutually exclusive. In this disclosure, "A / B / C" may mean "at least one of A, B, and C".

[0094] In this disclosure, terms such as notice, activate, deactivate, indicate (or specify), select, configure, update, and determine may be interpreted interchangeably. In this disclosure, terms such as support, control, controllable, operate, and capable of operating may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0095] In this disclosure, Radio Resource Control (RRC), RRC parameters, RRC messages, higher-layer parameters, fields, Information Elements (IE), settings, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably. In this disclosure, Medium Access Control elements (MAC Control Elements (CE)), update commands, activation / deactivation commands, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0096] In this disclosure, the upper layer signaling may be any or a combination thereof, such as Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling, broadcast information, and other messages (e.g., messages from the core network, such as positioning protocol messages (e.g., NR Positioning Protocol A (NRPPPa) / LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP)) messages).

[0097] In this disclosure, MAC signaling may include, for example, MAC Control Elements (MAC CEs) and MAC Protocol Data Units (PDUs). Broadcast information may include, for example, Master Information Blocks (MIBs), System Information Blocks (SIBs), Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSIs), and Other System Information (OSIs).

[0098] In this disclosure, physical layer signaling may include, for example, Downlink Control Information (DCI) and Uplink Control Information (UCI).

[0099] In this disclosure, terms such as index, identifier (ID), indicator, and resource ID may be interpreted interchangeably. In this disclosure, terms such as sequence, list, set, group, cluster, subset, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0100] In this disclosure, the terms used include: panel, UE panel, panel group, beam, beam group, precoder, Uplink (UL) transmit entity, Transmission / Reception Point (TRP), base station, Spatial Relation Information (SRI), spatial relationship, SRS Resource Indicator (SRI), Control Resource Set (CORESET), Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), Codeword (CW), Transport Block (TB), Reference Signal (RS), Antenna port (e.g., Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) port), Antenna port group (e.g., DMRS port group), Group (e.g., Spatial relationship group, Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) group, Reference Signal group, CORESET group, Physical Uplink Control The following terms may be interchangeable: Channel (PUCCH) group, PUCCH resource group), resource (e.g., reference signal resource, SRS resource), resource set (e.g., reference signal resource set), CORESET pool, downlink Transmission Configuration Indication state (TCI state) (DL TCI state), uplink TCI state (UL TCI state), unified TCI state, common TCI state, quasi-co-location (QCL), QCL assumption, etc.

[0101] In this disclosure, base station, gNB, and network (NW) may be interpreted as interchangeable.

[0102] In this disclosure, cell group, serving cell group, master cell group (MCG), and secondary cell group (SCG) may be interpreted interchangeably. L1 / L2, L1 / L2 signaling, and DCI / MAC CE may be interpreted interchangeably. A serving cell may be replaced with a cell that transmits PDSCH. A candidate cell may mean a cell that is a candidate to become a serving cell through L1 / L2 inter-cell mobility. L1 / L2-triggered mobility (LTM) and L1 / L2 inter-cell mobility may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0103] In this disclosure, cell, PCI, serving cell, source serving cell, source cell, CC, BWP, BWP within CC, and band may be interpreted interchangeably. In this disclosure, cell, PCI, cell with additional PCI, additional cell, other cell, non-serving cell, cell with a different PCI, candidate cell, candidate serving cell, cell with a PCI different from the current serving cell's PCI, another serving cell, and target cell may be interpreted interchangeably. A target cell may be a cell selected from among several candidate cells. In this disclosure, switch, change, and update may be interpreted interchangeably. A serving cell may be interpreted as a serving cell before a switch or a serving cell after a switch.

[0104] In this disclosure, the terms "cell with a fixed physical range," "cell that does not change," "first cell," "DU," "supercell," "cell," "macrocell," "large cell," "maincell," etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0105] In this disclosure, terms such as a cell whose physical range changes quasi-statically / dynamically based on conditions, a modified cell, a second cell, a cell, an area, a microcell, a small cell, a second cell within a first cell, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0106] In each embodiment of the present disclosure, "DU" may mean (or be interpreted as) a first cell, and in this case, "cell" in each embodiment of the present disclosure may mean (or be interpreted as) a second cell.

[0107] Furthermore, the term "cell" in each embodiment of this disclosure may mean (or be interpreted as) the first cell.

[0108] In the network (NW) configuration described herein, the DU / CU / RU can be appropriately changed to the NW configuration in ORAN (for example, O-DU / O-CU / O-RU).

[0109] In this disclosure, handover, handover as defined in Rel. 15, CHO, DAPS handover, LTM, and cell switching may be interpreted as interchangeable.

[0110] In this disclosure, beam switching, ICBM, and beam switching without handover may be interpreted as mutually exclusive.

[0111] In this disclosure, serving cell, supercell, serving supercell, PCI, serving PCI, PCI set, serving PCI set, sub-PCI set, serving sub-PCI set, SSB set, serving SSB set, TRP set, serving TRP set, PCI cluster, serving PCI cluster, sub-PCI cluster, serving sub-PCI cluster, SSB cluster, serving SSB cluster, TRP cluster, serving TRP cluster, etc. may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0112] In this disclosure, SSB, SSB index, TRP, TRP index, RS, RS index, beam, beam index, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0113] (Wireless communication method) In each of the following embodiments, a method for reducing the range requiring upper-layer signaling in handover operations to settings / cells having different PCIs will be described.

[0114] In this disclosure, the term "serving cell" may mean a range that does not require / use the transmission / reception of RRC reconfiguration messages / signals during handover. The term "serving cell" may also be interpreted as "cluster."

[0115] The above method may follow at least one of the following options: • Option X: Modify the definition of one serving cell to logically reduce the range requiring upper-layer signaling. • Option Y: Do not modify the definition of one serving cell to physically reduce the range requiring upper-layer signaling. • Option Z: Do not modify the definition of one serving cell to modify the handover behavior to physically reduce the range requiring upper-layer signaling.

[0116] The above option X may conform to at least one of the following options: • Option X1: One serving cell contains multiple PCIs. • Option X2: One serving cell contains multiple sub-PCIs.

[0117] Each of the following embodiments may be applied to at least one of the intra-frequency, intra-DU, and intra-CU, or to any [only] of the intra-frequency, intra-DU, and intra-CU.

[0118] Each of the following embodiments may be implemented in at least one of the control plane (C plane) and the user plane (U plane), or in either the C plane or the U plane [only].

[0119] <First Embodiment> The first embodiment relates to the above-mentioned option X1.

[0120] As shown in Figure 5, a serving cell may correspond to a single supercell, or it may include multiple PCIs (which may also be called PCI sets, PCI clusters, etc.). The settings for the serving cell (hereinafter also referred to as serving cell settings) may include these multiple PCIs. In this embodiment, the terms serving cell and supercell may be interchangeable.

[0121] As shown in Figure 5, the UE may receive multiple SSBs in the serving cell (e.g., SSBs #1 / #2 / #3 in supercell #1, and SSBs #4 / #5 / #6 in supercell #2). Each SSB may be configured / associated with one PCI.

[0122] <<Higher Layer Settings>> A serving cell setting (which may be called a supercell setting in this embodiment) including settings for multiple PCIs may be transmitted from the NW to the UE. The UE may retain the serving cell setting [until the serving cell is switched to another supercell].

[0123] <<<Option 1-A>>> Each of the above PCI settings may conform to at least one of the following options: Option 1-A1: Each PCI setting includes at least one of the following: a setting common to multiple PCIs [within the serving cell] and a setting specific to each of the multiple PCIs [within the serving cell]. Option 1-A2: Each PCI setting includes only the setting specific to each of the multiple PCIs [within the serving cell].

[0124] The settings for each PCI in Option 1-A1 / 1-A2 may be the same [between different PCIs], or they may differ in at least some respects.

[0125] At least one of the following may differ between PCI configurations: SSB, Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI), and Scrambling ID. Parameters / information other than SSB / RNTI / Scrambling ID may also differ between PCI configurations. These differing parameters / information may be defined by the specification or determined based on UE capability.

[0126] The maximum number of PCIs that can be included in a serving cell configuration may be one or more (two or more). The maximum number of PCIs that can be included in a serving cell configuration may be determined by RRC signaling, notified / announced by MIB / SIB, defined by specification, or determined based on UE capability.

[0127] Option 1-A can suppress the increase in RRC signaling overhead.

[0128] <<<Option 1-B>>> At least one of the PCI and PCI-specific settings included in the serving cell configuration may be updated by RRC signaling or activated / deactivated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0129] According to Option 1-B, the size of the serving cell can be flexibly switched as needed.

[0130] <<Relationship between PCI and SSB>> Each PCI [within the Serving Cell [Settings]] may be assigned (corresponded to) one SSB.

[0131] <<<Option 1-C1>>> The above single SSB may also mean a set of X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] (where X is an integer greater than or equal to 1) (Option 1-C1).

[0132] In option 1-C1, if the serving cell contains N PCIs, X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] may be assigned to each of the N PCIs.

[0133] In Option 1-C1, X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] assigned to the same PCI may have the same PSS / SSS and may be transmitted on different resources.

[0134] In Option 1-C1, the PSS / SSS values ​​of X SSB indexes [corresponding to X SSBs] may differ between different PCIs. For example, the PSS / SSS values ​​of X SSB indexes [corresponding to X SSBs] assigned to a first PCI may differ from the PSS / SSS values ​​of X SSB indexes [corresponding to X SSBs] assigned to a second PCI.

[0135] In Option 1-C1, at least one of the following may be defined by the specification or reported as a UE capability: the maximum number of PCIs per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number of N above), the maximum number of SSBs [indexes] assigned to a single PCI (e.g., the maximum number of X above), and the maximum number of SSB indexes per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number obtained by multiplying N and X above (i.e., N × X)).

[0136] <<<Option 1-C2>>> Alternatively, the above single SSB may mean one SSB index [corresponding to at least one SSB] out of the Y SSB indices [corresponding to Y SSBs] set for the serving cell (Y is an integer of 1 or more) (Option 1-C2).

[0137] In option 1-C2, if the serving cell contains N PCIs, each of the N PCIs may be assigned one of the Y SSB indexes [corresponding to Y SSBs] set for the serving cell.

[0138] In Option 1-C2, SSB indices [corresponding to SSBs] assigned to different PCIs may be transmitted on different resources.

[0139] In Option 1-C2, SSB indices [corresponding SSBs] assigned to different (multiple) PCIs may have different PSS / SSS values. For example, the PSS / SSS value of a first SSB index [corresponding first SSB] assigned to a first PCI may be different from the PSS / SSS value of a second SSB index [corresponding second SSB] assigned to a second PCI.

[0140] In Option 1-C2, at least one of the following may be defined by the specification or reported as a UE capability: the maximum number of PCIs per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number of N above) and the maximum number of SSB indexes per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number of Y above).

[0141] <<<PCI Identification>>> In Option 1-C1 / 1-C2, the UE may identify / determine the PCI corresponding to a single SSB based on that SSB. For example, the UE may identify / determine the PCI corresponding to a single SSB based on the synchronization signals (e.g., PSS / SSS) [sequence] that the SSB has.

[0142] For example, in Option 1-C1, the PCI corresponding to the set of X SSB indexes [X SSBs corresponding to X SSBs] may be identified / determined based on the PSS / SSS [series of PSS] possessed by at least one SSB index [at least one SSB] included in the set of X SSB indexes [X SSBs corresponding to X SSBs].

[0143] For example, in Option 1-C2, the PCI corresponding to one SSB index [corresponding to one SSB] [the PSS / SSS [series] that SSB index [corresponding to one SSB]] among the Y SSB indexes [corresponding to Y SSBs] set for the serving cell may be identified / determined based on that one SSB index [corresponding to one SSB].

[0144] By defining the correspondence between PCI and SSB, the UE can identify / specify PCI within the serving cell.

[0145] <<Identification of Serving Cells>> The UE may identify / specify serving cells (e.g., supercells) based on a specific index (e.g., an index relating to supercells).

[0146] The specific index described above may be set according to predetermined rules [based on PCI], or it may be set [specifically for the serving cell] by upper-layer signaling.

[0147] If the above-mentioned specific index is set according to the above-mentioned predetermined rules, the above-mentioned specific index may be set based on the minimum / maximum PCI included in the above-mentioned serving cell.

[0148] The UE can appropriately identify / specify serving cells based on the specific index mentioned above.

[0149] <<Initial Access Action>> The UE may follow at least one of the following options 1-D1 and 1-D2.

[0150] <<<Option 1-D1>>> The UE may measure / detect one SSB included in the serving cell [configuration] and perform an initial access operation. After performing the initial access operation, the UE may configure / notify / announce other SSBs / PCIs via RRC signaling / MIB / SIB.

[0151] For example, a UE may measure / detect one SSB included in a serving cell [configuration] and use the measured / detected SSB to establish an RRC connection. Based on the measurement / detection of the SSB, the UE may determine / determine / derive / identify one PCI corresponding to that SSB. After determining / determine / derive / identify the PCI, the UE may configure / notify / report other SSBs / PCIs corresponding to the same serving cell [configuration] as the above SSB / PCI via RRC signaling / MIB / SIB. The number of the above other SSBs / PCIs may be defined by specification, notified / reported by MIB / SIB, or configured by RRC signaling.

[0152] <<<Option 1-D2>>> The UE may measure / detect sets of SSBs corresponding to the same / different PCIs contained in the serving cell [configuration] and perform initial access operations.

[0153] For example, the UE may measure / detect sets of SSBs corresponding to the same / different PCIs contained in a serving cell [configuration] and use the measured / detected set of SSBs to make an RRC connection. Based on the measurement / detection of the set of SSBs, the UE may determine / determine / derive / identify / identify one or more PCIs corresponding to the set of SSBs.

[0154] <<Measurement / Reporting Operation>> In the case of measurement / reporting within a serving cell (e.g., beam measurement / reporting within a serving cell), the measurement of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) corresponding to multiple PCIs included in a single serving cell configuration may be configured in a single information element / configuration (e.g., CSI reporting configuration for beam measurement / reporting within a serving cell). The UE may also report the measurement results of the multiple RSs in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) based on that single information element / configuration.

[0155] In the case of inter-serving cell measurement / reporting (e.g., inter-serving cell beam measurement / reporting), measurements of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) [corresponding to multiple PCIs] included in multiple serving cell [configurations] set up by RRC signaling may be configured in a single information element / configuration (e.g., a CSI reporting configuration [for inter-serving cell beam measurement / reporting]). The UE may also report the measurement results of these multiple RSs in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) [based on that single information element / configuration].

[0156] The information element / settings in which measurements / reports are configured within a serving cell and the information element / settings in which measurements / reports are configured between serving cells may be the same information element / setting. That is, at least one of the measurements of a first set of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) corresponding to multiple PCIs contained in a single serving cell [setting] and the measurements of a set of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) [corresponding to multiple PCIs] contained in multiple serving cells [settings] configured by RRC signaling may be configured in a single information element / setting (e.g., CSI reporting setting). Furthermore, the UE may report at least one of the first set of multiple RSs [measurement results] and the second set of multiple RSs [measurement results] in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) [based on the single information element / setting].

[0157] <<Handover Operation>> Based on lower-layer signaling (e.g., MAC CE / DCI) transmitted from the NW indicating the beam / TRP / PCI / TCI status, the UE may switch the connected PCI (hereinafter also referred to as the serving PCI) to a different PCI in the same / different serving cell.

[0158] In the case of a handover within a serving cell, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple PCIs contained within the serving cell may be set in a single information element / configuration. The UE may switch the serving PCI to the specific PCI associated with a particular TRP / TCI state if that particular TRP / TCI state in the list is indicated by the MAC CE / DCI.

[0159] In the case of a handover between serving cells, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple serving cells, as configured by RRC signaling, may be set in multiple information elements / settings. For example, a first list of TRP / TCI states associated with a first serving cell (e.g., the current serving cell (i.e., the serving cell before the handover)) may be set in a first information element / setting, and a second list of TRP / TCI states associated with a second serving cell (e.g., the serving cell after the handover) may be set in a second information element / setting. The UE may switch the serving PCI to a specific PCI associated with a particular TRP / TCI state if that particular TRP / TCI state in the first / second list is indicated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0160] In the case of a handover between serving cells, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple serving cells, configured by RRC signaling, may be set in a single information element / configuration. The UE may switch the serving PCI to the specific PCI associated with a particular TRP / TCI state if a specific TRP / TCI state in that list (for example, a TRP / TCI state associated with a serving cell after a handover) is indicated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0161] According to the first embodiment described above, the UE can appropriately perform each operation / process when a single serving cell contains multiple PCIs. Furthermore, the frequency of handovers can be reduced compared to existing systems.

[0162] <Second Embodiment> The second embodiment relates to option X2 described above.

[0163] As shown in Figure 6, a serving cell may correspond to a single PCI, or it may include multiple sub-PCIs (which may also be called a sub-PCI set, sub-PCI cluster, etc.). The serving cell configuration may include these multiple sub-PCIs. In this embodiment, the terms "serving cell" and "PCI" may be interchangeable.

[0164] As shown in Figure 6, the UE may receive multiple SSBs in the serving cell (e.g., SSBs #1 / #2 / #3 for PCI #1, and SSBs #4 / #5 / #6 for PCI #2). Each SSB may be configured / associated with one sub-PCI.

[0165] <<Higher Layer Settings>> A serving cell setting, including settings for multiple sub-PCIs, may be sent from the network to the user interface (UE). The UE may retain the serving cell setting [until the serving cell is switched to a cell corresponding to another PCI].

[0166] <<<Option 2-A>>> Each of the above sub-PCI settings may conform to at least one of the following options: Option 2-A1: Each sub-PCI setting includes at least one of the following: a setting common to all sub-PCIs within the serving cell, and a setting specific to each of the sub-PCIs within the serving cell. Option 2-A2: Each sub-PCI setting includes only the setting specific to each of the sub-PCIs within the serving cell.

[0167] The settings for each sub-PCI in Option 2-A1 / 2-A2 may be the same [between different sub-PCIs], or they may differ in at least some respects.

[0168] At least one of the SSB, RNTI, and Scrambling ID may differ between the configurations of each sub-PCI. Parameters / information other than SSB / RNTI / Scrambling ID may also differ between the configurations of each sub-PCI. Parameters / information that differ between the configurations of each sub-PCI may be defined by the specification or determined based on UE capability.

[0169] The maximum number of sub-PCIs that can be included in a serving cell configuration may be one or more (two or more). The maximum number of sub-PCIs that can be included in a serving cell configuration may be set by RRC signaling, notified / announced by MIB / SIB, defined by specification, or determined based on UE capability.

[0170] Option 2-A can suppress the increase in RRC signaling overhead.

[0171] <<<Option 2-B>>> At least one of the sub-PCIs and sub-PCI settings included in the serving cell configuration may be updated by RRC signaling or activated / deactivated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0172] According to option 2-B, the size of the serving cell can be flexibly switched as needed.

[0173] <<Relationship between SubPCI and SSB>> Each SubPCI [within the Serving Cell [Settings]] may be assigned (or correspond to) one SSB.

[0174] <<<Option 2-C1>>> The above single SSB may also mean a set of X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] (where X is an integer greater than or equal to 1) (Option 2-C1).

[0175] In option 2-C1, if the serving cell contains N sub-PCIs, X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] may be assigned to each of the N sub-PCIs.

[0176] In Option 2-C1, X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] assigned to the same (single) sub-PCI may have the same PSS / SSS and may be transmitted on different resources.

[0177] In Option 2-C1, the PSS / SSS values ​​of X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] may differ between different sub-PCIs. For example, the PSS / SSS values ​​of X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] assigned to a first sub-PCI may differ from the PSS / SSS values ​​of X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] assigned to a second sub-PCI.

[0178] In Option 2-C1, at least one of the following may be defined by the specification or reported as a UE capability: the maximum number of sub-PCIs per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number of N above), the maximum number of SSBs [indexes] assigned to one sub-PCI (e.g., the maximum number of X above), or the maximum number of SSB indexes per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number obtained by multiplying N and X above (i.e., N × X)).

[0179] <<<Option 2-C2>>> Alternatively, the above single SSB may mean one SSB index [corresponding to at least one SSB] out of the Y SSB indices [corresponding to Y SSBs] set for the serving cell (Y is an integer of 1 or more) (Option 2-C2).

[0180] In option 2-C2, if the serving cell contains N sub-PCIs, each of the N sub-PCIs may be assigned one SSB index [corresponding to one SSB] from the Y SSB indexes [corresponding to Y SSBs] set for the serving cell.

[0181] In Option 2-C2, SSB indices [corresponding to SSBs] assigned to different (multiple) sub-PCIs may be transmitted on different resources.

[0182] In Option 2-C2, SSB indices [corresponding SSBs] assigned to different (multiple) sub-PCIs may have different PSS / SSS values. For example, the PSS / SSS value of a first SSB index [corresponding to a first SSB] assigned to a first sub-PCI may be different from the PSS / SSS value of a second SSB index [corresponding to a second SSB] assigned to a second sub-PCI.

[0183] In Option 2-C2, at least one of the following may be defined by the specification or reported as a UE capability: the maximum number of sub-PCIs per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number of N above) and the maximum number of SSB indexes per serving cell (e.g., the maximum number of Y above).

[0184] <<<Identification of Sub-PCIs>>> In Option 2-C1 / 2-C2, the UE may identify / determine the PCI corresponding to a single SSB based on that SSB. For example, the UE may identify / determine the sub-PCI corresponding to a single SSB based on the synchronization signals (e.g., PSS / SSS) [sequence] that the SSB has.

[0185] For example, in Option 2-C1, the sub-PCI corresponding to the set of X SSB indexes [X SSBs corresponding to X SSBs] may be identified / determined based on the PSS / SSS [series of PSSs] possessed by at least one SSB index [at least one SSB] included in the set of X SSB indexes [X SSBs corresponding to X SSBs].

[0186] For example, in Option 2-C2, the sub-PCI corresponding to one SSB index [corresponding to one SSB] [the PSS / SSS [series] that SSB index has] may be identified / determined based on one SSB index [corresponding to one SSB] among the Y SSB indexes [corresponding to Y SSBs] set for the serving cell.

[0187] By defining the correspondence between sub-PCIs and SSBs, the UE can identify / specify sub-PCIs within the serving cell.

[0188] <<Identification of Sub-PCIs>> The UE may identify / specify sub-PCIs based on a specific index (e.g., an index relating to sub-PCIs).

[0189] The specific index mentioned above may be a unique index within the serving cell.

[0190] Alternatively, the specific index mentioned above may be a unique index outside of the serving cell (i.e., a unique index across multiple serving cells).

[0191] The UE can appropriately identify / specify sub-PCIs based on the specific index mentioned above.

[0192] <<Initial Access Action>> The UE may follow at least one of the following options 2-D1 to 2-D3.

[0193] <<<Option 2-D1>>> The UE may measure / detect one SSB included in the serving cell [configuration] and perform an initial access operation. After performing the initial access operation, the UE may configure / notify / announce other SSBs / subPCIs via RRC signaling / MIB / SIB.

[0194] For example, a UE may measure / detect one SSB included in a serving cell [configuration] and make an RRC connection using the measured / detected SSB. Based on the measurement / detection of the SSB, the UE may determine / decide / derive / specify / identify one subPCI corresponding to the SSB. After determining / deciding / deriving / specifying / identifying the subPCI, the UE may configure / notify / report other SSBs / subPCIs corresponding to the same serving cell [configuration] as the above SSB / subPCI via RRC signaling / MIB / SIB. The number of the above other SSBs / subPCIs may be defined by specification, notified / reported by MIB / SIB, or configured by RRC signaling.

[0195] <<<Option 2-D2>>> The UE may measure / detect sets of SSBs corresponding to the same / different sub-PCIs contained in the serving cell [configuration] and perform initial access operations.

[0196] For example, the UE may measure / detect sets of SSBs corresponding to the same / different sub-PCIs contained in the serving cell [configuration] and use the measured / detected sets of SSBs to make an RRC connection. Based on the measurement / detection of the set of SSBs, the UE may determine / determine / derive / identify / identify one or more sub-PCIs corresponding to the set of SSBs.

[0197] <<<Option 2-D3>>> The UE may measure / detect one SSB [without considering sub-PCI] and perform initial access operations.

[0198] For example, a UE may measure / detect one SSB [without considering sub-PCIs] and make an RRC connection using the measured / detected SSB. Based on the measurement / detection of the SSB, the UE may determine / determine / derive / identify / specify one PCI corresponding to that SSB. After determining / determine / derive / identify / specify the PCI, the UE may configure / notify / inform about other SSBs / sub-PCIs corresponding to the same serving cell [configuration] as the above SSB / PCI via RRC signaling / MIB / SIB. The above PCI may be different from any of the sub-PCIs corresponding to the same serving cell [configuration], or it may be the same as any of the sub-PCIs corresponding to the same serving cell [configuration].

[0199] <<Measurement / Reporting Operation>> In the case of measurement / reporting within a serving cell (e.g., beam measurement / reporting within a serving cell), the measurement of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) corresponding to multiple sub-PCIs included in a single serving cell configuration may be configured in a single information element / configuration (e.g., CSI reporting configuration for beam measurement / reporting within a serving cell). The UE may also report the measurement results of the multiple RSs in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) based on that single information element / configuration.

[0200] In the case of inter-serving cell measurement / reporting (e.g., inter-serving cell beam measurement / reporting), measurements of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) [corresponding to multiple sub-PCIs] included in multiple serving cell [configurations] set up by RRC signaling may be configured in a single information element / configuration (e.g., a CSI reporting configuration [for inter-serving cell beam measurement / reporting]). The UE may also report the measurement results of these multiple RSs in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) [based on that single information element / configuration].

[0201] The information element / settings in which measurements / reports are set within a serving cell and the information element / settings in which measurements / reports are set between serving cells may be the same information element / setting. That is, at least one of the measurements of a first set of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) corresponding to multiple sub-PCIs contained in a single serving cell [setting] and the measurements of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) [corresponding to multiple sub-PCIs] contained in multiple serving cells [settings] configured by RRC signaling may be set in a single information element / setting (e.g., CSI reporting setting). Furthermore, the UE may report at least one of the first set of multiple RSs [measurement results] and the second set of multiple RSs [measurement results] in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) [based on the single information element / setting].

[0202] <<Handover Operation>> Based on lower-layer signaling (e.g., MAC CE / DCI) transmitted from the NW indicating the beam / TRP / PCI / TCI status, the UE may switch the connected sub-PCI (hereinafter also referred to as the serving sub-PCI) to a different sub-PCI within the same / different serving cell.

[0203] In the case of a handover within a serving cell, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple sub-PCIs contained within the serving cell may be set in a single information element / setting. The UE may switch the serving sub-PCI to the specific sub-PCI associated with a particular TRP / TCI state in that list if that particular TRP / TCI state is indicated by the MAC CE / DCI.

[0204] In the case of a handover between serving cells, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple serving cells, configured by RRC signaling, may be set in multiple information elements / settings. For example, a first list of TRP / TCI states associated with a first serving cell (e.g., the current serving cell (i.e., the serving cell before the handover)) may be set in a first information element / setting, and a second list of TRP / TCI states associated with a second serving cell (e.g., the serving cell after the handover) may be set in a second information element / setting. The UE may switch the serving subPCI to a specific subPCI associated with a particular TRP / TCI state if that particular TRP / TCI state in the first / second list is indicated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0205] In the case of a handover between serving cells, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple serving cells, configured by RRC signaling, may be set in a single information element / configuration. The UE may switch the serving subPCI to the specific subPCI associated with a particular TRP / TCI state in that list (for example, a TRP / TCI state associated with a serving cell after a handover) if indicated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0206] According to the second embodiment described above, the UE can appropriately perform each operation / process when one serving cell corresponds to one PCI and includes multiple sub-PCIs. Furthermore, it can reduce the frequency of handovers compared to existing systems.

[0207] <Third Embodiment> The third embodiment relates to option Y described above.

[0208] As shown in Figure 7, a serving cell may correspond to one PCI. A serving cell configuration may include one PCI. In this embodiment, the terms "serving cell" and "PCI" may be interchangeable.

[0209] A certain number of SSB indexes [having the same PSS / SSS] may be set up / associated with a single PCI. This certain number may be the maximum number of SSB indexes per PCI in existing systems (e.g., Rel. 19 or earlier) (e.g., 64).

[0210] In this embodiment, a serving cell may include multiple SSB sets / TRP sets. Furthermore, the serving cell configuration may include the configuration of multiple SSB sets / TRP sets. Each SSB set / TRP set may include one or more SSBs / TRPs corresponding to a specific number or more SSB indices within the serving cell. The number of SSBs / TRPs included in an SSB set / TRP set may be common across multiple (different) SSB sets / TRP sets within the serving cell, or it may be set for each SSB set / TRP set within the serving cell.

[0211] <<Higher Layer Settings>> A serving cell configuration, including settings for multiple SSB sets / TRP sets, may be sent from the network to the user interface (UE). The UE may retain this serving cell configuration [until the serving cell is switched to a cell corresponding to another PCI].

[0212] In this embodiment, the SSB set may mean a set of one or more SSB indices [or one or more SSBs corresponding to one or more PCIs] that correspond to the same PCI. Also, in this embodiment, the TRP set may mean a set of one or more TRPs that correspond to the same PCI.

[0213] <<<Option 3-A>>> Each of the above SSB set / TRP set settings may conform to at least one of the following options: ・Option 3-A1: Each SSB set / TRP set setting includes at least one of the following: a setting common to multiple SSB sets / TRP sets [within the serving cell] and a setting specific to each of the multiple SSB sets / TRP sets [within the serving cell]. ・Option 3-A2: Each SSB set / TRP set setting includes [only] a setting specific to each of the multiple SSB sets / TRP sets [within the serving cell].

[0214] The settings for each SSB set / TRP set in Options 3-A1 / 3-A2 may be the same [between different SSB sets / TRP sets], or at least partially different.

[0215] At least one of the following may differ between the SSB set / TRP set configurations: the index for the SSB set (hereinafter also referred to as the SSB set index), the index for the TRP set (hereinafter also referred to as the TRP set index), RNTI, and the scrambling ID. Parameters / information other than SSB / RNTI / scrambling ID may also differ between the SSB set / TRP set configurations. Parameters / information that differ between the SSB set / TRP set configurations may be defined by the specification or determined based on UE capability.

[0216] The maximum number of SSB sets / TRP sets that can be included in a serving cell configuration may be one or more (two or more). The maximum number of SSB sets / TRP sets that can be included in a serving cell configuration may be set by RRC signaling, notified / announced by MIB / SIB, defined by specifications, or determined based on UE capabilities.

[0217] Option 3-A can suppress the increase in RRC signaling overhead.

[0218] <<<Option 3-B>>> The number of SSB sets / TRP sets included in the serving cell configuration may be updated by RRC signaling. Additionally, the SSB set index / TRP set index and the corresponding SSB sets / TRP sets may be activated / deactivated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0219] According to option 3-B, the size of the serving cell can be flexibly switched as needed.

[0220] <<Relationship between PCI and SSB>> One PCI [corresponding to a serving cell] may be assigned (corresponded to) one SSB.

[0221] The above single SSB may also mean a set of X SSB indices [corresponding to X SSBs] (where X is an integer greater than or equal to the specified number above).

[0222] The above X SSB indexes [corresponding to X SSBs] may have the same PSS / SSS and may be transmitted on different resources.

[0223] By defining the correspondence between PCI and SSB, the UE can identify / specify the PCI of a serving cell.

[0224] <<Identification of SSB sets / TRP sets>> The UE may identify / specify SSB sets / TRP sets based on a specific index (e.g., an SSB set index / TRP set index).

[0225] The above-mentioned specific index may be set according to predetermined rules [based on the SSB index / TRP index], or it may be set [specifically for the above-mentioned SSB set / TRP set] by upper-layer signaling.

[0226] If the above-mentioned specific index is set according to the above-mentioned predetermined rules, the above-mentioned specific index may be set based on the smallest / largest SSB index / TRP index included in the above-mentioned SSB set / TRP set.

[0227] The UE can appropriately identify / specify serving cells based on the specific index mentioned above.

[0228] <<Initial Access Action>> The UE may follow at least one of the following options 3-C1 and 3-C2.

[0229] <<<Option 3-C1>>> The UE may measure / detect one SSB included in the serving cell [configuration] and perform an initial access operation. After performing the initial access operation, the UE may configure / notify / announce other SSBs via RRC signaling / MIB / SIB.

[0230] <<<Option 3-C2>>> The UE may measure / detect the SSB set corresponding to the same PCI included in the serving cell [configuration] and perform the initial access operation.

[0231] <<Measurement / Reporting Operation>> In the case of measurement / reporting within a serving cell (e.g., beam measurement / reporting within a serving cell), the measurement of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) corresponding to multiple SSB sets / TRP sets included in one serving cell setting may be configured in one information element / setting (e.g., CSI reporting setting for beam measurement / reporting within a serving cell). The UE may also report the measurement results of the multiple RSs in one reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) based on that one information element / setting.

[0232] In the case of inter-serving cell measurement / reporting (e.g., inter-serving cell beam measurement / reporting), measurements of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) [corresponding to multiple SSB sets / TRP sets] included in multiple serving cell [settings] configured by RRC signaling may be configured in a single information element / setting (e.g., a CSI reporting setting [for inter-serving cell beam measurement / reporting]). The UE may also report the measurement results of these multiple RSs in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) [based on that single information element / setting].

[0233] The information element / settings in which measurements / reports are set within a serving cell and the information element / settings in which measurements / reports are set between serving cells may be the same information element / setting. In other words, at least one of the measurements of a first set of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) corresponding to multiple SSB sets / TRP sets contained in a single serving cell [setting] and the measurements of multiple RSs (e.g., CSI-RS) [corresponding to multiple SSB sets / TRP sets] contained in multiple serving cells [settings] set by RRC signaling may be set in a single information element / setting (e.g., CSI reporting setting). Furthermore, the UE may report at least one of the first set of multiple RSs [measurement results] and the second set of multiple RSs [measurement results] in a single reporting instance (e.g., UCI / PUCCH / PUSCH) based on that single information element / setting.

[0234] <<Handover Operation>> Based on lower-layer signaling (e.g., MAC CE / DCI) transmitted from the NW indicating the beam / TRP / PCI / TCI status, the UE may switch the connected SSB set / TRP set (hereinafter also referred to as the serving SSB set / TRP set) to a different SSB set / TRP set in the same / different serving cell.

[0235] In the case of a handover within a serving cell, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple SSB sets / TRP sets contained within the serving cell may be set in a single information element / configuration. The UE may switch the serving SSB set / TRP set to the specific SSB set / TRP set associated with the specific TRP / TCI state if a particular TRP / TCI state in that list is indicated by the MAC CE / DCI.

[0236] In the case of a handover between serving cells, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple serving cells, configured by RRC signaling, may be set in multiple information elements / settings. For example, a first list of TRP / TCI states associated with a first serving cell (e.g., the current serving cell (i.e., the serving cell before the handover)) may be set in a first information element / setting, and a second list of TRP / TCI states associated with a second serving cell (e.g., the serving cell after the handover) may be set in a second information element / setting. The UE may switch the serving SSB set / TRP set to a specific SSB set / TRP set associated with a particular TRP / TCI state if a specific TRP / TCI state in the first / second list is indicated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0237] In the case of a handover between serving cells, a list of TRP / TCI states associated with multiple serving cells, configured by RRC signaling, may be set in a single information element / configuration. The UE may switch the serving SSB set / TRP set to a specific SSB set / TRP set associated with a particular TRP / TCI state in that list (for example, a TRP / TCI state associated with a serving cell after a handover) if indicated by MAC CE / DCI.

[0238] According to the third embodiment described above, the UE can appropriately perform each operation / process when one serving cell corresponds to one PCI and includes multiple SSB sets / TRP sets. Furthermore, since the coverage of each cell can be increased compared to existing systems, the frequency of handovers can be reduced.

[0239] <Fourth Embodiment> The fourth embodiment relates to option Z described above.

[0240] In this embodiment, a serving cell may correspond to one PCI. A serving cell configuration may include one PCI. In this embodiment, a serving cell and a PCI may be interchangeable.

[0241] A specific number of SSB indexes [having the same PSS / SSS] may be set up / associated with a single PCI. This specific number may be less than or equal to the maximum number of SSB indexes per PCI in existing systems (e.g., Rel. 19 and earlier) (e.g., 64).

[0242] <<Upper Layer Settings>> Serving cell settings, including settings for multiple candidate cells, may be sent from the network to the user interface (UE).

[0243] <<Initial Access Procedure>> The UE may perform the initial access procedure according to the initial access procedure of the existing system described above.

[0244] <<Measurement / Reporting Operation>> The UE may perform measurement / reporting operations (e.g., CSI measurement / reporting) in accordance with the beam reporting procedures in the existing system described above.

[0245] <<Handover Operation>> When LTM [Switching] is set / instructed, the UE may decode / apply the RRC settings for the target cell (the serving cell after switching) without releasing / discarding the RRC settings for the source cell (the serving cell before switching) (in other words, while retaining the RRC settings for the source cell). The RRC settings for the target cell may also be decoded / applied before LTM [Switching] is set / instructed.

[0246] The maximum number of RRC entities / RRC settings that a UE can maintain may be determined by RRC signaling, defined by specifications, or determined based on UE capabilities.

[0247] For example, Figure 8 shows the switching from PCI#1 (source cell) to PCI#2 (target cell). In this example, the UE performs the switching (handover operation) while retaining RRC entity #1 for PCI#1 and RRC entity #2 for PCI#2.

[0248] By enabling the maintenance of multiple RRC entities / RRC settings in this way, it is possible to eliminate periods of communication downtime even when a serving cell is switched.

[0249] The UE may release / discard the RRC settings for the source cell at at least one of the following timings: Timing 4A: When the RRC settings for the target cell are completed; Timing 4B: When the first PUSCH / PUCCH is sent to the target cell; Timing 4C: When an acknowledgment (ACK) is received / sent to the PUSCH / PUCCH; Timing 4D: When the first PDCCH / PDSCH is received from the target cell; Timing 4E: When an ACK is sent to the PDCCH / PDSCH; Timing 4F: When the completion conditions for the RACH / Random Access procedure are met; Timing 4G: When the completion conditions for LTM [Switching] are met; Timing 4H: A predetermined period of time has elapsed since at least one of the timings 4A to 4G (e.g., after X symbols / slots / milliseconds).

[0250] According to the fourth embodiment described above, the UE can reduce the period during which communication is unavailable before and after the handover by transiently utilizing both the pre- and post-handover communication paths.

[0251] <Supplement> <<Notification of Information to UE>> In the embodiments described above, notification of any information from the Network (NW) (e.g., Base Station (BS)) to the UE (in other words, reception of any information from the BS at the UE) may be performed using physical layer signaling (e.g., DCI), higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling, MAC CE), specific signals / channels (e.g., PDCCH, PDSCH, reference signal), or a combination thereof.

[0252] If the above notification is made by a MAC CE, the MAC CE may be identified by the inclusion of a new Logical Channel ID (LCID) not defined in existing standards in the MAC subheader.

[0253] If the above notification is made by DCI, the notification may be made by a specific field of the DCI, a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) used to scramble the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) bits assigned to the DCI, or the format of the DCI.

[0254] Furthermore, the notification of arbitrary information to the UE in the above-described embodiment may be periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic.

[0255] <<Notification of Information from UE>> Notification of any information from the UE to the NW in the embodiments described above (in other words, transmission / reporting of any information from the UE to the BS) may be performed using physical layer signaling (e.g., UCI), higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling, MAC CE), specific signals / channels (e.g., PUCCH, PUSCH, PRACH, reference signals), or a combination thereof.

[0256] If the above notification is made by a MAC CE, the MAC CE may be identified by the inclusion of a new LCID not specified in existing standards in the MAC subheader.

[0257] If the above notice is made by the UCI, the notice may be transmitted using PUCCH or PUSCH.

[0258] Furthermore, the notification of any information from the UE in the above-described embodiment may be periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic.

[0259] <<Regarding the application of each embodiment>> In UE / BS, specific (one or more) processes / operations / controls / assumptions / information for at least one of the embodiments described above may be applied (or used) if any or more of the following conditions are met: - A higher-layer parameter indicating the specific process / operation / control / assumption / information is set; - The specific process / operation / control / assumption / information is determined based on the relevant higher-layer parameter; - The specific process / operation / control / assumption / information is designated / activated / triggered by MAC CE / DCI / UCI / Resource / Channel / RS; - A specific UE capability indicating (or related to) the specific process / operation / control / assumption / information is reported or supported; - The application of the specific process / operation / control / assumption / information is determined based on specific conditions.

[0260] The above-mentioned specific UE capabilities may represent at least one of the following: supporting the above-mentioned specific processing / operation / control / assumment / information; supporting cell-free operation; supporting multiple PCI / sub-PCI / SSB sets / TRP sets in a single serving cell; the maximum number of PCI / sub-PCI / SSB sets / TRP sets per serving cell; the maximum number of SSBs per serving cell (e.g., a specific number in the third embodiment); supporting simultaneous holding of RRC entities / RRC settings; and the maximum number of RRC entities / RRC settings that can be held simultaneously.

[0261] Furthermore, the above-mentioned specific UE capability may be a capability that applies across all frequencies (commonly regardless of frequency), a capability per frequency (e.g., one or a combination thereof, such as cell, band, band combination, BWP, component carrier, etc.), a capability per frequency range (e.g., Frequency Range 1 (FR1), FR2, FR3, FR4, FR5, FR2-1, FR2-2), a capability per subcarrier spacing (SCS), or a capability per feature set (FS) or feature set per component-carrier (FSPC).

[0262] Furthermore, the specific UE capabilities described above may be capabilities that apply across all duplexing schemes (common to all duplexing schemes regardless of the duplexing scheme), or they may be capabilities specific to each duplexing scheme (e.g., Time Division Duplex (TDD), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD)).

[0263] If the above conditions are not met, UE / BS may follow the behavior specified in existing 3GPP releases.

[0264] (Note) The following inventions are added with respect to one embodiment of the present disclosure (in particular, the first embodiment): [Note 1] A terminal having: a receiving unit that receives a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a serving cell including a plurality of physical cell IDs (PCIs); and a control unit that identifies the PCI corresponding to each of the plurality of SSBs. [Note 2] The terminal according to Note 1, wherein the receiving unit receives settings for the single serving cell, including settings specific to each of the plurality of PCIs. [Note 3] The terminal according to Note 1 or Note 2, wherein the control unit identifies the single serving cell based on a specific index set based on a specific PCI among the plurality of PCIs. [Note 4] The terminal according to any one of Notes 1 to 3, wherein the control unit performs an initial access based on one of the plurality of SSBs, and the receiving unit receives information after the initial access that notifies other SSBs corresponding to the single serving cell.

[0265] (Wireless Communication System) The configuration of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment of this disclosure will be described below. In this wireless communication system, communication is performed using any of the wireless communication methods according to the above embodiments of this disclosure, or a combination thereof.

[0266] Figure 9 shows an example of a schematic configuration of a wireless communication system according to one embodiment. The wireless communication system 1 (which may also be simply called system 1) may be a system that realizes communication using Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5th generation mobile communication system New Radio (5G NR), etc., as specified by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).

[0267] Furthermore, the wireless communication system 1 may support dual connectivity between multiple Radio Access Technologies (RATs) (Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity (MR-DC)). MR-DC may include dual connectivity between LTE (Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA)) and NR (E-UTRA-NR Dual Connectivity (EN-DC)), dual connectivity between NR and LTE (NR-E-UTRA Dual Connectivity (NE-DC)), and the like.

[0268] In EN-DC, the LTE (E-UTRA) base station (eNB) is the Master Node (MN), and the NR base station (gNB) is the Secondary Node (SN). In NE-DC, the NR base station (gNB) is the MN, and the LTE (E-UTRA) base station (eNB) is the SN.

[0269] The wireless communication system 1 may support dual connectivity between multiple base stations within the same RAT (for example, dual connectivity where both MN and SN are NR base stations (gNB) (NR-NR Dual Connectivity (NN-DC))).

[0270] The wireless communication system 1 may include a base station 11 that forms a macrocell C1 with relatively wide coverage, and base stations 12 (12a-12c) located within the macrocell C1 that form a small cell C2 that is narrower than the macrocell C1. User terminals 20 may be located within at least one cell. The arrangement, number, shape, size, etc., of each cell and user terminal 20 are not limited to the configuration shown in the figure. Hereinafter, when base stations 11 and 12 are not distinguished, they will be collectively referred to as base station 10.

[0271] The wireless communication system 1 may utilize Multi Input Multi Output (MIMO). For example, one cell may be formed by one antenna / base station 10, or by multiple antennas / base stations 10. One [virtual] cell (which may be called a supercell, for example) may be composed of multiple [virtual] cells (which may be called subcells, for example). A supercell may correspond to a cell with a fixed physical range, and a subcell may correspond to a cell whose physical range fluctuates quasi-statically / dynamically. In this case, the wireless communication system 1 may be called a cell-free system.

[0272] The user terminal 20 may be connected to at least one of the multiple base stations 10. The user terminal 20 may utilize at least one of Carrier Aggregation (CA) using multiple Component Carriers (CC) and Dual Connectivity (DC).

[0273] Each CC may be included in at least one of the first frequency band (Frequency Range 1 (FR1)) and the second frequency band (Frequency Range 2 (FR2)). A macrocell C1 may be included in FR1, and a small cell C2 may be included in FR2. For example, FR1 may be a frequency band of 6 GHz or less (sub-6 GHz), and FR2 may be a frequency band above 24 GHz. Note that the frequency bands and definitions of FR1 and FR2 are not limited to these, and for example, FR1 may be in a frequency band higher than FR2.

[0274] Furthermore, the user terminal 20 may communicate in each CC using at least one of Time Division Duplex (TDD) and Frequency Division Duplex (FDD).

[0275] Multiple base stations 10 may be connected by wire (e.g., optical fiber compliant with Common Public Radio Interface (CPRI), X2 / Xn interface, etc.) or wireless (e.g., NR communication). For example, when NR communication is used as a backhaul between base stations 11 and 12, base station 11, which is the upstream station, may be called an Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) donor, and base station 12, which is the relay station, may be called an IAB node.

[0276] Base station 10 may be connected to the core network 30 via other base stations 10 or directly. The core network 30 may include at least one of the following: Evolved Packet Core (EPC), 5G Core Network (5GCN), Next Generation Core (NGC), etc.

[0277] The core network 30 may include network functions (NF) such as User Plane Function (UPF), Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), Session Management Function (SMF), Unified Data Management (UDM), Application Function (AF), Data Network (DN), Location Management Function (LMF), and Operation, Administration and Maintenance (Management) (OAM). Multiple functions may be provided by a single network node. Furthermore, communication with an external network (e.g., the Internet) may occur via the DN.

[0278] The user terminal 20 may be a terminal that supports at least one of the following communication methods: LTE, LTE-A, 5G, etc.

[0279] In the wireless communication system 1, an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based wireless access scheme may be used. For example, Cyclic Prefix OFDM (CP-OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-OFDM), etc., may be used in at least one of the downlink (DL) and uplink (UL).

[0280] The wireless access method may also be called a waveform. In wireless communication system 1, other wireless access methods (for example, other single-carrier transmission methods, other multi-carrier transmission methods) may be used for the UL and DL wireless access methods.

[0281] In the wireless communication system 1, a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), a Broadcast Channel (PBCH), or a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) may be used as the downlink channel, which is shared by each user terminal 20.

[0282] Furthermore, in the wireless communication system 1, the uplink channel may include a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), or the like, all of which are shared by each user terminal 20.

[0283] User data, higher-layer control information, and System Information Blocks (SIBs) are transmitted via PDSCH. User data and higher-layer control information may also be transmitted via PUSCH. Furthermore, Master Information Blocks (MIBs) may be transmitted via PBCH.

[0284] Lower-layer control information may be transmitted by PDCCH. The lower-layer control information may include, for example, Downlink Control Information (DCI) which includes scheduling information for at least one of PDSCH and PUSCH.

[0285] Furthermore, the DCI that schedules PDSCH may be called DL assignment, DL DCI, etc., and the DCI that schedules PUSCH may be called UL grant, UL DCI, etc. Furthermore, PDSCH may be read as DL data, and PUSCH may be read as UL data.

[0286] PDCCH detection may utilize a Control Resource Set (CORESET) and a search space. A CORESET corresponds to the resources used to search for DCIs. A search space corresponds to the search area and search method for PDCCH candidates. A single CORESET may be associated with one or more search spaces. A UE may monitor CORESETs associated with a given search space based on the search space configuration.

[0287] A single search space may correspond to one or more PDCCH candidates corresponding to aggregation levels. One or more search spaces may be referred to as a search space set. In this disclosure, "search space," "search space set," "search space configuration," "search space set configuration," "CORESET," and "CORESET configuration" may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0288] PUCCH may transmit uplink control information (UCI) including at least one of channel state information (CSI), delivery acknowledgment information (for example, Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest ACKnowledgement (HARQ-ACK), ACK / NACK, etc.), and scheduling request (SR). PRACH may transmit a random access preamble for establishing a connection with the cell.

[0289] In this disclosure, downlinks, uplinks, etc., may be expressed without the prefix "link." Also, the prefix "physical" may be omitted from the names of various channels.

[0290] In the wireless communication system 1, a synchronization signal (SS), a downlink reference signal (DL-RS), etc., may be transmitted. In the wireless communication system 1, the DL-RS may include a cell-specific reference signal (CRS), a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), a positioning reference signal (PRS), a phase tracking reference signal (PTRS), etc.

[0291] The synchronization signal may be, for example, at least one of a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS). A signal block including SS (PSS, SSS) and PBCH (and DMRS for PBCH) may be called an SS / PBCH block, SS Block (SSB), etc. Note that SS, SSB, etc. may also be called reference signals.

[0292] Furthermore, in the wireless communication system 1, the uplink reference signal (UL-RS) may include a sounding reference signal (SRS), a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), etc. The DMRS may also be called a user-specific reference signal (UE-specific Reference Signal).

[0293] (Base Station) Figure 10 shows an example of the configuration of a base station according to one embodiment. The base station 10 includes a control unit 110, a transmitting / receiving unit 120, a transmitting / receiving antenna 130, and a transmission line interface 140. Note that one or more of the control unit 110, the transmitting / receiving unit 120, the transmitting / receiving antenna 130, and the transmission line interface 140 may be provided.

[0294] In this example, the functional blocks of the characteristic parts of this embodiment are mainly shown, and it may be assumed that the base station 10 also has other functional blocks necessary for wireless communication. Some of the processing of each part described below may be omitted.

[0295] The control unit 110 controls the entire base station 10. The control unit 110 can be composed of a controller, control circuit, etc., as described based on common understanding in the technical field related to this disclosure.

[0296] The control unit 110 may control signal generation, scheduling (e.g., resource allocation, mapping), etc. The control unit 110 may also control transmission and reception, measurement, etc., using the transmitting / receiving unit 120, transmitting / receiving antenna 130, and transmission path interface 140. The control unit 110 may generate data to be transmitted as signals, control information, sequences, etc., and transfer them to the transmitting / receiving unit 120. The control unit 110 may also perform call processing of communication channels (setting, releasing, etc.), status management of the base station 10, management of wireless resources, etc.

[0297] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 may include a baseband unit 121, a radio frequency (RF) unit 122, and a measurement unit 123. The baseband unit 121 may include a transmission processing unit 1211 and a reception processing unit 1212. The transmitting / receiving unit 120 can be composed of a transmitter / receiver, RF circuit, baseband circuit, filter, phase shifter, measurement circuit, transmitting / receiving circuit, etc., as described based on common understanding in the art relating to this disclosure.

[0298] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 may be configured as an integrated transmitting / receiving unit, or it may be composed of a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit may consist of a transmitting processing unit 1211 and an RF unit 122. The receiving unit may consist of a receiving processing unit 1212, an RF unit 122 and a measuring unit 123.

[0299] The transmitting and receiving antenna 130 can be composed of an antenna described based on common understanding in the art relating to this disclosure, such as an array antenna.

[0300] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 may transmit the downlink channel, synchronization signal, downlink reference signal, etc. The transmitting / receiving unit 120 may also receive the uplink channel, uplink reference signal, etc.

[0301] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 may use digital beamforming (e.g., precoding), analog beamforming (e.g., phase rotation), or the like to form at least one of the transmitting beam and the receiving beam.

[0302] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 (transmission processing unit 1211) may perform processing on data and control information acquired from the control unit 110, for example, at the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer (e.g., RLC retransmission control), and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer (e.g., HARQ retransmission control), to generate a bit sequence to be transmitted.

[0303] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 (transmission processing unit 1211) may perform transmission processing on the bit sequence to be transmitted, such as channel coding (which may include error correction coding), modulation, mapping, filtering, discrete Fourier transform (DFT) processing (if necessary), inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) processing, precoding, and digital-to-analog conversion, and output a baseband signal.

[0304] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 (RF unit 122) may perform modulation, filtering, amplification, etc., of the baseband signal to the radio frequency band and transmit the signal in the radio frequency band via the transmitting / receiving antenna 130.

[0305] On the other hand, the transmitting / receiving unit 120 (RF unit 122) may perform amplification, filtering, demodulation to a baseband signal, etc., on the radio frequency band signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 130.

[0306] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 (receiving processing unit 1212) may apply reception processing such as analog-to-digital conversion, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) processing, Inverse Discrete Fourier Transform (IDFT) processing (if necessary), filtering, demapping, demodulation, decoding (may include error correction decoding), MAC layer processing, RLC layer processing, and PDCP layer processing to the acquired baseband signal to acquire user data, etc.

[0307] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 (measurement unit 123) may perform measurements related to the received signal. For example, the measurement unit 123 may perform Radio Resource Management (RRM) measurements, Channel State Information (CSI) measurements, etc., based on the received signal. The measurement unit 123 may also measure received power (e.g., Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP)), reception quality (e.g., Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR)), signal strength (e.g., Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI)), propagation path information (e.g., CSI), etc. The measurement results may be output to the control unit 110.

[0308] The transmission path interface 140 may send and receive signals (backhaul signaling) with devices included in the core network 30 (e.g., network nodes that provide NF), other base stations 10, etc., and may acquire and transmit user data (user plane data), control plane data, etc. for the user terminal 20.

[0309] In this disclosure, the transmitting and receiving units of the base station 10 may consist of at least one of a transmitting / receiving unit 120, a transmitting / receiving antenna 130, and a transmission path interface 140.

[0310] The base station 10 may be separated into three elements: a Radio Unit (RU), a Distributed Unit (DU), and a Central Unit (CU). For example, the RU may implement RF processing (digital beamforming, digital-to-analog conversion, analog beamforming, etc.) and lower-level physical layer functions (precoding, IFFT, FFT, etc.). The DU may implement higher-level physical layer functions (coding to resource element mapping, etc.), MAC layer functions, and RLC layer functions. The CU may implement PDCP layer, Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and RRC layer functions.

[0311] In this disclosure, base station 10 may include a single device that implements all the functions of RU, DU, and CU, or it may include multiple devices that each implement some of the functions of RU, DU, and CU and are connected to each other. In this disclosure, base station 10 may be interpreted as RU / DU / CU.

[0312] The transmitting / receiving unit 120 may transmit multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a single serving cell that includes multiple physical cell IDs (PCIs).

[0313] The control unit 110 may set PCI corresponding to each of the plurality of SSBs.

[0314] (User Terminal) Figure 11 shows an example of the configuration of a user terminal according to one embodiment. The user terminal 20 includes a control unit 210, a transmitting / receiving unit 220, and a transmitting / receiving antenna 230. Note that one or more of the control unit 210, the transmitting / receiving unit 220, and the transmitting / receiving antenna 230 may be provided.

[0315] In this example, the functional blocks of the characteristic parts of this embodiment are mainly shown, and it may be assumed that the user terminal 20 also has other functional blocks necessary for wireless communication. Some of the processing of each part described below may be omitted.

[0316] The control unit 210 controls the entire user terminal 20. The control unit 210 can be composed of a controller, control circuit, etc., as described based on common understanding in the technical field related to this disclosure.

[0317] The control unit 210 may control signal generation, mapping, etc. The control unit 210 may also control transmission and reception, measurement, etc., using the transmitting / receiving unit 220 and the transmitting / receiving antenna 230. The control unit 210 may generate data to be transmitted as signals, control information, sequences, etc., and transfer them to the transmitting / receiving unit 220.

[0318] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may include a baseband unit 221, an RF unit 222, and a measurement unit 223. The baseband unit 221 may include a transmission processing unit 2211 and a reception processing unit 2212. The transmitting / receiving unit 220 can be composed of a transmitter / receiver, RF circuit, baseband circuit, filter, phase shifter, measurement circuit, transmitting / receiving circuit, etc., as described based on common understanding in the art relating to this disclosure.

[0319] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may be configured as an integrated transmitting / receiving unit, or it may be composed of a transmitting unit and a receiving unit. The transmitting unit may consist of a transmitting processing unit 2211 and an RF unit 222. The receiving unit may consist of a receiving processing unit 2212, an RF unit 222 and a measuring unit 223.

[0320] The transmitting and receiving antenna 230 can be composed of an antenna described based on common understanding in the art relating to this disclosure, such as an array antenna.

[0321] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may receive the downlink channel, synchronization signal, downlink reference signal, etc. The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may also transmit the uplink channel, uplink reference signal, etc.

[0322] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may use digital beamforming (e.g., precoding), analog beamforming (e.g., phase rotation), or the like to form at least one of the transmitting beam and the receiving beam.

[0323] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 (transmission processing unit 2211) may perform PDCP layer processing, RLC layer processing (e.g., RLC retransmission control), MAC layer processing (e.g., HARQ retransmission control), etc., on data and control information acquired from the control unit 210 to generate a bit sequence to be transmitted.

[0324] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 (transmission processing unit 2211) may perform transmission processing on the bit sequence to be transmitted, such as channel coding (which may include error correction coding), modulation, mapping, filtering, DFT processing (if necessary), IFFT processing, precoding, and digital-to-analog conversion, and output a baseband signal.

[0325] Whether or not to apply DFT processing may be based on the transform precoding settings. The transmitting / receiving unit 220 (transmission processing unit 2211) may perform DFT processing as part of the transmission process to transmit a channel (for example, PUSCH) using a DFT-s-OFDM waveform if transform precoding is enabled for that channel, or it may not perform DFT processing as part of the transmission process if transform precoding is not enabled for that channel.

[0326] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 (RF unit 222) may perform modulation, filtering, amplification, etc., of the baseband signal to the radio frequency band and transmit the signal in the radio frequency band via the transmitting / receiving antenna 230.

[0327] On the other hand, the transmitting / receiving unit 220 (RF unit 222) may perform amplification, filtering, demodulation to a baseband signal, etc., on the radio frequency band signal received by the transmitting / receiving antenna 230.

[0328] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 (receiving processing unit 2212) may apply reception processing such as analog-to-digital conversion, FFT processing, IDFT processing (if necessary), filtering, demapping, demodulation, decoding (may include error correction decoding), MAC layer processing, RLC layer processing, and PDCP layer processing to the acquired baseband signal to acquire user data, etc.

[0329] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 (measuring unit 223) may perform measurements related to the received signal. For example, the measuring unit 223 may perform RRM measurement, CSI measurement, etc., based on the received signal. The measuring unit 223 may also measure received power (e.g., RSRP), received quality (e.g., RSRQ, SINR, SNR), signal strength (e.g., RSSI), propagation path information (e.g., CSI), etc. The measurement results may be output to the control unit 210.

[0330] The measurement unit 223 may derive channel measurements for CSI calculation based on channel measurement resources. Channel measurement resources may be, for example, Non Zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS resources. The measurement unit 223 may also derive interference measurements for CSI calculation based on interference measurement resources. Interference measurement resources may be at least one of the following: NZP CSI-RS resources for interference measurement, CSI-Interference Measurement (IM) resources, etc. CSI-IM may also be called CSI-Interference Management (IM), and may be interpreted interchangeably with Zero Power (ZP) CSI-RS. In this disclosure, CSI-RS, NZP CSI-RS, ZP CSI-RS, CSI-IM, CSI-SSB, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0331] In this disclosure, the transmitting unit and receiving unit of the user terminal 20 may be composed of at least one of a transmitting / receiving unit 220 and a transmitting / receiving antenna 230.

[0332] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may receive multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a single serving cell that includes multiple physical cell IDs (PCIs).

[0333] The control unit 210 may identify the PCI corresponding to each of the plurality of SSBs.

[0334] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may receive settings for one serving cell, including settings specific to each of the plurality of PCIs.

[0335] The control unit 210 may identify one of the serving cells based on a specific index set based on a specific PCI among the plurality of PCIs.

[0336] The control unit 210 may perform initial access based on one of the multiple SSBs.

[0337] The transmitting / receiving unit 220 may receive information after the initial access that notifies other SSBs corresponding to the one serving cell.

[0338] (Hardware Configuration) The block diagram used in the description of the above embodiment shows functional units. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Furthermore, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized using one device that is physically or logically coupled, or it may be realized using two or more physically or logically separated devices that are directly or indirectly connected (for example, using wired or wireless connections). A functional block may also be realized by combining the above one device or the above multiple devices with software.

[0339] Here, functions include, but are not limited to, judgment, decision, determination, calculation, calculation, processing, derivation, investigation, exploration, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, resolution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, consideration, broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating (mapping), and assigning. For example, a functional block (configuration part) that enables transmission may be called a transmitting unit or transmitter. In all cases, as mentioned above, the method of implementation is not particularly limited.

[0340] For example, a base station, user terminal, etc. in one embodiment of the present disclosure may function as a computer that processes the wireless communication method of the present disclosure. Figure 12 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of a base station and user terminal according to one embodiment. The base station 10 and user terminal 20 described above may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, memory 1002, storage 1003, communication device 1004, input device 1005, output device 1006, bus 1007, etc.

[0341] In this disclosure, terms such as apparatus, circuit, device, section, and unit are interchangeable. The hardware configuration of the base station 10 and the user terminal 20 may include one or more of the devices shown in the figure, or it may be configured without some of the devices.

[0342] For example, although only one processor 1001 is shown in the diagram, there may be multiple processors. Furthermore, the processing may be performed by one processor, or it may be performed by two or more processors simultaneously, sequentially, or by other means. Note that the processor 1001 may be implemented using one or more chips.

[0343] Each function in the base station 10 and the user terminal 20 is realized, for example, by loading predetermined software (programs) onto hardware such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, which allows the processor 1001 to perform calculations and control communication via the communication device 1004, or control at least one of reading and writing data in the memory 1002 and storage 1003.

[0344] The processor 1001 controls the entire computer, for example, by running an operating system. The processor 1001 may be composed of a central processing unit (CPU) that includes interfaces with peripheral devices, control devices, arithmetic units, registers, etc. For example, at least a part of the control unit 110 (210) and the transmitting / receiving unit 120 (220) described above may be implemented by the processor 1001.

[0345] Furthermore, the processor 1001 reads programs (program code), software modules, data, etc., from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002 and executes various processes accordingly. The program used is one that causes the computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above embodiment. For example, the control unit 110 (210) may be implemented by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and running on the processor 1001, and other functional blocks may be implemented similarly.

[0346] The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: Read Only Memory (ROM), Erasable Programmable ROM (EPROM), Electrically EPROM (EEPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), or other suitable storage medium. The memory 1002 may also be called a register, cache, or main memory. The memory 1002 can store executable programs (program code), software modules, etc., for carrying out a wireless communication method according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0347] The storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium and may consist of at least one of the following: a flexible disk, a floppy disk, a magneto-optical disk (e.g., a Compact Disk (Compact Disc ROM (CD-ROM)), a Digital Use Disk, a Blu-ray (registered trademark) disk), a removable disk, a hard disk drive, a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, stick, key drive), a magnetic stripe, a database, a server, or other suitable storage medium. The storage 1003 may also be called an auxiliary storage device.

[0348] The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmitting / receiving device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as a network device, network controller, network card, communication module, etc. The communication device 1004 may be configured to include, for example, a high-frequency switch, duplexer, filter, frequency synthesizer, etc., in order to implement at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). For example, the above-mentioned transmitting / receiving unit 120 (220), transmitting / receiving antenna 130 (230), etc., may be implemented by the communication device 1004. The transmitting / receiving unit 120 (220) may be implemented with physically or logically separated transmitting unit 120a (220a) and receiving unit 120b (220b).

[0349] The input device 1005 is an input device that accepts input from an external source (e.g., a keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, button, sensor, etc.). The output device 1006 is an output device that outputs to an external source (e.g., a display, speaker, light-emitting diode (LED) lamp, etc.). The input device 1005 and the output device 1006 may be configured as an integrated unit (e.g., a touch panel).

[0350] Furthermore, each device, such as the processor 1001 and memory 1002, is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured using a single bus, or different buses may be configured for each device.

[0351] Furthermore, the base station 10 and the user terminal 20 may be configured to include hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), and a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and some or all of each functional block may be implemented using such hardware. For example, the processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware components.

[0352] Furthermore, devices included in the core network 30 (for example, network nodes that provide NF) may also be implemented using the functional block / hardware configuration described above.

[0353] (Variations) Terms used in this disclosure and terms necessary for understanding this disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings. For example, channel, symbol and signal (signal or signaling) may be used interchangeably. Also, a signal may be a message. A reference signal may be abbreviated as RS and may be called a pilot, pilot signal, etc., depending on the applicable standard. Also, a component carrier (CC) may be called a cell, frequency carrier, carrier frequency, etc.

[0354] A wireless frame may consist of one or more periods (frames) in the time domain. Each of these periods (frames) constituting a wireless frame may be called a subframe. Furthermore, a subframe may consist of one or more slots in the time domain. A subframe may have a fixed time length (e.g., 1 ms) that is independent of numerology.

[0355] Here, the neurology may be communication parameters applied to at least one of the transmission and reception of a signal or channel. The neurology may be, for example, at least one of the following: subcarrier spacing (SCS), bandwidth, symbol length, cyclic prefix length, transmission time interval (TTI), number of symbols per TTI, radio frame configuration, specific filtering processes performed by the transceiver in the frequency domain, and specific windowing processes performed by the transceiver in the time domain.

[0356] A slot may consist of one or more symbols in the time domain (such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols or Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) symbols). Alternatively, a slot may be a time unit based on neurology.

[0357] A slot may include multiple minislots. Each minislot may consist of one or more symbols in the time domain. Minislots may also be called subslots. Minislots may consist of fewer symbols than a slot. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted in a time unit larger than a minislot may be called a PDSCH (PUSCH) mapping type A. A PDSCH (or PUSCH) transmitted using minislots may be called a PDSCH (PUSCH) mapping type B.

[0358] Wireless frames, subframes, slots, minislots, and symbols all represent units of time when transmitting a signal. Wireless frames, subframes, slots, minislots, and symbols may each be referred to by different names. Furthermore, the units of time such as frames, subframes, slots, minislots, and symbols in this disclosure may be interpreted as interchangeable.

[0359] For example, one subframe may be called a TTI, multiple consecutive subframes may be called a TTI, and one slot or one mini-slot may be called a TTI. In other words, at least one of a subframe and a TTI may be a subframe in existing LTE (1 ms), a period shorter than 1 ms (e.g., 1-13 symbols), or a period longer than 1 ms. Note that the unit representing a TTI may be called a slot, mini-slot, etc., instead of a subframe.

[0360] Here, TTI refers to, for example, the smallest time unit for scheduling in wireless communication. For example, in an LTE system, the base station schedules each user terminal to allocate wireless resources (such as the frequency bandwidth and transmission power available to each user terminal) in TTI units. However, the definition of TTI is not limited to this.

[0361] TTI may be a transmission time unit for channel-encoded data packets (transport blocks), code blocks, code words, etc., or it may be a processing unit for scheduling, link adaptation, etc. When a TTI is given, the actual time interval (e.g., number of symbols) in which the transport block, code block, code word, etc. are mapped may be shorter than the TTI.

[0362] Furthermore, if one slot or one mini-slot is referred to as a TTI, then one or more TTIs (i.e., one or more slots or one or more mini-slots) may constitute the minimum time unit for scheduling. In addition, the number of slots (number of mini-slots) that constitute this minimum time unit for scheduling may be controlled.

[0363] A TTI with a time length of 1 ms may be called a normal TTI, long TTI, normal subframe, long subframe, slot, etc. A TTI shorter than a normal TTI may be called a shortened TTI, short TTI, partial or fractional TTI, shortened subframe, short subframe, mini slot, sub slot, slot, etc.

[0364] Furthermore, long TTIs (e.g., normal TTIs, subframes, etc.) may be interpreted as TTIs with a time length exceeding 1 ms, and short TTIs (e.g., shortened TTIs, etc.) may be interpreted as TTIs with a TTI length less than that of a long TTI but 1 ms or more.

[0365] A Resource Block (RB) is a resource allocation unit in the time domain and frequency domain, and in the frequency domain, it may contain one or more consecutive subcarriers. The number of subcarriers in an RB may be the same regardless of the neurology, for example, 12. The number of subcarriers in an RB may be determined based on the neurology.

[0366] Furthermore, an RB may contain one or more symbols in the time domain and may have the length of one slot, one minislot, one subframe, or one TTI. One TTI, one subframe, etc., may each consist of one or more resource blocks.

[0367] One or more RBs may also be called Physical RBs (PRBs), Sub-Carrier Groups (SCGs), Resource Element Groups (REGs), PRB pairs, RB pairs, etc.

[0368] Furthermore, a resource block may consist of one or more resource elements (REs). For example, one RE may be a radio resource area comprising one subcarrier and one symbol.

[0369] A Bandwidth Part (BWP), also known as a partial bandwidth, may represent a subset of consecutive common resource blocks (RBs) for a given neurology in a given carrier. These common RBs may be identified by an index of the RBs relative to a common reference point of the carrier. The PRBs may be defined and numbered within a given BWP.

[0370] A BWP may include UL BWP (BWP for UL) and DL BWP (BWP for DL). One or more BWPs may be configured within a single carrier for a UE.

[0371] At least one of the configured BWPs may be active, and the UE does not need to assume that it will transmit or receive a predetermined signal / channel outside of the active BWP. In this disclosure, terms such as "cell" and "carrier" may be read as "BWP".

[0372] The structures of wireless frames, subframes, slots, minislots, and symbols described above are merely examples. For example, the number of subframes included in a wireless frame, the number of slots per subframe or wireless frame, the number of minislots included in a slot, the number of symbols and RBs included in a slot or minislot, the number of subcarriers included in an RB, and the number of symbols, symbol length, and cyclic prefix (CP) length within the TTI can be varied in various ways.

[0373] Furthermore, the information, parameters, etc., described in this disclosure may be expressed using absolute values, relative values ​​from a predetermined value, or corresponding other information. For example, wireless resources may be indicated by a predetermined index.

[0374] The names used for parameters and other elements in this disclosure are not restrictive in any way. Furthermore, mathematical formulas and other elements using these parameters may differ from those expressly disclosed in this disclosure. Various channels (PUCCH, PDCCH, etc.) and information elements can be identified by any suitable name, and therefore, the various names assigned to these various channels and information elements are not restrictive in any way.

[0375] The information, signals, etc. described in this disclosure may be represented using any of the various different techniques. For example, the data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, optical fields or photons, or any combination thereof.

[0376] Furthermore, information, signals, etc., can be output from upper layers to lower layers and from lower layers to upper layers, or to at least one of the two. Information, signals, etc., may also be input and output via multiple network nodes.

[0377] Input and output information and signals may be stored in a specific location (e.g., memory) or managed using a management table. Input and output information and signals may be overwritten, updated, or appended to. Output information and signals may be deleted. Input information and signals may be transmitted to other devices.

[0378] Any information described in this disclosure (e.g., variables, constants, parameters) may be communicated from any first device (e.g., UE / base station) to any second device (e.g., base station / UE) that indicates / specifies (or relates to) the value of such any information, even if not specifically stated in the embodiments described above.

[0379] Information notification is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be carried out by other means. For example, information notification in this disclosure may be carried out by physical layer signaling (e.g., Downlink Control Information (DCI), Uplink Control Information (UCI)), higher layer signaling (e.g., Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling, broadcast information (Master Information Block (MIB), System Information Block (SIB)), Medium Access Control (MAC) signaling), other signals, or a combination thereof.

[0380] Physical layer signaling may also be called Layer 1 / Layer 2 (L1 / L2) control information (L1 / L2 control signals), L1 control information (L1 control signals), etc. RRC signaling may also be called RRC messages, for example, RRC Connection Setup messages, RRC Connection Reconfiguration messages, etc. MAC signaling may also be communicated using, for example, MAC Control Elements (CEs).

[0381] Furthermore, notification of the specified information (for example, notification that "X is the case") is not limited to explicit notification, but may also be made implicitly (for example, by not notifying the specified information or by notifying other information).

[0382] The determination may be made by a value represented by one bit (0 or 1), by a boolean value represented as true or false, or by a numerical comparison (for example, a comparison with a predetermined value).

[0383] Software should be broadly interpreted to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, functions, and so on, whether they are called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description languages, or by any other name.

[0384] Furthermore, software, instructions, information, etc., may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using at least one of wired technology (such as coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, or Digital Subscriber Line (DSL)) and wireless technology (such as infrared or microwave), then at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included in the definition of a transmission medium.

[0385] The terms “system” and “network” as used in this disclosure may be used interchangeably. “Network” may also mean the equipment included in the network (e.g., base stations).

[0386] In this disclosure, terms such as “precoding,” “precoder,” “weight (precoding weight),” “quasi-co-location (QCL),” “transmission configuration indication state (TCI state),” “spatial relation,” “spatial domain filter,” “transmit power,” “phase rotation,” “antenna port,” “layer,” “number of layers,” “rank,” “resource,” “resource set,” “beam,” “beam width,” “beam angle,” “antenna,” “antenna element,” “panel,” “UE panel,” “transmitting entity,” and “receiving entity” may be used interchangeably.

[0387] In this disclosure, "antenna port" may be interpreted interchangeably with "antenna port for any signal / channel" (e.g., a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) port). In this disclosure, "resource" may be interpreted interchangeably with "resource for any signal / channel" (e.g., a reference signal resource, an SRS resource, etc.). Resources may include time / frequency / code / spatial / power resources. Furthermore, a spatial domain transmit filter may include at least one of a spatial domain transmit filter and a spatial domain receive filter.

[0388] The above group may include, for example, at least one of the following: a spatial relationship group, a code division multiplexing (CDM) group, a reference signal (RS) group, a control resource set (CORESET) group, a PUCCH group, an antenna port group (e.g., a DMRS port group), a layer group, a resource group, a beam group, an antenna group, or a panel group.

[0389] Furthermore, in this disclosure, terms such as beam, SRS Resource Indicator (SRI), CORESET, CORESET pool, PDSCH, PUSCH, Codeword (CW), Transport Block (TB), and RS may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0390] Furthermore, in this disclosure, TCI state, downlink TCI state (DL TCI state), uplink TCI state (UL TCI state), unified TCI state, common TCI state, joint TCI state, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0391] Furthermore, in this disclosure, terms such as "QCL," "QCL assumption," "QCL relationship," "QCL type information," "QCL property / properties," "specific QCL type (e.g., Type A, Type D) properties," and "specific QCL type (e.g., Type A, Type D)" may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0392] In this disclosure, terms such as index, identifier (ID), indicator, indication, and resource ID may be interpreted interchangeably. In this disclosure, terms such as sequence, list, set, group, cluster, subset may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0393] Furthermore, the spatial relationship information Identifier (ID) (TCI state ID) and spatial relationship information (TCI state) may be interpreted as mutually exclusive. "Spatial relationship information (TCI state)" may be interpreted as mutually exclusive as "a set of spatial relationship information (TCI state)," "one or more pieces of spatial relationship information," etc. TCI state and TCI may be interpreted as mutually exclusive. Spatial relationship information and spatial relationship may be interpreted as mutually exclusive.

[0394] In this disclosure, terms such as “Base Station (BS),” “wireless base station,” “fixed station,” “NodeB,” “eNB (eNodeB),” “gNB (gNodeB),” “access point,” “Transmission Point (TP),” “Reception Point (RP),” “Transmission / Reception Point (TRP),” “panel,” “cell,” “sector,” “cell group,” “carrier,” and “component carrier” may be used interchangeably. Base stations may also be referred to by terms such as macrocell, small cell, femtocell, and picocell.

[0395] A base station may house one or more (e.g., three) cells. If a base station houses multiple cells, the entire coverage area of ​​the base station may be divided into several smaller areas, each of which may also be provided with communication services by a base station subsystem (e.g., a small indoor base station (Remote Radio Head (RRH))). The terms “cell” or “sector” refer to part or all of the coverage area of ​​at least one of the base station and / or base station subsystems that provide communication services in that coverage.

[0396] In this disclosure, the transmission of information by a base station to a terminal may be interpreted as the base station instructing the terminal to perform a control / operation based on said information.

[0397] In this disclosure, terms such as "Mobile Station (MS)," "user terminal," "User Equipment (UE)," and "terminal" may be used interchangeably.

[0398] A mobile station may also be called a subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other appropriate term.

[0399] At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be called a transmitting device, a receiving device, a wireless communication device, etc. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may also be a device mounted on a moving object, the moving object itself, etc.

[0400] The term "mobile object" refers to any movable object, regardless of its speed, and naturally includes cases where the mobile object is stationary. Examples of such mobile objects include, but are not limited to, vehicles, transport vehicles, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, connected cars, excavators, bulldozers, wheel loaders, dump trucks, forklifts, trains, buses, handcarts, rickshaws, ships and other watercraft, airplanes, rockets, satellites, drones, multicopters, quadcopters, balloons, and items carried on them. Furthermore, such mobile objects may be autonomously driven objects operating based on operational commands.

[0401] The mobile entity may be a vehicle (e.g., a car, an airplane), an unmanned mobile entity (e.g., a drone, an autonomous vehicle), or a robot (manned or unmanned). At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device that does not necessarily move during communication operations. For example, at least one of the base station and the mobile station may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device such as a sensor.

[0402] Figure 13 shows an example of a vehicle according to one embodiment. The vehicle 40 includes a drive unit 41, a steering unit 42, an accelerator pedal 43, a brake pedal 44, a shift lever 45, left and right front wheels 46, left and right rear wheels 47, an axle 48, an electronic control unit 49, various sensors (including a current sensor 50, a rotation speed sensor 51, a pneumatic pressure sensor 52, a vehicle speed sensor 53, an acceleration sensor 54, an accelerator pedal sensor 55, a brake pedal sensor 56, a shift lever sensor 57, and an object detection sensor 58), an information service unit 59, and a communication module 60.

[0403] The drive unit 41 consists of, for example, at least one of an engine, a motor, or an engine-motor hybrid. The steering unit 42 includes at least a steering wheel (also called a handle) and is configured to steer at least one of the front wheels 46 and the rear wheels 47 based on the operation of the steering wheel operated by the user.

[0404] The electronic control unit 49 consists of a microprocessor 61, memory (ROM, RAM) 62, and communication ports (e.g., input / output (IO) ports) 63. Signals from various sensors 50-58 installed in the vehicle are input to the electronic control unit 49. The electronic control unit 49 may also be called an Electronic Control Unit (ECU).

[0405] Signals from various sensors 50-58 include current signals from current sensor 50 for sensing motor current, rotational speed signals of front wheels 46 / rear wheels 47 acquired by rotational speed sensor 51, air pressure signals of front wheels 46 / rear wheels 47 acquired by air pressure sensor 52, vehicle speed signals acquired by vehicle speed sensor 53, acceleration signals acquired by acceleration sensor 54, accelerator pedal depression amount signals acquired by accelerator pedal sensor 55, brake pedal depression amount signals acquired by brake pedal sensor 56, operation signals of shift lever 45 acquired by shift lever sensor 57, and detection signals acquired by object detection sensor 58 for detecting obstacles, vehicles, pedestrians, etc.

[0406] The information service unit 59 consists of various devices for providing (outputting) various types of information such as driving information, traffic information, and entertainment information, including a car navigation system, audio system, speakers, display, television, and radio, and one or more ECUs that control these devices. The information service unit 59 uses information acquired from external devices via a communication module 60 or the like to provide various types of information / services (for example, multimedia information / multimedia services) to the occupants of the vehicle 40.

[0407] The information service unit 59 may include input devices that accept input from the outside (e.g., keyboard, mouse, microphone, switch, button, sensor, touch panel, etc.) or output devices that perform output to the outside (e.g., display, speaker, LED lamp, touch panel, etc.).

[0408] The driver assistance system unit 64 consists of various devices that provide functions to prevent accidents or reduce the driver's workload, such as millimeter-wave radar, Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), cameras, positioning locators (e.g., Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS)), map information (e.g., High Definition (HD) maps, Autonomous Vehicle (AV) maps), gyro systems (e.g., Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU), Inertial Navigation System (INS)), artificial intelligence (AI) chips, and AI processors, as well as one or more ECUs that control these devices. The driver assistance system unit 64 also transmits and receives various information via the communication module 60 to realize driver assistance functions or autonomous driving functions.

[0409] The communication module 60 can communicate with the microprocessor 61 and components of the vehicle 40 via the communication port 63. For example, the communication module 60 sends and receives data (information) via the communication port 63 to the drive unit 41, steering unit 42, accelerator pedal 43, brake pedal 44, shift lever 45, left and right front wheels 46, left and right rear wheels 47, axle 48, the microprocessor 61 and memory (ROM, RAM) 62 in the electronic control unit 49, and various sensors 50-58 provided in the vehicle 40.

[0410] The communication module 60 is a communication device that can be controlled by the microprocessor 61 of the electronic control unit 49 and can communicate with external devices. For example, it can send and receive various types of information to and from external devices via wireless communication. The communication module 60 may be located either inside or outside the electronic control unit 49. The external device may be, for example, the base station 10 or the user terminal 20 described above. Alternatively, the communication module 60 may be, for example, at least one of the base station 10 and the user terminal 20 (it may function as at least one of the base station 10 and the user terminal 20).

[0411] The communication module 60 may transmit at least one of the following to an external device via wireless communication: signals from the various sensors 50-58 input to the electronic control unit 49, information obtained based on said signals, and information based on input from an external source (user) obtained via the information service unit 59. The electronic control unit 49, the various sensors 50-58, the information service unit 59, etc., may also be called input units that accept input. For example, the PUSCH transmitted by the communication module 60 may include the information based on the above input.

[0412] The communication module 60 receives various information (traffic information, signal information, inter-vehicle information, etc.) transmitted from an external device and displays it on the information service unit 59 installed in the vehicle. The information service unit 59 may also be called an output unit, which outputs information (for example, it outputs information to devices such as displays and speakers based on the PDSCH (or data / information decoded from the PDSCH) received by the communication module 60).

[0413] Furthermore, the communication module 60 stores various information received from external devices in a memory 62 that can be used by the microprocessor 61. Based on the information stored in the memory 62, the microprocessor 61 may control the drive unit 41, steering unit 42, accelerator pedal 43, brake pedal 44, shift lever 45, left and right front wheels 46, left and right rear wheels 47, axle 48, various sensors 50-58, etc., which are provided in the vehicle 40.

[0414] Furthermore, the term "base station" in this disclosure may be interpreted as "user terminal." For example, the various aspects / embodiments of this disclosure may be applied to a configuration in which communication between a base station and a user terminal is replaced with communication between multiple user terminals (which may be called, for example, Device-to-Device (D2D), Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X)). In this case, the user terminal 20 may have the functions of the base station 10 described above. Also, terms such as "uplink" and "downlink" may be interpreted as terms corresponding to terminal-to-terminal communication (for example, "sidelink"). For example, uplink channel, downlink channel, etc., may be interpreted as sidelink channel.

[0415] Similarly, the term "user terminal" in this disclosure may be replaced with "base station." In this case, the base station 10 may be configured to have the same functions as the user terminal 20 described above.

[0416] In this disclosure, operations performed by a base station may, in some cases, be performed by its upper node. In a network including one or more network nodes having base stations, it is clear that various operations performed for communication with terminals may be performed by the base station, one or more network nodes other than the base station (for example, a Mobility Management Entity (MME), a Serving Gateway (S-GW), etc., but not limited to these), or a combination thereof.

[0417] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be used individually, in combination, or switched between as needed during execution. Furthermore, the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, etc., of each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure may be rearranged in order, provided they are consistent. For example, the methods described in this disclosure present various step elements using exemplary order and are not limited to the specific order presented.

[0418] Each aspect / embodiment described in this disclosure is Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), LTE-Beyond (LTE-B), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4th generation mobile communication system (4G), 5th generation mobile communication system (5G), 6th generation mobile communication system (6G), xth generation mobile communication system (xG (where x is, for example, an integer or decimal)), Future Radio Access (FRA), New-Radio Access Technology (RAT), New Radio (NR), New radio access (NX), Future generation radio access (FX), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM®), CDMA2000, Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi®), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX®), IEEE 802.20, systems utilizing Ultra-WideBand (UWB), Bluetooth®, or other appropriate wireless communication methods, and next-generation systems extended, modified, created, or defined based thereon may also be applied. Furthermore, multiple systems may be applied in combination (for example, a combination of LTE or LTE-A and 5G).

[0419] In this disclosure, the phrase "based on" does not mean "based solely on" unless otherwise specified. In other words, the phrase "based on" means both "based solely on" and "based at least on."

[0420] Any reference to elements using the designations “first,” “second,” etc., as used in this disclosure does not generally limit the quantity or order of those elements. These designations may be used in this disclosure as a convenient way to distinguish between two or more elements. Accordingly, the references to the first and second elements do not imply that only two elements may be employed or that the first element must precede the second element in any way.

[0421] The term “determining” as used in this disclosure may encompass a wide variety of actions. For example, “determining” may be considered to mean judging, calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up, searching, or inquiring (e.g., searching in tables, databases, or other data structures), ascertaining, etc.

[0422] Furthermore, "judgment (decision)" may be considered as "judging (deciding)" things like receiving (e.g., receiving information), transmitting (e.g., sending information), input, output, accessing (e.g., accessing data in memory).

[0423] Furthermore, “judgment (decision)” may be considered as “judgment (decision)” of resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, comparing, etc. In other words, “judgment (decision)” may be considered as “judgment (decision)” of some action. In this disclosure, “judgment (decision)” may be interpreted as mutually interchangeable with the actions described above.

[0424] Furthermore, in this disclosure, “determine / determining” may be interpreted as “assume / assuming,” “expect / expecting,” or “consider / considering.” In addition, in this disclosure, “not expecting to do…” may be interpreted as “expecting not to do….”

[0425] In this disclosure, "expect" may be rephrased as "be expected." For example, "expect(s) ..." (where "..." may be expressed as a that clause, an infinitive, etc.) may be rephrased as "be expected ..." or "do (the verb without "to" if "..." is an infinitive)." Similarly, "does not expect ..." may be rephrased as "be not expected ..." or "do not (the verb without "to" if "..." is an infinitive)." Furthermore, "An apparatus A is not expected ..." may be rephrased as "An apparatus B other than apparatus A does not expect ... from apparatus A" (for example, if apparatus A is a UE, apparatus B may be a base station).

[0426] The term "maximum transmit power" as used in this disclosure may mean the maximum transmit power, the nominal UE maximum transmit power, or the rated UE maximum transmit power.

[0427] As used in this disclosure, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and any variations thereof mean any direct or indirect connection or coupling between two or more elements, and may include one or more intermediate elements between two elements that are “connected” or “coupled” with each other. The coupling or connection between elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, “connection” may be replaced with “access.”

[0428] In this disclosure, when two elements are connected, they can be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using one or more wires, cables, printed electrical connections, etc., and, in some non-exclusive and non-exclusive examples, electromagnetic energy having wavelengths in the radio frequency domain, microwave domain, and optical (both visible and invisible) domain.

[0429] In this disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other." The term may also mean "A and B are each different from C." Terms such as "separate" and "combine" may be interpreted similarly to "different."

[0430] Where the terms “include,” “including,” and variations thereof are used in this disclosure, these terms are intended to be inclusive, as is the term “comprising.” Furthermore, the term “or” as used in this disclosure is not intended to mean exclusive OR.

[0431] In this disclosure, if articles are added by translation, such as a, an, and the in English, this disclosure may include the fact that the noun following these articles is plural.

[0432] In this disclosure, terms such as "less than or equal to," "less than," "greater than or equal to," "more than," and "equal to" may be interpreted interchangeably. In addition, in this disclosure, terms meaning "good," "bad," "big," "small," "high," "low," "early," "slow," "wide," and "narrow" may be interpreted interchangeably, not limited to the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees. Furthermore, in this disclosure, terms meaning "good," "bad," "big," "small," "high," "low," "early," "slow," "wide," and "narrow" may be interpreted interchangeably, not limited to the positive, comparative, and superlative degrees, by adding "i-th" (where i is any integer) to the expression (for example, "highest" may be interpreted interchangeably as "i-th highest").

[0433] In this disclosure, "of," "for," "regarding," "related to," and "associated with" may be interpreted as being interchangeable.

[0434] In this disclosure, phrases such as "when A, B", "if A, then B", "B upon A", "B in response to A", "B based on A", "B during / while A", "B before A", "B at (the same time as) / on A", "B after A", "B since A", and "B until A" may be interchangeable. Furthermore, A, B, etc., may be replaced with appropriate expressions such as nouns, gerunds, or regular sentences depending on the context. The time difference between A and B may be approximately zero (immediately after or immediately before). Additionally, a time offset may be applied to the time when A occurs. For example, "A" may be interpreted as "before / after the time offset when A occurs". The time offset (e.g., one or more symbols / slots) may be predetermined or determined by the UE based on notified information.

[0435] In this disclosure, timing, time, duration, time instance, any unit of time (e.g., slot, subslot, symbol, subframe), period, occasion, resource, etc., may be interpreted interchangeably.

[0436] Although the invention described herein has been explained in detail above, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the invention described herein is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The descriptions herein are illustrative and not intended to be restrictive in any way to the invention described herein.

[0437] This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2025-014278, filed on January 30, 2025. All of its contents are included herein.

Claims

1. A terminal having a receiving unit that receives multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a serving cell containing multiple physical cell IDs (PCIs), and a control unit that identifies the PCI corresponding to each of the multiple SSBs.

2. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives settings for one serving cell, including settings specific to each of the plurality of PCIs.

3. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit identifies one serving cell based on a specific index set based on a specific PCI among the plurality of PCIs.

4. The terminal according to claim 1, wherein the control unit performs an initial access based on one of the plurality of SSBs, and the receiving unit receives information after the initial access that notifies the other SSBs corresponding to the one serving cell.

5. A wireless communication method for a terminal, comprising the steps of: receiving a plurality of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a serving cell containing a plurality of physical cell IDs (PCIs); and identifying the PCI corresponding to each of the plurality of SSBs.

6. A base station having a transmitting unit that transmits multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a single serving cell containing multiple physical cell IDs (PCIs), and a control unit that sets the PCI corresponding to each of the multiple SSBs.

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