Systems, methods, and devices for enhanced control channel coverage for ntn
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-02-07
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-13
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Figure CN2025076146_13082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR ENHANCED CONTROL CHANNEL COVERAGE FOR NTNFIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates to wireless communication networks and mobile device capabilities.BACKGROUND
[0002] Wireless communication networks and wireless communication services are becoming increasingly dynamic, complex, and ubiquitous. For example, some wireless communication networks can be developed to implement fifth generation (5G) or new radio (NR) technology, sixth generation (6G) technology, and so on. Such technology can include solutions for enabling user equipment (UE) and network devices, such as base stations, to communicate with one another. Such communications can involve procedures to allocate and use time and frequency resources for wireless communications.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] The present disclosure will be readily understood and enabled by the detailed description and accompanying figures of the drawings. Like reference numerals can designate like features and structural elements. Figures and corresponding descriptions are provided as non-limiting examples of aspects, implementations, etc., of the present disclosure, and references to "an" or “one” aspect, implementation, etc., may not necessarily refer to the same aspect, implementation, etc., and can mean at least one, one or more, etc.
[0004] Fig. 1 is a diagram of an example of an overview according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0005] Fig. 2 is a diagram of an example network according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0006] Fig. 3 is a diagram of an example process for receiving a Type 0 Physical Downlink Control Channel (type0-PDCCH) with common search space (CSS) repetitions according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0007] Figs. 4-6 are a diagrams of examples of additional monitoring occasions for type0-PDCCH with CSS repetitions according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0008] Fig. 7 is a diagram of an example process for search space periodicity adjustment for beam hopping according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0009] Fig. 8 is a diagram of an example process for periodicity adjustment for periodic uplink transmissions in beam hopping according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0010] Fig. 9 is a diagram of an example process for enhanced control channel coverage according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0011] Fig. 10 is a diagram of an example process for enhanced control channel coverage according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0012] Fig. 11 is a diagram of an example of components of a device according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0013] Fig. 12 is a diagram of example interfaces of baseband circuitry according to one or more implementations described herein.
[0014] Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to one or more implementations described herein, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. Like reference numbers in different drawings can identify the same or similar features, elements, operations, etc. Additionally, the present disclosure is not limited to the following description as other implementations can be utilized, and structural or logical changes made, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0016] Wireless communication networks can include user equipment (UE) capable of communicating with base stations and / or other network devices. The UE and base station can communicate with one another using time and frequency resources allocated for uplink and downlink communications. Examples of such communications can involve broadcasting downlink signals that include synchronization information, resource information, system information, and more, which can enable further communications between a UE and a wireless communication network.
[0017] UEs can include a Narrowband (NB) Internet of Things (IoT) (NB-IoT) devices and Long Term Evolution for Machines (LTE-M) devices. Coverage Enhancement (CE) levels are often designated as CE0, CE1, and CE2. These are mechanisms to improve coverage and support device connectivity in challenging environments, such as deep indoor areas or remote rural locations. Coverage enhancement levels adjust signal processing and transmission techniques to ensure reliable communication even in weak signal conditions.
[0018] Coverage enhancement levels are tiers of connectivity configurations designed to increase a device’s likelihood of maintaining a stable connection under poor signal conditions. Each level applies progressively stronger methods to improve link reliability, ensuring that IoT devices can communicate even at low signal levels. CE0 is configured for standard coverage scenarios involving devices in good signal conditions. CE1 is configured for enhanced coverage for moderately challenging environments. CE2 is configured for maximum coverage enhancement for very weak signal areas. These levels can dynamically adjust based on the device’s location, signal strength, and network conditions, allowing IoT devices to adapt to varying coverage scenarios while optimizing energy efficiency and resource use.
[0019] Downlink coverage enhancement can be implemented in wireless networks that include non-terrestrial networks (NTN) , where UEs communicate with a wireless network via satellites operating as base stations. The satellites include can be geo-synchronous orbit (GSO) satellites and non-geo-synchronous orbit (NGSO) satellites operating in Frequency Range 1 (FR1) NTN (FR1-NTN) or Frequency Range 2 (FR2) NTN (FR2-NTN) . Frequency Range 1 (FR1) includes sub-7 gigahertz (GHz) frequency bands. Frequency Range 2 (FR2) includes frequency bands from 24.25 GHz to 71.0 GHz. Link level enhancements for FR1-NTN and system level enhancements for FR1-NTN and FR2-NTN can allow dynamic and flexible power sharing between satellite beams or different satellite beam patterns / size (i.e. wide or narrow) across the satellite footprint.
[0020] Beam hopping in an NTN can enable data transmission via satellite to be adapted to the variable data demand in any given area. Instead of statically supplying a specific area with data, a satellite switches back and forth between different coverage areas, beams, beampatterns and sizes (e.g., wide or narrow) , across and inactive a beam footprint, and so on. The switching of the satellite beams is based on a schedule that can take into account the data rates currently required in the various coverage areas. Beam hopping can improve the efficiency because in theory the transmission capacity is always available in full bandwidth exactly where it is needed at any particular moment.
[0021] A Search Space (SS) is an area within a Control Resource Set (CORESET) , such as a CORESET 0, which a UE monitors to detect a specific physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and downlink control information (DCI) for system information (e.g., system information block 1 (SIB1) . The resource allocation (e.g., a time and frequency domain resource allocation) for the CORESET 0 can be configured by a master information block (MIB) , which may be communicated from a satellite or base station to a UE via a signal synchronization block (SSB) of a physical broadcast channel. A SS can be a Common Search Space (CSS) or a UE Specific SS (USS) . Which SS the UE has to monitor is defined by a Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) type or Radio Resource Control (RRC) configuration. A CSS can include one of several PDCCH types that can be referred to as Type 0, Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and so on.
[0022] A type0-PDCCH CSS can be for system information (e.g., for broadcasting SIBs) . A type1-PDCCH CSS can be for common search spaces, which the UE can use for receiving downlink control information (DCI) associated with the random-access procedure. A type2-PDCCH CSS can be for paging. A type3-PDCCH CSS can be for various common or specialized Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RNTI) , including a Transmit Power Control (TPC) RNTIs, Interrupt RNTI (INT-RNTI) , etc.
[0023] The RRC configuration for a Type0-PDCCH includes a pdcch-ConfigSIB1 of a Master Information Block (MIB) , a searchSpaceSIB1 of PDCCHConfigCommon, and a searchSpaceZero in PDCCH-ConfigCommon. The RRC configuration for a Type1-PDCCH includes a ra-SearchSpace in PDCCH-ConfigCommon. The RRC configuration for a Type2-PDCCH includes a pagingSearchSpace in PDCCH-ConfigCommon. The RRC configuration for a Type2-PDCCH includes a SearchSpace in PDCCH-Config with searchSpaceType set to common.
[0024] Currently available NTNs fail to provide any or adequate solutions for control channel coverage. Examples of these deficiencies include a lack of suitable techniques for scheduling monitoring occasions for type0-PDCCH CSS repetitions, techniques for linking different types of search spaces, and adapting to satellite beam hopping patterns. As a result, communications between UEs and NTNs can be unreliable, inefficient, or dysfunctional.
[0025] Techniques described herein enable enhanced control channel coverage in an NTN. A UE can determine monitoring occasions for one or more inter-slot type0-PDCCH CSS. The UE can determine whether type0-PDCCH repetition is enabled and in responses monitor a first set of slots (N0 and N0+1) for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and a second set of slots (N1 and N1+1) for a type0-PDCCH CSS repetition. UE can determine the number of slots separating measurement occasions. UE can determine monitoring occasions for the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and type0-PDCCH CSS repetition based on a total number of SSBs communicated using several beams and configuration information provided by a satellite of the NTN. The UE can also monitor linked search space liked using different types of PDCCH types, adjust periodicities for search spaces and uplink transmissions while subject to a beam hopping pattern of a satellite of an NTN.
[0026] Fig. 2 is a diagram of an example 100 of an overview according to one or more implementations described herein. As shown, example 100 can include UE 110, base station 120, and / or satellite 130. Base station 120 and satellite 130 can be part of an NTN. Base station 120 and / or satellite 130 can communicate a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) to UE 110 (at 1.1) . The PBCH can include an indication about whether type0-PDCCH CCS is enabled. Base station 120 and / or satellite 130 can also communicate scheduling information for a PDCCH associated with the type0-PDCCH CCS. UE 110 can determine that type0-PDCCH CCS is enabled and can determine time and frequency domain resources to monitor for a PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH (at 1.2) . In accordance with the scheduling information, Base station 120 and / or satellite 130 can communicate a PDCCH during an initial type0-PDCCH CCS and during one or more type0-PDCCH CCS repetitions (at 1.3) . UE 110 can use information in the PDCCH to further communications with the NTN of base station 120 and / or satellite 130. These and many other features and examples, such as adjusting a search space periodicity and uplink transmission because of satellite beam hopping, are described below with reference to the remaining Figures.
[0027] Fig. 2 is an example network 200 according to one or more implementations described herein. Example network 200 can include UEs 210-1, 210-2, etc. (referred to collectively as “UEs 210” and individually as “UE 210” ) , a radio access network (RAN) 220, a core network (CN) 230, application servers 240, external networks 250, and satellites 260-1, 260-2, etc. (referred to collectively as “satellites 260” and individually as “satellite 260” ) . As shown, network 200 can include a non-terrestrial network (NTN) comprising one or more satellites 260 (e.g., of a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) ) in communication with UEs 210 and RAN 220.
[0028] The systems and devices of example network 200 can operate in accordance with one or more communication standards, such as 2nd generation (2G) , 3rd generation (3G) , 4th generation (4G) (e.g., long-term evolution (LTE) ) , and / or 5th generation (5G) (e.g., new radio (NR) ) communication standards of the 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) . Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of the systems and devices of example network 200 can operate in accordance with other communication standards and protocols discussed herein, including future versions or generations of 3GPP standards (e.g., sixth generation (6G) standards, seventh generation (7G) standards, etc. ) , institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) standards, and more.
[0029] As shown, UEs 210 can include smartphones (e.g., handheld touchscreen mobile computing devices connectable to one or more wireless communication networks) . Additionally, or alternatively, UEs 210 can include other types of mobile or non-mobile computing devices capable of wireless communications, such as personal data assistants (PDAs) , pagers, laptop computers, desktop computers, wireless handsets, etc. In some implementations, UEs 210 can include Internet of Things (IoT) devices (or IoT UEs) that can implement narrowband (NB) communications and that can comprise, for example, a network access layer designed for low-power IoT applications utilizing short-lived UE connections.
[0030] Additionally, or alternatively, an IoT UE can utilize one or more types of technologies, such as machine-to-machine (M2M) communications or machine-type communications (MTC) (e.g., to exchanging data with an MTC server or other device via a public land mobile network (PLMN) ) , proximity-based service (ProSe) or device-to-device (D2D) communications, sensor networks, IoT networks, and more. Depending on the scenario, an M2M or MTC exchange of data can be a machine-initiated exchange, and an IoT network can include interconnecting IoT UEs (which can include uniquely identifiable embedded computing devices within an Internet infrastructure) with short-lived connections. In some scenarios, IoT UEs can execute background applications (e.g., keep-alive messages, status updates, etc. ) to facilitate the connections of the IoT network.
[0031] UEs 210 can communicate and establish a connection with one or more other UEs 210 via one or more wireless channels 212, each of which can comprise a physical communications interface / layer. The connection can include an M2M connection, MTC connection, D2D connection, SL connection, etc. The connection can involve a PC5 interface. In some implementations, UEs 210 can be configured to discover one another, negotiate wireless resources between one another, and establish connections between one another, without intervention or communications involving RAN node 222 or another type of network node. In some implementations, discovery, authentication, resource negotiation, registration, etc., can involve communications with RAN node 222 or another type of network node.
[0032] UEs 210 can communicate and establish a connection with RAN 220, which can involve one or more wireless channels 214-1 and 214-2, each of which can comprise a physical communications interface / layer. In some implementations, a UE can be configured with dual connectivity (DC) as a multi-radio access technology (multi-RAT) or multi-radio dual connectivity (MR-DC) , where a multiple receive and transmit (Rx / Tx) capable UE can use resources provided by different network nodes (e.g., 222-1 and 222-2) that can be connected via non-ideal backhaul (e.g., where one network node provides NR access and the other network node provides either E-UTRA for LTE or NR access for 5G) . A network node can be referred to herein as a base station 222. In such a scenario, one network node can operate as a master node (MN) and the other as the secondary node (SN) . The MN and SN can be connected via a network interface, and at least the MN can be connected to the CN 230. In some implementations, a base station (as described herein) can be an example of network node 222. In some scenarios, RAN 220 can coordinate with core network 230 via interfaces 224, 226, and / or 228.
[0033] As shown, UE 210 can also, or alternatively, connect to access point (AP) 216 via connection interface 218, which can include an air interface enabling UE 210 to communicatively couple with AP 216. AP 216 can comprise a wireless local area network (WLAN) , WLAN node, WLAN termination point, etc. The connection 216 can comprise a local wireless connection, such as a connection consistent with any IEEE 702.11 protocol, and AP 216 can comprise a wireless fidelity router or other access point device. While not explicitly depicted in Fig. 2, AP 216 can be connected to another network (e.g., the Internet) without connecting to RAN 220 or CN 230.
[0034] RAN 220 can include one or more RAN nodes 222-1 and 222-2 (referred to collectively as RAN nodes 222, and individually as RAN node 222) that enable channels 214-1 and 214-2 to be established between UEs 210 and RAN 220. RAN nodes 222 can include network access points configured to provide radio baseband functions for data and / or voice connectivity between users and the network based on one or more of the communication technologies described herein (e.g., 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, WiFi, etc. ) . As examples therefore, a RAN node can be an E-UTRAN Node B (e.g., an enhanced Node B, eNodeB, eNB, 4G base station, etc. ) , a next generation base station (e.g., a 5G base station, NR base station, next generation eNBs (gNB) , etc. ) . RAN nodes 222 can include a roadside unit (RSU) , a transmission reception point (TRxP or TRP) , and one or more other types of ground stations (e.g., terrestrial access points) . In some scenarios, RAN node 222 can be a dedicated physical device, such as a macrocell base station, and / or a low power (LP) base station for providing femtocells, picocells or the like having smaller coverage areas, smaller user capacity, or higher bandwidth compared to macrocells. A RAN node can generally be referred to herein as base station 222. Satellites 260 can operate as RAN nodes 222, with respect to UEs 210. As such, references herein to a base station, RAN node 222, etc., can involve implementations where the base station, RAN node 222, etc., is a terrestrial network (TN) node and also to implementations where the base station, RAN node 222, etc., is an NTN node (e.g., satellite 260) .
[0035] Some or all of RAN nodes 222, or portions thereof, can be implemented as one or more software entities running on server computers as part of a virtual network, which can be referred to as a centralized RAN (CRAN) and / or a virtual baseband unit pool (vBBUP) . In these implementations, the CRAN or vBBUP can implement a RAN function split, such as a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) split wherein radio resource control (RRC) and PDCP layers can be operated by the CRAN / vBBUP and other Layer 2 (L2) protocol entities can be operated by individual RAN nodes 222; a media access control (MAC) / physical (PHY) layer split wherein RRC, PDCP, radio link control (RLC) , and MAC layers can be operated by the CRAN / vBBUP and the PHY layer can be operated by individual RAN nodes 222; or a “lower PHY” split wherein RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC layers and upper portions of the PHY layer can be operated by the CRAN / vBBUP and lower portions of the PHY layer can be operated by individual RAN nodes 222. This virtualized framework can allow freed-up processor cores of RAN nodes 222 to perform or execute other virtualized applications.
[0036] In some implementations, an individual RAN node 222 can represent individual gNB-distributed units (DUs) connected to a gNB-control unit (CU) via individual F1 or other interfaces. In such implementations, the gNB-DUs can include one or more remote radio heads or radio frequency (RF) front end modules (RFEMs) , and the gNB-CU can be operated by a server (not shown) located in RAN 220 or by a server pool (e.g., a group of servers configured to share resources) in a similar manner as the CRAN / vBBUP. Additionally, or alternatively, one or more of RAN nodes 222 can be next generation eNBs (i.e., gNBs) that can provide evolved universal terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) user plane and control plane protocol terminations toward UEs 210, and that can be connected to a 5G core network (5GC) 230 via an NG interface.
[0037] Any of the RAN nodes 222 can terminate an air interface protocol and can be the first point of contact for UEs 210. In some implementations, any of the RAN nodes 222 can fulfill various logical functions for the RAN 220 including, but not limited to, radio network controller (RNC) functions such as radio bearer management, uplink and downlink dynamic radio resource management and data packet scheduling, and mobility management. UEs 210 can be configured to communicate using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals with each other or with any of the RAN nodes 222 over a multicarrier communication channel in accordance with various communication techniques, such as, but not limited to, an OFDMA communication technique (e.g., for downlink communications) or a single carrier frequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA) communication technique (e.g., for uplink and ProSe or sidelink (SL) communications) , although the scope of such implementations may not be limited in this regard. The OFDM signals can comprise a plurality of orthogonal subcarriers.
[0038] In some implementations, a downlink resource grid can be used for downlink transmissions from any of the RAN nodes 222 to UEs 210, and uplink transmissions can utilize similar techniques. The grid can be a time-frequency grid (e.g., a resource grid or time-frequency resource grid) that represents the physical resource for downlink in each slot. Such a time-frequency plane representation is a common practice for OFDM systems, which makes it intuitive for radio resource allocation. Each column and each row of the resource grid corresponds to one OFDM symbol and one OFDM subcarrier, respectively. The duration of the resource grid in the time domain corresponds to one slot in a radio frame. The smallest time-frequency unit in a resource grid is denoted as a resource element. Each resource grid comprises resource blocks, which describe the mapping of certain physical channels to resource elements (REs) . Each resource block can comprise a collection of resource elements; in the frequency domain, this can represent the smallest quantity of resources that currently can be allocated. There are several different physical downlink channels that are conveyed using such resource blocks.
[0039] Further, RAN nodes 222 can be configured to wirelessly communicate with UEs 210, and / or one another, over a licensed medium (also referred to as the “licensed spectrum” and / or the “licensed band” ) , an unlicensed shared medium (also referred to as the “unlicensed spectrum” and / or the “unlicensed band” ) , or combination thereof. A licensed spectrum can correspond to channels or frequency bands selected, reserved, regulated, etc., for certain types of wireless activity (e.g., wireless telecommunication network activity) , whereas an unlicensed spectrum can correspond to one or more frequency bands that are not restricted for certain types of wireless activity.
[0040] The PDSCH can carry user data and higher layer signaling to UEs 210. The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) can carry information about the transport format and resource allocations related to the PDSCH channel, among other things. The PDCCH can also inform UEs 210 about the transport format, resource allocation, and hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) information related to the uplink shared channel. Typically, downlink scheduling (e.g., assigning control and shared channel resource blocks to UE 210 within a cell) can be performed at any of the RAN nodes 222 based on channel quality information feedback from any of UEs 210. The downlink resource assignment information can be sent on the PDCCH used for (e.g., assigned to) each of UEs 210.
[0041] One or more of the techniques described herein can enable enhanced control channel coverage for UE 210 in an NTN. UE 210 can engage in monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 as well as for type0-PDCCH CSS repetitions and PDSCH with SIB1 repetitions. Solutions are also provided for linking search spaces indicated in an SIB1 and for search space monitoring, uplink management, and periodicity adjustment during satellite beam hopping. Many other aspects and examples are also described herein.
[0042] The RAN nodes 222 can be configured to communicate with one another via interface 223. In implementations where the system is an LTE system, interface 223 can be an X2 interface. In NR systems, interface 223 can be an Xn interface. The X2 interface can be defined between two or more RAN nodes 222 (e.g., two or more eNBs / gNBs or a combination thereof) that connect to evolved packet core (EPC) or CN 230, or between two eNBs connecting to an EPC.
[0043] As shown, RAN 220 can be connected (e.g., communicatively coupled) to CN 230. CN 230 can comprise a plurality of network elements 232, which are configured to offer various data and telecommunications services to customers / subscribers (e.g., users of UEs 210) who are connected to the CN 230 via the RAN 220. In some implementations, CN 230 can include an evolved packet core (EPC) , a 5G CN (5GC) , and / or one or more additional or alternative types of CNs.
[0044] As shown, CN 230, application servers 240, and external networks 250 can be connected to one another via interfaces 234, 236, and 238, which can include IP network interfaces. Application servers 240 can include one or more server devices or network elements (e.g., virtual network functions (VNFs) offering applications that use IP bearer resources with CN 230 (e.g., universal mobile telecommunications system packet services (UMTS PS) domain, LTE PS data services, etc. ) . Application servers 240 can also, or alternatively, be configured to support one or more communication services (e.g., voice over IP (VoIP sessions, push-to-talk (PTT) sessions, group communication sessions, social networking services, etc. ) for UEs 210 via the CN 230. Similarly, external networks 250 can include one or more of a variety of networks, including the Internet, thereby providing the mobile communication network and UEs 210 of the network access to a variety of additional services, information, interconnectivity, and other network features.
[0045] Satellites 260 can communicate with UEs 210 via service link or wireless interface 262 and / or RAN 220 via feeder links or wireless interfaces 264 (depicted individually as 264-1 and 264-2) . In some implementations, satellite 260 can operate as a passive or transparent network relay node regarding communications between UE 210 and the terrestrial network (e.g., RAN 220) . In some implementations, satellite 260 can operate as an active or regenerative network node such that satellite 260 can operate as a base station to UEs 210 (e.g., as a base station of RAN 220) . In some implementations, satellites 260 can communicate with one another via a direct wireless interface (e.g., 266) or an indirect wireless interface (e.g., via RAN 220 using interfaces 264-1 and 264-2) .
[0046] Additionally, or alternatively, satellite 260 may include a GEO satellite, LEO satellite, or another type of satellite. Satellite 260 may also, or alternatively pertain to one or more satellite systems or architectures, such as a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) , global positioning system (GPS) , global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) , BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) , etc. In some implementations, satellites 260 may operate as bases stations (e.g., RAN nodes 222) with respect to UEs 210. As such, references herein to a base station, RAN node 222, etc., may involve implementations where the base station, RAN node 222, etc., is a terrestrial network node and implementation, where the base station, RAN node 222, etc., is a non-terrestrial network node (e.g., satellite 260) . As described herein, UE 210 and base station 222 may communicate with one another, via interface 214, to enable enhanced power saving techniques.
[0047] Fig. 3 is a diagram of an example process for enhanced Msg3 and Msg4 signaling according to one or more implementations described herein. Process 300 can be implemented by UE 210 and / or baseband circuitry. In some implementations, some or all of process 300 can be performed by one or more other systems or devices, including one or more of the devices of Fig. 2. Additionally, process 300 can include one or more fewer, additional, differently ordered and / or arranged operations than those shown in Fig. 3. In some implementations, some or all of the operations of process 300 can be performed independently, successively, simultaneously, etc., of one or more of the other operations of process 300. As such, the techniques described herein are not limited to the number, sequence, arrangement, timing, etc., of the operations or processes depicted in Fig. 3.
[0048] As shown, process 300 can include receiving an indication of whether type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is enabled (block 310) . For example, base station 222 or satellite 260 can communicate an indication to UE 210 of whether type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is enabled. The indication can include a value of a reserved bit transmitted via a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) . The reserved bit can be in an MIB of the PBCH. The reserved bit can be in downlink control information (DCI) or another type of data structure, including a signal synchronization block (SSB) , system information block (SIB) , etc.
[0049] Process 300 can include monitoring slot N0 and slot N0 + 1 for type0-PDCCH when type0-PDCCH repetition is not enabled (block 320) . For example, in response to determining that type0-PDCCH repetition is not enabled, UE 210 can monitor slots N0 and N0 + 1 for a type0-PDCCH. Slots N0 and N0 + 1 can be consecutive slots in a time domain. The for type0-PDCCH can include a search space, such as common search space, which can enable UE 210 to receive additional information to facilitate further communications with base station 222 or satellite 260.
[0050] Process 300 can include monitoring slot N0 and slot N0 + 1 for an initial type0-PDCCH and monitoring slot N1 and slot N1 + 1 for a type0-PDCCH repetition when type0-PDCCH repetition is enabled (block 330) . For example, in response to determining that type0-PDCCH repetition is enabled, UE 210 can monitor slots N0 and N0 + 1 and slots N1 and N1 + 1. Slots N0 and N0 + 1 can be consecutive slots in a time domain, and slots N1 and N1 + 1 can be consecutive slots in a time domain. However, there can be one or more slots between slots N0 and N0 + 1 and slots N1 and N1 + 1.
[0051] Process 300 can include performing combining for PDCCH decoding (block 340) . For example, UE 210 can receive an initial type0-PDCCH and a type0-PDCCH repetition and can perform a combining procedure on the initial type0-PDCCH and a type0-PDCCH repetition. For instance, when the transmission starts, base station 222 or satellite 260 can encode DCI to generate a PDCCH containing DCI and parity check bits. Subsequently, the PDCCH is transmitted from the base station 222 or satellite 260. UE 210 can be configured to calculate a log likelihood ratio (LLR) of an incoming codeword and decode the incoming codeword to find the codeword sent by the base station 222 or satellite 260. If the decoder fails to find the correct codeword, UE 210 can store a current slot containing a PDCCH to combine with a PDCCH repetition in a next transmission occasion. One or more of the examples described herein can also, or alternatively, be part of process 300.
[0052] Figs. 4-6 are a diagrams of examples 400-600 of additional monitoring occasions for type0-PDCCH with CSS repetitions according to one or more implementations described herein. As shown, examples 400-600 each include time domain resources for different beams. Examples 400 and 600 each include time domain resources of four beams (beams 0-3) while example 500 includes time domain resources of two beams (beams 0-1) .
[0053] Time domain resources can be organized into slots that each include 14 OFDM symbols. Some slots can include symbols allocated to transmitting a system synchronization block (SSB) . Other slots can include symbols allocated to transmitting an initial type0-PDCCH and symbols allocated to transmitting an initial PDSCH with SIB1. Yet other slots can include symbols allocated to transmitting a type0-PDCCH repetition and symbols allocated to transmitting a PDSCH with SIB1 repetition.
[0054] Additional monitoring occasions for inter-slot type0-PDCCH CSS repetition can include scenarios that do not involve a shared spectrum channel access and SSB-CORESET multiplexing pattern 1. UE 210 monitoring behavior can be as follows. UE 210 can monitor a PDCCH in the type0-PDCCH CSS set over two consecutive slots (n0, n0+1) , where (without type0-PDCCH repetition) satellite 260 can transmit the type0-PDCCH CSS set based on the following.
[0055] The value of n0 can be a slot of an initial CSS of the type0-PDCCH CSS set. The value of μ can be a numerology. The value of i can be an SSB index. The value of O and the value of M can be set by configuration information (e.g., a master information block (MIB) ) . And can be number of slots per subframe for a numerology μ. The slot can be in the frame with an even system frame number (SFN) index when:
[0056] The slot can be in the frame with an odd system frame number (SFN) index when:
[0057] UE 210 can also monitors a PDCCH in the type0-PDCCH CSS set over two slots (n1, n1+1) , according to the following (with type0-PDCCH repetition) .
[0058] NSSB is the configured number of SSB in a cell or the maximum number of SSB in a cell for the given frequency. The slot can be in the frame with an even system frame number (SFN) index when:
[0059] The slot can be in the frame with an odd system frame number (SFN) index when:
[0060] Example 400 can be a scenario that includes transmitting a type0-PDCCH CSS with repetition and a PDSCH with SIB1 with repetition using 4 beams (beams 0-3) . An initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 can be transmitted using beam 0 at slot N0. A type0-PDCCH CSS repetition and PDSCH with SIB1 repetition can be transmitted using beam 0 after a number of A slots, at slot N1. In example 400, the number of A slots from N0. to N1 is 4. The value of A can be a function of NSSB and M, which can be expressed as follows.
[0061] NSSB can be configured by the network and / or can default to a maximum number of SSBs per cell for a given frequency or frequency range. M can be configured by an MIB and / or SSB of a PBCH. The SSBs for each beam can enable UE 210 to determine the time domain resources and scheduling of the monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 and / or repetitions of a type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1.
[0062] Example 400 includes a scenario where A equals 4 since NSSB equals 4 and M equals 1.Example 400 can include a scenario of backwards compatibility with legacy systems since the PDSCH with SIB1 repetition does not affect the scheduled type0-PDCCH transmissions. Each slot with a type0-PDCCH CSS can be referred to as a monitoring occasion as UE 210 can monitor the corresponding time domain resources to receive the type0-PDCCH information.
[0063] Example 500 can be a scenario that includes transmitting a type0-PDCCH CSS with repetition and a PDSCH with SIB1 with repetition using 2 beams (beams 0-1) . The SSBs for each beam can enable UE 210 to determine the time domain resources and scheduling of the monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 and / or repetitions of a type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1.
[0064] An initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 can be transmitted using beam 0 at slot N0. A type0-PDCCH CSS repetition and PDSCH with SIB1 repetition can be transmitted using beam 0 after a number of A slots, at slot N1. In example 500, the number of A slots from N0. to N1 is 4. The value of A can be a function of NSSB and M, which can be expressed as follows.
[0065] NSSB can be configured by the network and / or can default to a maximum number of SSBs per cell for a given frequency or frequency range. M can be configured by an MIB and / or SSB of a PBCH. The SSBs for each beam can enable UE 210 to determine the time domain resources and scheduling of the monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 and / or repetitions of a type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1.
[0066] Example 500 includes a scenario where A equals 4 since NSSB equals 2 and M equals 2. These values can account for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS of beam 0 and an initial type0-PDCCH CSS of beam 1 being separated by an entire slot in the time domain. The type0-PDCCH CSS repetition of beam 0 and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition of beam 1 are similarly separated.
[0067] Example 600 can be a scenario that includes transmitting a type0-PDCCH CSS with repetition and a PDSCH with SIB1 with repetition using 4 beams (beams 0-3) . In contrast to example 400, the SSBs, monitoring occasions for all type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 for beams 0-1 are grouped within the same time domain slot (even though the frequencies for beams 0-1 are different) . Beams 2-3 are configured similarly with respect to one another. In example 600, the number of A slots from N0 to N1 is 2, since NSSB equals 4 and M equals 1 / 2. The value of A can be a function of NSSB and M, which can be expressed as follows.
[0068] NSSB can be configured by the network and / or can default to a maximum number of SSBs per cell for a given frequency or frequency range. M can be configured by an MIB and / or SSB of a PBCH. The SSBs for each beam can enable UE 210 to determine the time domain resources and scheduling of the monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 and / or repetitions of a type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1.
[0069] The techniques described herein can include configuration of search space linkage for the following types of PDCCH CSS: type 0A (other SIBs) ; type 0B (Multicast Control Channel (MCCH) and Multicast Traffic Channel (MTCH) ) , type 1 (random access (RA) , type 1A (Small Data Transmission (SDT) ) , type 2 (paging) , and type 2A (Permanent Equipment Identifier (PEI) . In some implementations, for example, SIB1 can be configured with PDCCH-ConfigCommon, sdt-SearchSpace can be linked to type1A-PDCCH; searchSpaceMCCH and searchSpaceMTCH can be linked to type0B-PDCCH and pei-SearchSpace can be linked to type2A-PDCCH. In some implementation a list of searchSpaceId values can be associated with search spaces that have the same searchspacelinkingId value. Accordingly, the techniques described herein can include solutions for search space linkage with types of PDCCH CSS for sdt-SearchSpace, searchSpaceMCCH (type0B-PDCCH) , searchSpaceMTCH, pei-SearchSpace in SIB1.
[0070] Fig. 7 is a diagram of an example process 700 for search space periodicity adjustment for beam hopping according to one or more implementations described herein. Process 700 can be implemented by UE 210 and / or baseband circuitry. In some implementations, some or all of process 700 can be performed by one or more other systems or devices, including one or more of the devices of Fig. 2. Additionally, process 700 can include one or more fewer, additional, differently ordered and / or arranged operations than those shown in Fig. 7. In some implementations, some or all of the operations of process 700 can be performed independently, successively, simultaneously, etc., of one or more of the other operations of process 700. As such, the techniques described herein are not limited to the number, sequence, arrangement, timing, etc., of the operations or processes depicted in Fig. 7.
[0071] As shown, process 700 can include receiving search space configuration comprising USS with monitoring periodicity (block 710) . For example, UE 210 can receive a search space configuration that includes a USS with monitoring periodicity from base station 222 or satellite 260. UE 210 can receive the USS and monitoring periodicity via a SearchSpace in an RRC PDCCH-Config with searchSpaceType set to UE-Specific. The USS can include a search space that UE 210 is to monitor for a DCI format based on, an RNTI. The RNTI can be a cell RNTI (C-RNTI) , temporary cell RNTI (T_C-RNTI) , Configured scheduling RNTI (CS-RNTI) , semi-persistent (SP) channel state information (CSI) SP-CSI-RNTI.
[0072] Process 700 can include receiving beam hopping pattern and revisit timer (block 720) . For example, UE 210 can receive a beam hopping pattern and revisit timer from satellite 260. The beam hopping pattern can be the beam hopping pattern of satellite 260, and the revisit timer can be an amount of time involved in repeating the beam hopping pattern. A beam hopping pattern can include changes in one or more satellite beams, beam characteristics (e.g., wide or narrow) an active beam footprint within a coverage area, and / or changes in coverage areas. For example, satellite 260 can implement a beam hopping pattern that includes rotating though different beams, coverages areas, and active footprints within each coverage area over a period of time. A revisit time can include an amount of time involved in satellite 260 becoming active and available again relative to a particular UE 210, beam, footprint, or coverage area, including any combination thereof.
[0073] Process 700 can include adjusting search space monitoring periodicity based on a configured monitoring periodicity and beam hopping pattern (block 730) . For example, UE 210 can adjust a search space monitoring periodicity based on a configured monitoring periodicity and beam hopping pattern of satellite 260.
[0074] A search space periodicity adjustment during beam hopping can involve a UE-specific search set. Each search space configuration can indicate a search space periodicity and offset in the monitoringSlotPeriodicityAndOffset parameter. A monitoring periodicity can range from 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, up to 2560 slots. For beam hopping, a configured monitoring occasion can occur in a slot without beam coverage. Assuming the configured search space monitoring periodicity is T slots, and a beam hopping revisit time is R slots, the search space monitoring periodicity can be adjusted to T’ slots, which can be based on T slots and R slots. There are several options for this adjustment: T’ could be the maximum of T and R, equal to R, the least common multiple of T and R, or A*R, where A is the smallest integer such that A*R is greater than or equal to T. Accordingly, solutions are described for search space periodicity adjustment during beam hopping.
[0075] One or more of the examples described herein can also, or alternatively, be part of process 700.
[0076] Fig. 8 is a diagram of an example process for periodicity adjustment for periodic uplink transmissions in beam hopping according to one or more implementations described herein. Process 800 can be implemented by UE 210 and / or baseband circuitry. In some implementations, some or all of process 800 can be performed by one or more other systems or devices, including one or more of the devices of Fig. 2. Additionally, process 800 can include one or more fewer, additional, differently ordered and / or arranged operations than those shown in Fig. 8. In some implementations, some or all of the operations of process 800 can be performed independently, successively, simultaneously, etc., of one or more of the other operations of process 800. As such, the techniques described herein are not limited to the number, sequence, arrangement, timing, etc., of the operations or processes depicted in Fig. 8.
[0077] As shown, process 700 can include receiving configured grant with uplink transmission periodicity (block 710) . For example, UE 210 can receive a configured grant with uplink transmission periodicity from satellite 260. Techniques described herein include periodicity adjustment for periodic uplink transmissions in beam hopping. With a configured grant (CG) physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) as an example, this technique can be applicable to other periodic uplink transmissions like CG SDT, RA SDT, and CG uplink control information (UCI) . A CG PUSCH configuration can indicate the uplink transmission periodicity in a periodicity parameter, which can range from 2, 7, up to 2560, and even 5120*14 symbols.
[0078] Process 700 can include receive an uplink beam hopping pattern including revisit time (block 720) . For example, UE 210 can receive an uplink beam hopping pattern including revisit time from satellite 260. Satellite 260 can engage in beam hopping according to a beam hopping pattern with a revisit time. In an uplink beam hopping scenario, a SDT occasion can occur in a slot without beam coverage.
[0079] Process 700 can include adjusting a periodicity based the configured periodicity and uplink beam hopping pattern (block 730) . For example, UE 210 can adjust a periodicity based the configured periodicity and uplink beam hopping pattern. Assuming the configured search space monitoring periodicity is T slots and the uplink beam hopping revisit time is R slots (which can differ from the downlink dwell time and downlink revisit time) the uplink transmission periodicity can be adjusted to T’ slots. This adjustment can depends on T and R slots. For example, T’ can be the maximum of T and R, equal to R, the least common multiple of T and R, or A*R, where A is the smallest integer such that A*R is greater than or equal to T. Accordingly, solutions are described for periodicity adjustment for periodic uplink transmissions in beam hopping. One or more of the examples described herein can also, or alternatively, be part of process 700.
[0080] Fig. 9 is a diagram of an example process for enhanced Msg3 and Msg4 signaling according to one or more implementations described herein. As shown, process 900 can be implemented by UE 210 and / or baseband circuitry. In some implementations, some or all of process 900 can be performed by one or more other systems or devices, including one or more of the devices of Fig. 2. Additionally, process 900 can include one or more fewer, additional, differently ordered and / or arranged operations than those shown in Fig. 9. In some implementations, some or all of the operations of process 900 can be performed independently, successively, simultaneously, etc., of one or more of the other operations of process 900. As such, the techniques described herein are not limited to the number, sequence, arrangement, timing, etc., of the operations or processes depicted in Fig. 9.
[0081] As shown, process 900 can include determining a monitoring occasion for an initial Type 0 Physical Downlink Control Channel (type0-PDCCH) common search space (CSS) (block 910) . Process 900 can include monitoring a PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS according to the monitoring occasion (block 920) . Process 900 can include determining a monitoring occasion for a type0-PDCCH CSS repetition associated with the initial type0-PDCCH CSS (block 930) . Process 900 can include monitoring a PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition (block 940) . One or more of the examples described herein can also, or alternatively, be part of process 900.
[0082] Fig. 10 is a diagram of an example process for enhanced Msg3 and Msg4 signaling according to one or more implementations described herein. As shown, process 1000 can be implemented by base station 222 and / or baseband circuitry. In some implementations, some or all of process 1000 can be performed by one or more other systems or devices, including one or more of the devices of Fig. 2. Additionally, process 1000 can include one or more fewer, additional, differently ordered and / or arranged operations than those shown in Fig. 10. In some implementations, some or all of the operations of process 1000 can be performed independently, successively, simultaneously, etc., of one or more of the other operations of process 1000. As such, the techniques described herein are not limited to the number, sequence, arrangement, timing, etc., of the operations or processes depicted in Fig. 10.
[0083] As shown, process 1000 can include receiving a configured grant (CG) with an uplink transmission periodicity (block 1010) . Process 1000 can include receiving an uplink beam hopping pattern with and a corresponding revisit time (block 1020) . Process 1000 can include adjusting the uplink transmission periodicity based on the uplink transmission periodicity and the uplink beam hopping pattern (block 1030) . One or more of the examples described herein can also, or alternatively, be part of process 1000.
[0084] Fig. 11 is a diagram of an example of components of a device according to one or more implementations described herein. In some implementations, device 1100 can include application circuitry 1102, baseband circuitry 1104, RF circuitry 1106, front-end module (FEM) circuitry 1108, one or more antennas 1110, and power management circuitry (PMC) 1112 coupled together at least as shown. In some implementations, device 1100 can include fewer elements (e.g., a RAN node may not utilize application circuitry 1102 and can instead include a processor / controller to process data received from a core network. In some implementations, device 1100 can include additional elements such as, for example, memory / storage, display, camera, sensor (including one or more temperature sensors, such as a single temperature sensor, a plurality of temperature sensors at different locations in device 1100, etc. ) , or input / output (I / O) interface. In other implementations, the components described below can be included in more than one device (e.g., said circuitries can be separately included in more than one device for cloud-RAN (C-RAN) implementations) .
[0085] Application circuitry 1102 can include one or more application processors. For example, application circuitry 1102 can include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor (s) can include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, etc. ) . The processors can be coupled with or can include memory / storage and can be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory / storage to enable various applications or operating systems to run on device 1100. In some implementations, processors of application circuitry 1102 can process data packets received from a core network.
[0086] Baseband circuitry 1104 can include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. Baseband circuitry 1104 can include one or more baseband processors or control logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signal path of RF circuitry 1106 and to generate baseband signals for a transmit signal path of RF circuitry 1106. Baseband circuity 1104 can interface with application circuitry 1102 for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of RF circuitry 1106. For example, in some implementations, baseband circuitry 1104 can include a 3G baseband processor 1104A, a 4G baseband processor 1104B, a 5G baseband processor 1104C, or other baseband processor (s) 1104D for other existing generations, generations in development or to be developed in the future (e.g., 5G, 6G, 7G, etc. ) .
[0087] Baseband circuitry 1104 (e.g., one or more of baseband processors 1104A-D) can handle various radio control functions that enable communication with one or more radio networks via RF circuitry 1106. In other implementations, some or all of the functionality of baseband processors 1104A-D can be included in modules stored in memory 1104G and executed via a central processing unit (CPU) 1104E. The radio control functions can include, but are not limited to, signal modulation / demodulation, encoding / decoding, radio frequency shifting, etc. In some implementations, modulation / demodulation circuitry of baseband circuitry 1104 can include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT) , precoding, or constellation mapping / de-mapping functionality. In some implementations, encoding / decoding circuitry of baseband circuitry 1104 can include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, or low-density parity check (LDPC) encoder / decoder functionality. Implementations of modulation / demodulation and encoder / decoder functionality are not limited to these examples and can include other suitable functionality in other implementations.
[0088] In some implementations, memory 1104G can receive and / or store information and instructions for enabling enhanced control channel coverage for UE 210 in an NTN. UE 210 can engage in monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 as well as for type0-PDCCH CSS repetitions and PDSCH with SIB1 repetitions. Solutions are also provided for linking search spaces indicated in an SIB1 and search space monitoring, uplink management, and periodicity adjustment during satellite beam hopping. Many other aspects and examples are also described herein.
[0089] In some implementations, baseband circuitry 1104 can include one or more audio digital signal processor (s) (DSP) 1104F. Audio DSP 1104F can include elements for compression / decompression and echo cancellation and can include other suitable processing elements in other implementations. Components of baseband circuitry 1104 can be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some implementations. In some implementations, some or all of the constituent components of baseband circuitry 1104 and application circuitry 1102 can be implemented together such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC) .
[0090] In some implementations, baseband circuitry 1104 can provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some implementations, baseband circuitry 1104 can support communication with a NG-RAN, an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN) , a wireless local area network (WLAN) , a wireless personal area network (WPAN) , etc. Implementations in which baseband circuitry 1104 is configured to support radio communications of more than one wireless protocol can be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.
[0091] RF circuitry 1106 can enable communication with wireless networks using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. In various implementations, RF circuitry 1106 can include switches, filters, amplifiers, etc., to facilitate the communication with the wireless network. RF circuitry 1106 can include a receive signal path which can include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from FEM circuitry 1108 and provide baseband signals to baseband circuitry 1104. RF circuitry 1106 can also include a transmit signal path which can include circuitry to up-convert baseband signals provided by baseband circuitry 1104 and provide RF output signals to FEM circuitry 1108 for transmission.
[0092] In some implementations, the receive signal path of RF circuitry 1106 can include mixer circuitry 1106A, amplifier circuitry 1106B and filter circuitry 1106C. In some implementations, the transmit signal path of RF circuitry 1106 can include filter circuitry 1106C and mixer circuitry 1106A. RF circuitry 1106 can also include synthesizer circuitry 1106D for synthesizing a frequency for use by mixer circuitry 1106A of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106A of the receive signal path can be configured to down-convert RF signals received from FEM circuitry 1108 based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1106D. Amplifier circuitry 1106B can be configured to amplify the down-converted signals and filter circuitry 1106C can be a low-pass filter (LPF) or band-pass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals. Output baseband signals can be provided to baseband circuitry 1104 for further processing. In some implementations, the output baseband signals can be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this may not be a requirement. In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106A of the receive signal path can comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the implementations is not limited in this respect.
[0093] In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106A of the transmit signal path can be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1106D to generate RF output signals for FEM circuitry 1108. The baseband signals can be provided by baseband circuitry 1104 and can be filtered by filter circuitry 1106C. In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106A of the receive signal path and mixer circuitry 1106A of the transmit signal path can include two or more mixers and can be arranged for quadrature down conversion and up conversion, respectively. In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106A of the receive signal path and mixer circuitry 1106A of the transmit signal path can include two or more mixers and can be arranged for image rejection. In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106A of the receive signal path and mixer circuitry 1106A can be arranged for direct down conversion and direct up conversion, respectively. In some implementations, mixer circuitry 1106 of the receive signal path and mixer circuitry 1106A of the transmit signal path can be configured for super-heterodyne operation.
[0094] In some implementations, the output baseband signals, and the input baseband signals can be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the implementations is not limited in this respect. In some alternate implementations, the output baseband signals, and the input baseband signals can be digital baseband signals. In these alternate implementations, RF circuitry 1106 can include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry and baseband circuitry 1104 can include a digital baseband interface to communicate with RF circuitry 1106.
[0095] In some dual-mode implementations, a separate radio integrated circuitry can be provided for processing signals for each spectrum, although the scope of the implementations is not limited in this respect. In some implementations, synthesizer circuitry 1106D can be a fractional-N synthesizer or a fractional N / N+1 synthesizer, although the scope of the implementations is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers can be suitable. For example, synthesizer circuitry 1106D can be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider.
[0096] Synthesizer circuitry 1106D can be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by mixer circuitry 1106A of RF circuitry 1106 based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In some implementations, synthesizer circuitry 1106D can be a fractional N / N+1 synthesizer. In some implementations, frequency input can be provided by a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) . Divider control input can be provided by either baseband circuitry 1104 or the applications circuitry 1102 depending on the desired output frequency. In some implementations, a divider control input (e.g., N) can be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by the applications circuitry 1102.
[0097] Synthesizer circuitry 1106D of RF circuitry 1106 can include a divider, a delay-locked loop (DLL) , a multiplexer, and a phase accumulator. In some implementations, the divider can be a dual modulus divider (DMD) , and the phase accumulator can be a digital phase accumulator (DPA) . In some implementations, the DMD can be configured to divide the input signal by either N or N+1 (e.g., based on a carry out) to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example implementations, the DLL can include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump and a D-type flip-flop. In these implementations, the delay elements can be configured to break a VCO period up into Nd equal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to help ensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.
[0098] In some implementations, synthesizer circuitry 1106D can be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other implementations, the output frequency can be a multiple of the carrier frequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency) and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and divider circuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency with multiple different phases with respect to each other. In some implementations, the output frequency can be a LO frequency (fLO) . In some implementations, RF circuitry 1106 can include an in-phase / quadrature (I / Q) / polar converter.
[0099] FEM circuitry 1108 can include a receive signal path which can include circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from one or more antennas 1110, amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals to RF circuitry 1106 for further processing. FEM circuitry 1108 can also include a transmit signal path which can include circuitry configured to amplify signals for transmission provided by RF circuitry 1106 for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas 1110. In various implementations, the amplification through the transmit or receive signal paths can be done solely in RF circuitry 1106, solely in FEM circuitry 1108, or in both RF circuitry 1106 and FEM circuitry 1108.
[0100] In some implementations, FEM circuitry 1108 can include a transmit / receive switch to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. FEM circuitry 1108 can include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of FEM circuitry 1108 can include a low noise amplifier to amplify received RF signals and provide the amplified received RF signals as an output (e.g., to RF circuitry 1106) . The transmit signal path of FEM circuitry 1108 can include a power amplifier to amplify input RF signals (e.g., provided by RF circuitry 1106) , and one or more filters to generate RF signals for subsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of one or more antennas 1110) .
[0101] In some implementations, PMC 1112 can manage power provided to baseband circuitry 1104. In particular, PMC 1112 can control power-source selection, voltage scaling, battery charging, or direct current (DC) to DC (DC-to-DC) conversion. PMC 1112 can often be included when device 1100 is capable of being powered by a battery, for example, when device 1100 is included in a UE. PMC 1112 can increase the power conversion efficiency while providing desirable implementation size and heat dissipation characteristics.
[0102] While Fig. 11 shows PMC 1112 coupled only with baseband circuitry 1104. However, in other implementations, PMC 1112 can be additionally or alternatively coupled with, and perform similar power management operations for, other components such as, but not limited to, application circuitry 1102, RF circuitry 1106, or FEM circuitry 1108.
[0103] In some implementations, PMC 1112 can control, or otherwise be part of, various power saving mechanisms of device 1100. For example, if device 1100 is in an RRC_Connected state, where device 1100 is still connected to the RAN node as device 1100 expects to receive traffic shortly, then device 1100 can enter a state known as discontinuous reception mode (DRX) after a period of inactivity. During this state, device 1100 can power down for brief intervals of time and thus save power.
[0104] If there is no data traffic activity for an extended period of time, then device 1100 can transition off to an RRC_Idle state, where device 1100 disconnects from the network and does not perform operations such as channel quality feedback, handover, etc. Device 1100 can go into a very low power state and device 1100 can perform paging where again device 1100 periodically can wake up to listen to the network and then power down again. Device 1100 may not receive data in this state; in order to receive data, device 1100 can transition back to RRC_Connected state.
[0105] An additional power saving mode can allow a device to be unavailable to the network for periods longer than a paging interval (ranging from seconds to a few hours) . During this time, the device 1100 can be unreachable to the network and can power down completely. Any data sent during this time can incur a large delay and device 1100 can assume the delay is acceptable.
[0106] Processors of application circuitry 1102 and processors of baseband circuitry 1104 can be used to execute elements of one or more instances of a protocol stack. For example, processors of baseband circuitry 1104, alone or in combination, can be used execute Layer 3, Layer 2, or Layer 1 functionality, while processors of baseband circuitry 1104 can utilize data (e.g., packet data) received from these layers and further execute Layer 4 functionality (e.g., transmission communication protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) layers) . As referred to herein, Layer 3 can comprise a radio resource control layer. As referred to herein, Layer 2 can comprise a medium access control layer, a radio link control layer, and a packet data convergence protocol layer, described in further detail below. As referred to herein, Layer 1 can comprise a physical layer of a UE / RAN node.
[0107] Fig. 12 is a diagram of example interfaces 1200 of baseband circuitry according to one or more implementations described herein. One or more components or features of example interfaces 1200 can correspond to one or more components or features described above or elsewhere. Baseband circuitry 1204 can comprise processors 1204A, 1204B, 1204C, 1204D, and 1204E and a memory 1204G utilized by said processors. Each of processors 1204A, 1204B, 1204C, 1204D, and 1204E can include a memory interface, 1206A, 1206B, 1206C, 1206D, and 1206E, respectively, to send / receive data to / from memory 1204G. Baseband circuitry can be a component of a UE and / or another type of device or system capable of transmitting and / or receiving wireless signals.
[0108] Baseband circuitry 1204 can further include one or more interfaces to communicatively couple to other circuitries / devices, such as memory interface 1212 (e.g., an interface to send / receive data to / from memory external to baseband circuitry 1204) , an application circuitry interface 1214 (e.g., an interface to send / receive data to / from the application circuitry as described herein) , an RF circuitry interface 1216, a wireless hardware connectivity interface 1218 (e.g., an interface to send / receive data to / from near field communication components, components (e.g., Low Energy) , components, and other communication components) , and a power management interface 1220 (e.g., an interface to send / receive power or control signals to / from a PMC) .
[0109] Fig. 13 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example implementations, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, Fig. 13 shows a diagrammatic representation of hardware resources 1300 including one or more processors 1310 (or processor cores) , one or more memory / storage devices 1320, and one or more communication resources 1330, each of which can be communicatively coupled via a bus 1340. For implementations where node virtualization or network function virtualization is utilized, a hypervisor can be executed to provide an execution environment for one or more network slices / sub-slices to utilize hardware resources 1300. Hardware resources 1300 can interact with hypervisor 1302. For example, hypervisor 1302 can schedule or otherwise manage hardware resource 1300.
[0110] Processors 1310 (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU) , a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU) , a digital signal processor (DSP) such as a baseband processor, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC) , another processor, or any suitable combination thereof) can include, for example, a processor 1312 and a processor 1314.
[0111] Memory / storage devices 1320 can include main memory, disk storage, or any suitable combination thereof. Memory / storage devices 1320 can include, but are not limited to any type of volatile or non-volatile memory such as dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) , static random-access memory (SRAM) , erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM) , electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM) , flash memory, solid-state storage, etc.
[0112] In some implementations, memory / storage devices 1320 receive and / or store information and instructions 1355 for enabling enhanced control channel coverage for UE 210 in an NTN. UE 210 can engage in monitoring occasions for an initial type0-PDCCH CSS and PDSCH with SIB1 as well as for type0-PDCCH CSS repetitions and PDSCH with SIB1 repetitions. Solutions are also provided for linking search spaces indicated in an SIB1 and search space monitoring, uplink management, and periodicity adjustment during satellite beam hopping. Many other aspects and examples are also described herein.
[0113] Communication resources 1330 can include interconnection or network interface components or other suitable devices to communicate with one or more peripheral devices 1304 or one or more databases 1306 via a network 1308. For example, communication resources 1330 can include wired communication components (e.g., for coupling via a universal serial bus) , cellular communication components, near field communication components, components (e.g., Low Energy) , components, and other communication components.
[0114] Instructions 1350A, 1350B, 1350C, 1350D, and / or 1350E can comprise software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of processors 1310 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Instructions 1350 can reside, completely or partially, within at least one of processors 1310 (e.g., within a cache memory) , memory / storage devices 1320, or any suitable combination thereof. Furthermore, any portion of instructions 1350A-E can be transferred to hardware resources 1300 from any combination of peripheral devices 1304 or databases 1306. Accordingly, memory of processors 1310, memory / storage devices 1320, peripheral devices 1304, and databases 1306 are examples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.
[0115] Examples herein can include subject matter such as a method, means for performing acts or blocks of the method, at least one machine-readable medium including executable instructions that, when performed by a machine (e.g., a processor (e.g., processor, etc. ) with memory, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) , a field programmable gate array (FPGA) , or the like) cause the machine to perform acts of the method or of an apparatus or system for concurrent communication using multiple communication technologies according to implementations and examples described.
[0116] In example 1, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, a UE can comprise: a memory configured to store one or more instructions; and one or more processors configured to, when executing the one or more instructions, cause the UE to: determine a monitoring occasion for an initial Type 0 Physical Downlink Control Channel (type0-PDCCH) common search space (CSS) ; monitor a PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS according to the monitoring occasion; determine a monitoring occasion for a type0-PDCCH CSS repetition associated with the initial type0-PDCCH CSS; and monitor a PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.
[0117] In example 2, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the one or more processors is configured to determine that type0-PDCCH CSS repetitions are enabled.
[0118] In example 3, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the initial type0-PDCCH CSS comprises a two-slot type0-PDCCH CSS that is monitored beginning at slot N0 and ended at slot N0+1.
[0119] In example 4, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition comprises a two-slot type0-PDCCH CSS repetition that is monitored beginning at slot N1 and ended at slot N1+1.
[0120] In example 5, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition comprises a two-slot type0-PDCCH CSS repetition that is monitored beginning at slot N1 and ended at slot N1+1.
[0121] In example 6, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS is transmitted using different slots across multiple beams, the PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is transmitted using different slots across multiple beams, and the different slots of the PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS occur before the different slots the PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.
[0122] In example 7, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, a number of slots between the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is based on a maximum number of SSB in a current cell for a frequency of a band use by the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.
[0123] In example 8, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, a number of slots between the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is based on a configured number of SSB in a cell parameter maximum number of SSB in a current cell for a frequency of a band use by the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.
[0124] In example 9, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the one or more processors is configured to operate according to a configuration of a search space linkage for a type1A-PDCCH, a type0B-PDCCH, a type0B-PDCCH, or a type2A-PDCCH, and the search space linkage being configured to link search spaces corresponding to a sdt-SearchSpace, searchSpaceMCCH, searchSpaceMTCH, or pei-SearchSpace.
[0125] In example 10, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, baseband circuitry can comprise: a memory device configured to store one or more instructions; and one or more processors configured to execute the one or more instructions to: obtain a search space configuration on user equipment (UE) specific search space (USS) with a monitoring periodicity, obtain a beam hopping pattern corresponding to at least one satellite of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) ; and adjust a search space periodicity of the USS based on the monitoring periodicity and the beam hopping pattern.
[0126] In example 11, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the USS comprises search space periodicity and an offset parameter.
[0127] In example 12, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the monitoring periodicity comprises a number of slots from 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, or more up to 2560.
[0128] In example 13, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the monitoring periodicity comprises a number of T slots, the beam hoping pattern comprises a beam hoping revisit time of R slots, and the search space periodicity is adjusted to a number of T’slots based on at least one of: T’ = (T, R) , T’ = T + R, T’ = max (T, R) , T’ = R, T’ = least common multipole of T and R, T = A*R, where A is a smallest integer such that A*R is greater than or equal to R, or a combination thereof.
[0129] In example 14, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, a method can comprise: receiving a configured grant (CG) with an uplink transmission periodicity; receiving an uplink beam hopping pattern with and a corresponding revisit time; and adjusting the uplink transmission periodicity based on the uplink transmission periodicity and the uplink beam hopping pattern.
[0130] In example 15, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, a CG physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is configured to indicate the uplink transmission periodicity in a periodicity parameter of the CG PUSCH.
[0131] In example 16, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the uplink transmission periodicity is a duration of time equal to a number between 2 and 5120 that is multiplied by14 symbols.
[0132] In example 17, which can also include one or more of the examples described herein, the uplink transmission periodicity is a duration of time equal to a number between 2 and 5120 that is multiplied by14 symbols.
[0133] The above description of illustrated examples, implementations, aspects, etc., of the subject disclosure, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosed aspects to the precise forms disclosed. While specific examples, implementations, aspects, etc., are described herein for illustrative purposes, various modifications are possible that are considered within the scope of such examples, implementations, aspects, etc., as those skilled in the relevant art can recognize.
[0134] In this regard, while the disclosed subject matter has been described in connection with various examples, implementations, aspects, etc., and corresponding Figures, where applicable, it is to be understood that other similar aspects can be used or modifications and additions can be made to the disclosed subject matter for performing the same, similar, alternative, or substitute function of the subject matter without deviating therefrom. Therefore, the disclosed subject matter should not be limited to any single example, implementation, or aspect described herein, but rather should be construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims below.
[0135] In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components or structures (assemblies, devices, circuits, systems, etc. ) , the terms (including a reference to a “means” ) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component or structure which performs the specified function of the described component (e.g., that is functionally equivalent) , even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary implementations. In addition, while a particular feature can have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature can be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as can be desired and advantageous for any given application.
[0136] As used herein, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or” . That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B;or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. Furthermore, to the extent that the terms “including” , “includes” , “having” , “has” , “with” , or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising. ” Additionally, in situations wherein one or more numbered items are discussed (e.g., a “first X” , a “second X” , etc. ) , in general the one or more numbered items can be distinct, or they can be the same, although in some situations the context can indicate that they are distinct or that they are the same. It is well understood that the use of personally identifiable information should follow privacy policies and practices that are generally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmental requirements for maintaining the privacy of users. In particular, personally identifiable information data should be managed and handled to minimize risks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use, and the nature of authorized use should be clearly indicated to users.
Claims
1.A user equipment (UE) , comprising:a memory configured to store one or more instructions; andone or more processors configured to, when executing the one or more instructions, cause the UE to:determine a monitoring occasion for an initial Type 0 Physical Downlink Control Channel (type0-PDCCH) common search space (CSS) ;monitor a PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS according to the monitoring occasion;determine a monitoring occasion for a type0-PDCCH CSS repetition associated with the initial type0-PDCCH CSS; andmonitor a PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.2.The UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors is configured to determine that type0-PDCCH CSS repetitions are enabled.3.The UE of claim 3, wherein the initial type0-PDCCH CSS comprises a two-slot type0-PDCCH CSS that is monitored beginning at slot N0 and ended at slot N0+1.4.The UE of claim 3, wherein the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition comprises a two-slot type0-PDCCH CSS repetition that is monitored beginning at slot N1 and ended at slot N1+1.5.The UE of claim 1, wherein a slot associated with the initial type0-PDCCH CSS is determined to be an even system frame number (SFN) index or an odd SFN index.6.The UE of claim 1, wherein the PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS is transmitted using different slots across multiple beams, the PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is transmitted using different slots across multiple beams, and the different slots of the PDCCH of the initial type0-PDCCH CSS occur before the different slots the PDCCH of the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.7.The UE of claim 1, wherein a number of slots between the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is based on a maximum number of SSB in a current cell for a frequency of a band use by the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.8.The UE of claim 1, wherein a number of slots between the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition is based on a configured number of SSB in a cell parameter maximum number of SSB in a current cell for a frequency of a band use by the initial type0-PDCCH CSS and the type0-PDCCH CSS repetition.9.The UE of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors is configured to operate according to a configuration of a search space linkage for a type1A-PDCCH, a type0B-PDCCH, a type0B-PDCCH, or a type2A-PDCCH, and the search space linkage being configured to link search spaces corresponding to a sdt-SearchSpace, searchSpaceMCCH, searchSpaceMTCH, or pei-SearchSpace.10.Baseband circuitry, comprising:a memory device configured to store one or more instructions; andone or more processors configured to execute the one or more instructions to:obtain a search space configuration on user equipment (UE) specific search space (USS) with a monitoring periodicity;obtain a beam hopping pattern corresponding to at least one satellite of a non-terrestrial network (NTN) ; andadjust a search space periodicity of the USS based on the monitoring periodicity and the beam hopping pattern.11.The baseband circuitry of claim 10, wherein the USS comprises search space periodicity and an offset parameter.12.The baseband circuitry of claim 11, wherein the monitoring periodicity comprises a number of slots from 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 16, or more up to 2560.13.The baseband circuitry of claim 12, wherein the monitoring periodicity comprises a number of T slots, the beam hoping pattern comprises a beam hoping revisit time of R slots, and the search space periodicity is adjusted to a number of T’s lots based on at least one of:T’= (T, R) ,T’= T + R,T’= max (T, R) ,T’= R,T’= least common multipole of T and R,T = A*R, where A is a smallest integer such that A*R is greater than or equal to R, ora combination thereof.14.A method, performed by a use equipment (UE) , the method comprising:receiving a configured grant (CG) with an uplink transmission periodicity;receiving an uplink beam hopping pattern with and a corresponding revisit time; andadjusting the uplink transmission periodicity based on the uplink transmission periodicity and the uplink beam hopping pattern.15.The method of claim 14, wherein a CG physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) is configured to indicate the uplink transmission periodicity in a periodicity parameter of the CG PUSCH.16.The method of claim 14, wherein the uplink transmission periodicity is a duration of time equal to a number between 2 and 5120 that is multiplied by14 symbols.17.The method of claim 14, wherein the search space monitoring periodicity is equal to T slots, a configured Small Data Transmission (SDT) , the beam hopping revisit time is equal to R slots, and the uplink transmission periodicity is adjusted to a number of T’s lots based on at least one of:T’= (T, R) ,T’= T + R,T’= max (T, R) ,T’= R,T’= least common multipole of T and R,T = A*R, where A is a smallest integer such that A*R is greater than or equal to R, ora combination thereof.