Method and apparatus for configuration of broadcast transmission in a wireless communication system

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. The present invention relates to a method and system for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving a MCCH message from a network apparatus (200). The network apparatus (200) indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration within the MCCH message. Further, the method includes configuring the UE (100) based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one MBMS session. Further, the method includes receiving the at least one MBMS session from the network apparatus (200).

Description

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONFIGURATION OF BROADCAST TRANSMISSION IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

[0001] The present disclosure is related to the field of wireless communication system. More particularly, the present disclosure is related to a method and apparatus for configuration of Broadcast transmission in a wireless communication system.

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

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

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

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

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

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

[0008] The present disclosure provides method and apparatus for configuration of Broadcast transmission in a wireless communication system.

[0009] According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided method and apparatus for configuration of Broadcast transmission in a wireless communication system.

[0010] Aspects of the present disclosure provide efficient communication methods in a wireless communication system.

[0011] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

[0012] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram that illustrates a schematic of a UE implemented to carry out the disclosed subject matter according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram that illustrates a schematic of a network apparatus implemented to carry out the disclosed subject matter according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0014] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network by the UE according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0015] Fig. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network by the network apparatus according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0016] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a terminal or user equipment (UE) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0017] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a base station (BS) according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0018] Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a network entity according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0019] This application is based on and derives the benefit of Indian Provisional Applications202541009744filed on06thFebruary 2025the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0020] The 5G Broadcast (also referred to as Further Evolved Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (FeMBMS), Receive-Only-Mode (ROM), Long Term Evolution (LTE)-based 5G Broadcast or LTE- based 5G terrestrial broadcast) is targeted to provide downlink (DL)-only broadcast services to the UEs on a MBMS-dedicated cell with a large coverage area. One typical service use case is Enhanced Television (EnTV) broadcasting through wireless cellular networks. Further, the MBMS-dedicated cells do not support unicast traffic in the downlink and these cells cannot be used as a Primary Cell (PCell) or a Primary Secondary Cell (PSCell). System information required to receive MBMS from MBMS-dedicated cells is broadcasted on non-MBSFN sub-frames. The system information change notification as well as Earth-quake Tsunami Warning System (ETWS) / Commercial Mobile alert Service (CMAS) notification are provided via L1 signalling on non-MBSFN subframes. The Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) of MBMS-dedicated cell, uses a different scrambling sequence initialization than the PBCH of MBMS / Unicast-mixed cell which prevents UEs not supporting FeMBMS from camping on this cell.

[0021] In the existing mechanisms (for example, previous releases of 3GPP LTE specifications), there was no time interleaving for the transport block or Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) operation with repetitions supported and specified for reception of 5G Broadcast transmission. However, due to lack of time interleaving or HARQ operations with repetitions, reception of 5G Broadcast transmission may not be highly reliable and robust. Therefore, an approach is needed to clearly specify the configuration of the UE for the reception of 5G Broadcast transmission utilizing time interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions. It is not yet specified or clear how the UE configuration is signalled to the UE and how the configuration is handled by the UE for the reception of the 5G Broadcast transmission.

[0022] Hence, is desirable to address the above-mentioned problems and disadvantages or at least provide a useful alternative.

[0023] The principal object of the embodiments herein is to provide a method and system for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network.

[0024] Another object of the embodiments herein is to provide a systems and methods of configuring the User Equipment (UE) for the reception of 5G Broadcast transmission utilizing time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions in the wireless communication networks.

[0025] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide methods for signaling the UE configuration parameters for the reception of 5G Broadcast transmission utilizing time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions.

[0026] Yet another object of the embodiments herein is to provide methods for handling the UE configuration parameters for the reception of 5G Broadcast transmission utilizing time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions.

[0027] In an aspect, the objectives are achieved by providing a method for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network. The method includes receiving a multicast control channel (MCCH) message from a network apparatus. The network apparatus indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration within the MCCH message. Further, the method includes configuring the UE based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) session. Further, the method includes receiving the at least one MBMS session from the network apparatus.

[0028] In an aspect, the objectives are achieved by providing a method for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network. The method includes configuring one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration. The PMCH configuration corresponds to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configuration. Further, the method includes generating a MCCH message by including the PMCH configuration. Further, the method includes transmitting the MCCH message comprising the PMCH configuration to a user equipment (UE) via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0029] In another aspect, the objectives are achieved by providing a UE for configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network. The UE includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller communicatively coupled to the processor and the memory. The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller receives a MCCH message from a network apparatus. The network apparatus indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration within the MCCH message. Further, the 5G broadcast transmission configuration controller configures the UE based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one MBMS session. Further, the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller receives the at least one MBS session from the network apparatus.

[0030] In another aspect, the objectives are achieved by providing a network apparatus for configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network. The network apparatus includes a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a 5G Broadcast transmission controller coupled to the processor and the memory. The 5G Broadcast transmission controller configures one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration. The PMCH configuration corresponds to R19 PMCH configuration. Further, the 5G Broadcast transmission controller generates a MCCH message by including the PMCH configuration. Further, the 5G Broadcast transmission controller transmits the MCCH message comprising the PMCH configuration to a UE via RRC signaling.

[0031] These and other aspects of the embodiments will be better understood with the following description and accompanying drawings. The descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and specific details, are for illustration and not limitation. Many changes and modifications can be made within the scope of the embodiments.

[0032] Hereinafter, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0033] In describing the embodiments, descriptions related to technical contents well-known in the art and not associated directly with the disclosure will be omitted. Such an omission of unnecessary descriptions is intended to prevent obscuring of the main idea of the disclosure and more clearly transfer the main idea.

[0034] For the same reason, in the accompanying drawings, some elements may be exaggerated, omitted, or schematically illustrated. Further, the size of each element does not completely reflect the actual size. In the drawings, identical or corresponding elements are provided with identical reference numerals or different reference numerals.

[0035] The advantages and features of the disclosure and ways to achieve them will be apparent by making reference to embodiments as described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to the embodiments set forth below, but may be implemented in various different forms. The following embodiments are provided only to completely disclose the disclosure and inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the disclosure, and the disclosure is defined only by the scope of the appended claims. Throughout the specification, the same or like reference numerals designate the same or like elements. Furthermore, in describing the disclosure, a detailed description of known functions or constitution incorporated herein will be omitted in the case that it is determined that the description may make the subject matter of the disclosure unnecessarily unclear. The terms which will be described below are terms defined in consideration of the functions in the disclosure, and may be different according to users, intentions of the operators, or customs. Therefore, the definitions of the terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

[0036] Herein, it will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations, may be performed based on computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded collectively onto at least one processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which perform through any one of, or in any combination of, the at least one processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for performing the functions specified in the flowchart block(s). These computer program instructions may also be stored in a non-transitory computer usable or computer-readable memory that may direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer usable or computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that perform the function specified in the flowchart block(s). The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a computer executed process such that the instructions that perform on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus provide steps for executing the functions specified in the flowchart block(s).

[0037] Further, each block may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which includes one or more executable instructions for executing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order. For example, two blocks(or functions) shown in succession may in fact be performed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be performed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved.

[0038] As used in embodiments of the disclosure, a “~unit” may refer to a software element or a hardware element, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA) or an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), which performs a predetermined function. However, the term including the word “~unit” does not always have a meaning limited to software or hardware. The “~unit” may be constructed either to be stored in an addressable storage medium or to execute one or more processors. Therefore, the “~unit” includes, for example, software elements, object-oriented software elements, components such as class elements and task elements, processes, functions, properties, procedures, sub-routines, segments of a program code, drivers, firmware, micro-codes, circuits, data, database, data structures, tables, arrays, and parameters. The components and functions provided by the “~unit” may be either combined into a smaller number of components and a “~unit,” or divided into additional components and a “~unit.” Moreover, the components and “~units” may be implemented to reproduce one or more central processing units (CPUs) within a device or a security multimedia card. Further, in the embodiments, the “~unit” may include one or more processors.

[0039] It should be appreciated that the blocks in each flowchart and combinations of the flowcharts may be performed by one or more computer programs which include instructions. The entirety of the one or more computer programs may be stored in a single memory device or the one or more computer programs may be divided with different portions stored in different multiple memory devices.

[0040] Any of the functions or operations described herein can be processed by one processor or a combination of processors. The one processor or the combination of processors is circuitry performing processing and includes circuitry like an application processor (AP, e.g. a CPU), a communication processor (CP, e.g., a modem), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a neural processing unit (NPU) (e.g., an artificial intelligence (AI) chip), a Wi-Fi chip, a Bluetooth® chip, a global positioning system (GPS) chip, a near field communication (NFC) chip, connectivity chips, a sensor controller, a touch controller, a finger-print sensor controller, a display driver integrated circuit (IC), an audio CODEC chip, a universal serial bus (USB) controller, a camera controller, an image processing IC, a microprocessor unit (MPU), a system on chip (SoC), an IC, or the like.

[0041] It will be appreciated that various embodiments of the disclosure according to the claims and description in the specification can be realized in the form of hardware, software or a combination of hardware and software.

[0042] Any such software may be stored in non-transitory computer readable storage media. The non-transitory computer readable storage media store one or more computer programs (software modules), the one or more computer programs include computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device individually or collectively, cause the electronic device to perform a method of the disclosure.

[0043] Any such software may be stored in the form of volatile or non-volatile storage such as, for example, a storage device like read only memory (ROM), whether erasable or rewritable or not, or in the form of memory such as, for example, random access memory (RAM), memory chips, device or integrated circuits or on an optically or magnetically readable medium such as, for example, a compact disk (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), magnetic disk or magnetic tape or the like. It will be appreciated that the storage devices and storage media are various embodiments of non-transitory machine-readable storage that are suitable for storing a computer program or computer programs comprising instructions that, when executed, implement various embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, various embodiments of the present disclosure may provide a program comprising code for implementing apparatus or a method as claimed in any one of the claims of this specification and a non-transitory machine-readable storage storing such a program.

[0044] Hereinafter, the determination of priority between A and B in the present disclosure may refer to various actions such as selecting the one having a higher priority based on a predefined priority rule and performing an operation corresponding thereto, or omitting or dropping an operation corresponding to the one having a lower priority.

[0045] Hereinafter, "A or B" as described in the present disclosure may be understood as "A and / or B," which may include A, or B, or both A and B.

[0046] In addition, "at least one of A, B, and C" as described in the present disclosure may be understood to include A, or B, or C, or any combination of A, B, and C.

[0047] In addition, "at least one of A, B, or C" as described in the present disclosure may be understood to include A, or B, or C, or any combination of A, B, and C.

[0048] Furthermore, "A / B" as described in the present disclosure may be understood as "A and / or B," which may include A, or B, or both A and B.

[0049] Furthermore, "A, B" as described in the present disclosure may be understood as "A and / or B," which may include A, or B, or both A and B.

[0050] Furthermore, "A and B" as described in the present disclosure may be understood as "A and / or B," which may include A, or B, or both A and B.

[0051] Furthermore, “if condition A and condition B are satisfied,” as described in the present disclosure, may not be limited to a case where both condition A and condition B are satisfied, but may be understood to include a case where either condition A or condition B is individually satisfied, both condition A and condition B are satisfied, or one or more additional conditions are satisfied in combination.

[0052] Furthermore, throughout this disclosure, ordinal terms such as "first," "second," "third," etc., (and similar qualifiers) are used merely to distinguish between different instances, occurrences, configurations, messages, stages, or aspects of elements, operations, or information as described herein. Unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the use of such ordinal terms does not itself require that the elements, operations, or information distinguished by these terms be structurally different, numerically distinct, or substantively dissimilar. For example, a "first signal" and a "second signal" may refer to instances of the same signal transmitted at different times or containing the same core information despite minor variations, or they may refer to signals with different content or characteristics, depending on the specific context. Similarly, a "first value" and a "second value" may represent the same magnitude but measured or applied in different circumstances, or they may represent different magnitudes. The interpretation should be guided by the specific technical context, function, and relationship described in the relevant portion of the specification and claims.

[0053] Furthermore, the terms “first ~”, “second ~”, etc., as described in the present disclosure with respect to various elements (e.g., information, objects, operation, sequences, or the like), should not limit those elements. These terms may only be intended to distinguish one element from another, and may not be intended to indicate a specific order. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element.

[0054] Furthermore, even if “first ~” and “second ~” are described in the present disclosure, it may be understood that element(s) referred to by “first ~” and “second ~” may be the same or different. For example, in case of element(s) being information, first information and second information may both be same information and, in some cases, are separate and different information.

[0055] In addition, the terms “if ~” and “in case that ~” as used in the disclosure or claims may be interpreted to include the meanings of “when (or upon) ~,” “in response to ~,” “based on ~,” or “according to ~,” and may be used interchangeably with these expressions. In addition, expressions other than those exemplified herein may also be used, as long as they have substantially the same meaning and do not impair the technical features of the present disclosure.

[0056] For example, the physical layer signaling may be referred to as Layer 1 (L1) signaling and may include downlink control information (DCI). In addition, the higher layer signaling may include a medium access control (MAC) control message, a radio resource control (RRC) signaling message, a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling message, or an application layer message. The RRC signaling message may be referred to as L3 (layer 3) signaling. It should be noted, however, that the higher layer signaling is not limited to the aforementioned examples.

[0057] In addition, the term "not perform" as used in the present disclosure or claims may, in context, be understood to mean that the corresponding step is omitted or skipped. Such a term may be replaced with other terms having the same or substantially equivalent meaning.

[0058] In addition, "transmitting a message including A and B" as described in the present disclosure, may be understood as encompassing both (i) transmitting A and B in a single message, and (ii) transmitting A and B separately via multiple messages (e.g., transmitting a first message including A and a second message including B). This interpretation may also apply to messages that include two or more items (e.g., A, B, C), transmitted either together or separately.

[0059] In addition, "transmitting a message including A and transmitting a message including B" may also be interpreted as transmitting a message including A and B in a single message.

[0060] In the specific embodiments of the present disclosure described below, terms or components included in the disclosure may be expressed in singular or plural form depending on the specific embodiments presented. However, such singular or plural expressions are selected appropriately for convenience of description, and the present disclosure is not limited to a singular or plural number of components. A component expressed in the plural form may be implemented as a single component, and a component expressed in the singular form may be implemented as multiple components.

[0061] The drawings or flowcharts described below illustrate exemplary methods that may be implemented according to the principles of the present disclosure, and various modifications may be made to the methods illustrated in the flowcharts of the present disclosure. For example, although illustrated as a series of steps, various steps in each drawing or flowchart may overlap, occur in parallel, occur in a different order, or be repeated. In other examples, any step may be omitted or replaced with another step.

[0062] The methods and apparatuses proposed in the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to each embodiment individually, but may also be applied in combination of all or some of the embodiments proposed in the disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments of the present disclosure may be modified and applied without significantly departing from the scope of the present disclosure, as would be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0063] In this case, even if certain wordings are described differently across embodiments, they may be used interchangeably or in substitution or in combination if their underlying concepts are equivalent. For example, for the same or equivalent concept, even if one embodiment uses the expression "A" and another embodiment uses the expression "B", such expressions may be understood interchangeably, in substitution, or in combination.

[0064] The terms used in the following description to refer to access nodes, network entities, messages, interfaces between network entities, various types of identification information, and the like, are provided merely for the convenience of explanation by way of example. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the terms described below, and other terms having equivalent technical meanings may also be used. Such terms may also be interchangeable with terms defined in any 3rd generation partnership project (3GPP) technical specifications (TS) where appropriate.

[0065] Hereinafter, a base station is an entity that allocates resources to terminals, and may be at least one of a gNode B, an eNode B, a Node B, a base station (BS), a wireless access unit, a BS controller, or a node on a network.

[0066] Furthermore, the base station of the present disclosure may include a split architecture comprising a central unit (CU) and a distributed unit (DU). In this structure, the CU is configured to process the higher layers of the control and user planes, while the DU is configured to process lower-layer radio resource functions. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be equally applicable to 5G base station architectures in which such CU and DU functional splits are implemented.

[0067] A terminal may include a UE, a mobile station (MS), a cellular phone, a smartphone, a computer, or a multimedia system capable of performing communication functions.

[0068] In the disclosure, a downlink (DL) refers to a radio link through which a BS transmits a signal to a UE, and an uplink (UL) refers to a radio link through which a UE transmits a signal to a BS.

[0069] Furthermore, hereinafter, 5th generation (5G) mobile communication technologies (e.g., 5G new radio (NR)), 6th generation (6G) mobile communication technologies may be described by way of example, but the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to other communication systems having similar technical backgrounds or channel types. For example, newly evolved mobile communication systems developed after 5G and 6G may be included. Furthermore, based on determinations by those skilled in the art, the embodiments of the present disclosure may also be applied to other communication systems (e.g., Wi-Fi systems) through some modifications without significantly departing from the scope of the present disclosure

[0070] In the following description, the terms physical channel and signal may be used interchangeably with data or control signal. For example, the term physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) refers to a physical channel through which data is transmitted, but the term PDSCH may also be used to refer to the data itself. That is, in the present disclosure, the expression "transmit a physical channel" may be interpreted as being equivalent to the expression "transmit data or a signal via a physical channel."

[0071] Hereinafter, in the context of the present disclosure, higher layer signaling may refer to signaling corresponding to at least one or any combination of the following: master information block (MIB), system information block (SIB) or SIB M (M = 1, 2, ...), radio resource control (RRC), or medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a non-access stratum (NAS) signaling message, or an application layer message. The RRC signaling message may be referred to as L3 (layer 3) signaling.

[0072] In addition, L1 signaling may refer to signaling corresponding to at least one or any combination of signaling techniques using the at least one or any combination of the following physical layer channels or signaling: physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), downlink control information (DCI), user equipment (UE)-specific DCI, group-common DCI, common DCI, scheduling DCI (e.g., DCI used for scheduling downlink or uplink data), non-scheduling DCI (e.g., DCI not used for scheduling downlink or uplink data) physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), or uplink control information (UCI). The L1 signaling message may be referred to as a physical layer signaling.

[0073] Hereinafter, the expression that information is configured by the BS, as used in the present disclosure or claims, may, in context, be understood to mean that the terminal receives the corresponding information from the BS via a physical layer signaling or a higher layer signaling. Such an expression may be replaced with other terms having the same or substantially equivalent meaning.

[0074] Hereinafter, the operational principle of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0075] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Also, the various embodiments described herein are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as some embodiments can be combined with a plurality of other embodiments to form new embodiments. The term “or” as used herein, refers to a non-exclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein can be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples are not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

[0076] As is existing in the field, embodiments are described and illustrated in terms of blocks that carry out a described function or functions.　These blocks, which referred to herein as managers, units, modules, hardware components or the like, are physically implemented by analog and / or digital circuits such as logic gates, integrated circuits, microprocessors, microcontrollers, memory circuits, passive electronic components, active electronic components, optical components, hardwired circuits, and the like, and optionally be driven by firmware and software. The circuits, for example, be embodied in a plurality of semiconductor chips, or on substrate supports such as printed circuit boards, and the like.　The circuits constituting a block be implemented by dedicated hardware, or by a processor (e.g., a plurality of programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry), or by a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions of the block and a processor to perform other functions of the block. Each block of the embodiments be physically separated into two or more interacting and discrete blocks without departing from the scope of the proposed method.　Likewise, the blocks of the embodiments be physically combined into more complex blocks without departing from the scope of the proposed method.

[0077] The drawings help explain the technical features, but the embodiments are not limited to them. The proposed method includes any modifications, equivalents, and substitutes beyond those shown. Terms like first, second, etc., are used to distinguish elements and do not limit them.

[0078] In the prior art, time interleaving for the transport block or HARQ operations with repetitions was not supported or specified for the reception of 5G Broadcast transmission. As a result of the absence of time interleaving or HARQ operations with repetitions, the reliability and robustness of receiving 5G Broadcast transmission may be compromised.

[0079] The proposed solution discloses systems and methods of configuring the UE for the reception of 5G Broadcast transmission utilizing time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions in the wireless communication networks.

[0080] In an embodiment, the Release 19 (R19) version of 5G Broadcast transmission may include at least one of a time interleaving, a frequency interleaving or a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving. The time interleaving may involve the repetitions of the different redundancy versions of the one or more transport block(s) in an interleaved pattern across sub-frames. The frequency interleaving may involve the interleaved pattern of sub-carriers within a sub-frame. There may be different modes defined, configured and signaled to indicate a pattern for a time interleaving or a frequency interleaving or a combination of both.

[0081] In an embodiment, the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions are signaled to the UEs by the network.

[0082] In an embodiment, the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions may be associated with a specific PMCH. Further, the parameters may be signaled and configured to the UEs as part of the PMCH configuration. Further, the specific PMCH may be Release 19 (R19) PMCH. That is, the one of more of these parameters are not configured for a Pre-Release 19 (Pre-R19) PMCH.

[0083] In an embodiment, the R19 PMCH is configured with additionally providing the existing PMCH configuration with the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions, if applicable.

[0084] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example user equipment (UE) (100) configured to implement the disclosed subject matter. The UE (100) may include, for example, consumer electronics (such as mobile phones and smartphones), tablets, wearable devices, television, computing devices (such as laptops, notebooks, desktops, and workstations), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, automotive systems (including connected vehicles, autonomous vehicles, and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication devices), enterprise devices (including robotics), specialised equipment (such as certain medical devices and public safety devices), and media devices (such as gaming consoles and streaming devices). These examples are provided for illustration and are not limiting.

[0085] As shown in Fig. 1, the UE (100) includes a processor (102), a memory (104), an input / output (I / O) interface (106), and a 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108). The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) is operatively coupled to the processor (102) and the memory (104). The components are described below.

[0086] The processor (102) is operatively coupled to the memory (104), the I / O interface (106), and the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108). The processor (102) is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory (104) to perform one or more operations of the UE (100). In various implementations, the processor (102) includes one or more processing units, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), a graphics processing unit (GPU), a visual processing unit (VPU), or other processing circuitry available within the architecture of the UE (100).

[0087] The memory (104) stores the MCCH message and the MBMS session(s) and associated configurations received from the network apparatus (200). The memory (104) may include volatile memory and non-volatile memory, and may be implemented using one or more computer-readable storage media, including flash memory, EEPROM, EPROM, and other suitable storage technologies. In an implementation, the memory (104) may include error detection and / or correction features and may support access speeds suitable for processing by the UE (100).

[0088] The I / O interface (106) provides communication between internal components of the UE (100) and one or more external and / or peripheral devices. The I / O interface (106) may include one or more buses, ports, and / or interface circuitry for data transfer. The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) is operatively coupled to the I / O interface (106) and the memory (104). This arrangement enables the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) for configuring 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network.

[0089] The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network is a hardware-only element implemented as dedicated electronic circuitry within the UE (100). In an implementation, the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) is realized as an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-on-chip (SoC) hardware block, or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configuration. The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) is not implemented as software executed by the processor (102) and does not rely on execution of program instructions by the processor (102) to perform its configuration functions. The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) includes dedicated hardware logic configured to perform configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network.

[0090] The 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) receives a MCCH message from a network apparatus (200). The network apparatus (200) indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration within the MCCH message. The MCCH message includes a first set of PMCHs corresponding to Pre-Release 19 (Pre-R19) PMCH configurations and a second set of PMCHs corresponding to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configurations. The configurations of the R19 PMCHs are placed after the configurations for the Pre-R19 PMCH in an extended PMCH list in the PMCH-Config information element in the MCCH message Further, the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) configures the UE (100) based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one MBMS session. Further, the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) receives the at least one MBMS session from the network apparatus (200).

[0091] Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a network apparatus (200) configured to implement the disclosed subject matter. The network apparatus (200) may be implemented as, or form part of, a radio access network (RAN) node and / or a core network node. By way of example, the network apparatus (200) may include a base station (such as a macro cell, small cell, femtocell, or picocell), a gNB / eNB component (including a distributed unit (DU) and / or a centralized unit (CU)), or 6G sNB, an access and mobility management function (AMF), a user plane function (UPF), or other network entity included in providing connectivity and signalling for user equipment. The network apparatus (200) may further include, or be coupled to, antennas and radio-frequency (RF) units (including MIMO and beamforming circuitry), edge computing nodes (such as MEC servers), backhaul and transport equipment, network management systems, and security elements. These examples are illustrative and do not limit the scope of the network apparatus (200).

[0092] As shown in Fig. 2, the network apparatus (200) includes a processor (202), a memory (204), an I / O interface (206), and a 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208). The 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) is operatively coupled to the processor (202) and the memory (204). The components are described below.

[0093] The processor (202) is operatively coupled to the memory (204), the I / O interface (206), and the 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208). The processor (202) is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory (204) to perform one or more operations of the network apparatus (200). In various implementations, the processor (202) includes one or more processing units, such as a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor (AP), a general-purpose processing unit, or other processing circuitry available within the architecture of the network apparatus (200). The specific processor type may vary based on whether the network apparatus (200) is implemented as a RAN node, a core network node, or a computing platform executing one or more network functions.

[0094] The memory (204) stores parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration, the MCCH message generated based on the PMCH configuration, and the like. The memory (204) may include volatile memory and non-volatile memory, and may be implemented using one or more computer-readable storage media, including flash memory, EEPROM, EPROM, and other suitable storage technologies.

[0095] The I / O interface (206) provides communication between internal components of the network apparatus (200) and one or more external devices and / or network elements. The I / O interface (206) may include one or more buses, ports, fronthaul / backhaul interfaces, and / or interface circuitry for data transfer. The 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) is operatively coupled to the I / O interface (206) and the memory (204. This arrangement enables the 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network.

[0096] The 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network is a hardware-only element implemented as dedicated electronic circuitry within the network apparatus (200). In an implementation, the 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) is realized as an integrated circuit (IC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a system-on-chip (SoC) hardware block, or a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) configuration. The 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) is not implemented as software executed by the processor (202) and does not rely on execution of program instructions by the processor (202) to configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network. The 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) includes dedicated hardware logic configured to configuration of 5G broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network.

[0097] The 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) configures one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration. The PMCH configuration corresponds to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configuration. The one or more parameters include a time interleaving parameter, a frequency interleaving parameter, a group transport block (TB) parameter, and a number of redundancy versions (numRV) parameter. Further, the 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) generates a MCCH message by including the PMCH configuration and transmits the MCCH message to the UE (100).

[0098] In an embodiment, the R19 version of 5G Broadcast transmission may include at least one of a time interleaving, a frequency interleaving or a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving. The time interleaving may involve the repetitions of the different redundancy versions of the one or more transport block(s) in an interleaved pattern across sub-frames. The frequency interleaving may involve the interleaved pattern of sub-carriers within a sub-frame. There may be different modes defined, configured and signaled to indicate a pattern for a time interleaving or a frequency interleaving or a combination of both.

[0099] In an embodiment, the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions are signaled to the UE (100) by the network apparatus (200).

[0100] In an embodiment, the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions may be associated with a specific PMCH. Further, the parameters may be signaled and configured to the UE (100) as part of the PMCH configuration. Further, the specific PMCH may be Release 19 (R19) PMCH. That is, the one of more of these parameters are not configured for a Pre-Release 19 (Pre-R19) PMCH.

[0101] In an embodiment, the R19 PMCH is configured with additionally providing the existing PMCH configuration with the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions, if applicable.

[0102] In an embodiment, the UE (100) (for example, a Pre-R19 UE) may access the PMCH associated with additional configuration parameters e.g. Time-frequency interleaving or repetitions (that are not visible in the configuration to Pre-R19 UEs), and may successfully decode the first transmission (i.e. redundancy version 0) but fail to decode the repetitions (i.e. other redundancy versions). However, if all the first transmissions could be successfully decoded, the UE (100) may also be able to receive Rel-19 5G Broadcast transmission.

[0103] In an embodiment, an example message for the R19 PMCH configuration is provided. The additional parameters are associated to the PMCH, is given as follows:

[0104]

[0105]

[0106] In an embodiment, the R19 PMCH is separately configured from the existing PMCH configuration and including the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions, if applicable.

[0107] In an embodiment, the one or more parameters to indicate the configuration of the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions may be associated with more than one PMCH and / or with all the PMCHs of the FeMBMS cell.

[0108] In an embodiment, separate PMCH(s) may be configured for the R19 UEs. The R19 PMCHs may support at least one of a time interleaving, a frequency interleaving and a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving, as compared to the PMCH(s) that may be configured to be also receivable by pre-Rel19 UEs (i.e., R19 UEs may also receive these PMCH(s)) (say, termed as legacy PMCHs). The legacy PMCHs may not support a time interleaving or a frequency interleaving or a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving.

[0109] In an embodiment, the configurations of the R19 PMCHs are placed after the configuration for the Pre-R19 PMCHs in an extended PMCH list (e.g., termed as PMCH-InfoListExt-r19) in the PMCH-Config message. That is, the implicitly determined (or explicitly assigned) PMCH index for the R19 PMCHs follow the implicitly determined (or explicitly assigned) PMCH index for the Pre-R19 PMCHs. This would facilitate the identification of the PMCHs and / or the scheduling of the PMCHs transmissions e.g., without explicit indication of the index of the PMCH. Further, Pre-R19 UEs would be scheduled and receiving the first set of PMCHs (i.e. Pre-R19 PMCHs) and R19 UEs could be scheduled and receiving also for the first set and second set of PMCHs.

[0110] In an embodiment, at least one of legacy PMCHs and R19 PMCHs may be configured to the UE (100) through a broadcasted RRC signaling (e.g. a system information block (SIB) e.g. SystemInformationBlockType1-MBMS and SystemInformation-MBMS (carrying one or more SIBs like SIB13) and / or a Multicast Control Channel (MCCH)). R19 PMCHs configuration may not be visible or accessible to the pre-R19 UEs as the R19 PMCH configurations may be encoded with a R19 version of ASN encoding. Accordingly, only R19 UEs get configured for the monitoring and receiving of the R19 PMCHs utilizing the parameters for the R19 PMCHs configurations. While legacy PMCHs are visible and accessible to both pre-R19 UEs and R19 UEs. Accordingly, Pre-R19 UEs (and R19 UEs) get configured for the monitoring and receiving of the legacy PMCHs utilizing the parameters for the legacy PMCHs configurations.

[0111] In an embodiment, an example message for the R19 PMCH configuration is provided. The extended list for the R19 PMCH is given as follows:

[0112]

[0113]

[0114]

[0115] In an embodiment, the parameter “modeTFI” specifies the index to the type of time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ repetitions. For an example, the value “mode1” may specify that 3 TBs (say, TB0, TB1 and TB2) with 3 redundancy versions (say, RV0, RV1 and RV2) are interleaved so as to have RV0 versions of TB0, TB1 and TB2, followed by RV1 versions of TB0, TB1 and TB2, followed by RV2 versions of TB0, TB1 and TB2 in the ordinal number of MBSFN sub-frames. The ordinal number of MBSFN sub-frames may be consecutive or non-consecutive sub-frames excluding the sub-frames utilized for non-MBSFN contents (e.g., CAS sub-frames or following non-MBSFN sub-frame(s) configured carrying MIB or SIB) and certain MBSFN sub-frames (e.g., MBSFN sub-frames carrying MSI or extended MSI or MCCH). The approach may be generalized for M number of TBs and N number of redundancy versions.

[0116] In an embodiment, for an example, the value “mode2” may specify 3 TBs (say, TB0, TB1 and TB2) with redundancy versions (say, RV0, RV1 and RV2) are interleaved so as to have RV0, RV1 and RV2 versions of TB0, followed by RV0, RV1 and RV2 versions of TB1, followed by RV0, RV1 and RV2 versions of TB2 in the ordinal number of MBSFN sub-frames. The ordinal number of MBSFN sub-frames may be consecutive or non-consecutive sub-frames excluding the sub-frames utilized for non-MBSFN contents (e.g. CAS sub-frames or additional non-MBSFN sub-frames configured carrying MIB or SIB) and certain MBSFN sub-frames (e.g., MBSFN sub-frames carrying MSI or extended MSI or MCCH). The approach may be generalized for M TBs and N redundancy versions.

[0117] In an embodiment, the parameter “TimeInterleaving” indicates whether time interleaving is configured / enabled or not configured / disabled. Absence of this parameter may also be interpreted as time interleaving is not configured. In another embodiment, when groupTB or M parameter is configured to 1 and numRV or N parameter is configured to 1 may also be interpreted as time interleaving is not configured

[0118] In an embodiment, the parameter “FreqInterleaving” indicates whether frequency interleaving is configured / enabled or not configured / disabled. Absence of this parameter may also be interpreted as time interleaving is not configured.

[0119] In an embodiment, the parameter “groupTB” indicates the number of transport blocks that may be grouped together for time-frequency interleaving and / or repetitions. Whether number of grouped transport blocks are interleaved together in ordinal MBSFN subframes followed by their redundancy versions / repetitions or each of the transport block along with their repetitions in the group are interleaved may be at least one of pre-specified or configured. In case it is configured, it may be indicated by at least one parameter e.g. in the PMCH configuration. GroupTB may also be indicated or interpreted as M parameter or pmch-TimeInterleavingM parameter.

[0120] In an embodiment, the parameter “numRV” indicates the number of redundancy versions (repetitions) for a transport blocks are scheduled and / or transmitted. The sequence or order of the redundancy versions in the set of possible redundancy versions (repetitions) may be at least one of pre-specified or configured. In case it is configured, it may be indicated by at least one parameter e.g. in the PMCH configuration. numRV may be indicated or interpreted as N parameter or pmch-FreqInterleavingN parameter.

[0121] In an embodiment, the “modeTFI” configuration may be associated with one of a frequency interleaver, a frequency offset interleaver, a time interlever, a time-frequency interleaver, a diagonal time-frequency interleaver and a set of additional related configuration parameters.

[0122] In an embodiment, one or more parameters for the Frequency Interleaver including but not limited to M and N size of row column interleaver, a row permutation order and an offset of each row. Further, one or more of the parameters may be optionally configured.

[0123] In an embodiment, one or more parameters for the Frequency Offset interleaver including but not limited to M and N size of row column interleaver, a row permutation order, an offset of each row, an offset information for each redundancy version and a Rate Matching (RM) offset in circular buffer for each redundancy version. Further, one or more of the parameters may be optionally configured.

[0124] In an embodiment, one or more parameters for the Time-Frequency interleaver including but not limited to M and N dimensions of row column interleaver, m and n dimensions of subblock, a row permutation order, an offset while reading. Further, one or more of the parameters may be optionally configured.

[0125] In an embodiment, one or more parameters for the Diagonal Time-Frequency Offset interleaver including but not limited to M and N dimensions of row column interleaver, Diagonal permutations order, permutation or offset rule for each diagonal. Further, one or more of the parameters may be optionally configured.

[0126] In an embodiment, at least one parameter for the rate matching for the one or more R19 PMCH may be configured to the UE (100) including but not limited to the number of transport blocks, number of redundancy versions, number of repetitions, number of soft channel bits according to category, soft buffer size for transport block, soft buffer size for the r-th code block, alpha parameter, size of code block, number of code blocks, length of circular buffer for the r-th code block, the total number of bits available for the transmission of one transport block, the number of rows, memory size.

[0127] In an embodiment, at least one of legacy PMCHs and R19 PMCHs may be configured to the UE (100) through a broadcasted RRC signaling (e.g. a system information block (SIB) and / or a MBMS Control Channel (MCCH)).

[0128] In an embodiment, the network apparatus (200) may indicate its support for R19 5G Broadcast transmission through an indication comprising at least one of a bit or bitmap or index or a flag or a field includes in at least one of the MIB (e.g., MasterInformationBlock-MBMS) or SIB (e.g., SystemInformationBlockType1-MBMS and SystemInformation-MBMS) provided in the CAS sub-frame or additional non-MBSFN sub-frames configured after sub-frame which has PBCH (i.e. MIB).

[0129] In an embodiment, the network apparatus (200) may indicate its support for R19 5G Broadcast transmission through an indication comprising at least one of a bit or bitmap or index or a flag or a field in the MCCH message.

[0130] In an embodiment, the network apparatus (200) may indicate its support for R19 5G Broadcast transmission by including at least one parameter pertaining to R19 5G Broadcast transmissions (e.g., time-frequency interleaving related parameter) in the PMCH configuration in the MCCH message.

[0131] In an embodiment, the network apparatus (200) may indicate its support for R19 5G Broadcast transmission by including at least one R19 PMCH configuration in the MCCH message.

[0132] In an embodiment, a change of the MCCH (e.g. a change / addition / removal at least one parameter for R19 PMCH configuration included in the MCCH message) is indicated by at least one bit or bitmap or field in the MIB (e.g., MasterInformationBlock-MBMS) or SIB (e.g., SystemInformationBlockType1-MBMS and SystemInformation-MBMS) or MCCH change notification provided in the CAS sub-frame or additional non-MBSFN sub-frames configured after sub-frame which has PBCH (i.e. MIB).

[0133] In an embodiment, a change of the MCCH (e.g. a change / addition / removal at least one parameter for R19 PMCH configuration or pertinent Broadcast session(s) configuration or start / stop of pertinent Broadcast session(s) included in the MCCH message) is indicated by at least one bit or bitmap in the MCCH change notification. The MCCH change notification is provided through a Physical Downlink control Channel (PDCCH) and PDCCH can be scrambled by and / or addressed to M-RNTI.

[0134] In an embodiment, a change of the MCCH (e.g., a change / addition / removal at least one parameter for R19 PMCH configuration or pertinent Broadcast session(s) configuration or start / stop of pertinent Broadcast session(s) included in the MCCH message) is indicated by a different / separate bit in the MCCH change notification as compared to the bit(s) defined in the Pre-R19 specification for the MCCH change notification.

[0135] In an embodiment, a change of the MCCH (e.g., a change / addition / removal at least one parameter for R19 PMCH configuration or pertinent Broadcast session(s) configuration or start / stop of pertinent Broadcast session(s) included in the MCCH message) is indicated by a same bit(s) in the MCCH change notification as the bit(s) defined in the Pre-R19 specification for the MCCH change notification. In this case, a Pre-R19 UE that receives MCCH change notification, however, could not find the change in MCCH message (as the change in R19 PMCH or pertinent MBMS sessions) can ignore the MCCH message. For an MBMS-dedicated cell, if E-UTRAN configures a value other than "0" for additionalNonMBSFNSubframes within MasterInformationBlock-MBMS, notificationSF-Index-r9 configuration indicates the subframe pointed out by additionalNonMBSFNSubframes and MBMS-NotificationConfig-v1430 is not configured, when one of the additional subframes is used to transmit MCCH change notifications on PDCCH.

[0136] In an embodiment, a new configuration for MBMS Notification configuration is defined for R19 5G Broadcast transmission where parameters including a set of sub-frames (e.g. from x1to xNvalues which maps to specific FDD or TDD sub-frames) may be defined to transmit the MCCH change notifications. In an embodiment, these sub-frames may be different from the sub-frames defined / configured for Pre-R19 UEs. In another embodiment, these sub-frames may be same as the sub-frames defined / configured for Pre-R19 UEs. Further, when these sub-frames are same as the sub-frames defined / configured for Pre-R19 UEs, they may have separate or additional bits (or bitmap) to indicate MCCH change notification (e.g., for the at least one parameter for R19 PMCH configuration or pertinent Broadcast session(s) configuration or start / stop of pertinent Broadcast session(s) included in the MCCH message).

[0137]

[0138] In an embodiment, when different or new MBMS notification configuration (i.e., MBMS-NotificationConfig-v1900), the R19 UEs may monitor for the MCCH change notification as per the new MBMS notification configuration.

[0139] In an embodiment, when different or new MBMS notification configuration (i.e,. MBMS-NotificationConfig-v1900), the R19 UEs may monitor for the MCCH change notification as per both the legacy / existing MCCH notification configuration and the new MBMS notification configuration.

[0140] In an embodiment, separate FeMBMS cells may be configured for the R19 UEs (supporting R19 PMCHs). The R19 PMCHs may support at least one of a time interleaving, a frequency interleaving and a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving, as compared to the the FeMBMS cell(s) that carry PMCH(s) that may be configured to be also receivable by pre-Rel19 UEs (i.e., R19 UEs may also receive these PMCH(s)) (say, termed as legacy PMCHs). The legacy PMCHs may not support a time interleaving or a frequency interleaving or a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving.

[0141] In an embodiment, R19 PMCHs may not utilize a time-interleaving or a frequency interleaving or a combination of time interleaving and frequency interleaving. This may be signaled by including a parameter representing absence of at least one of these interleaving schemes (e.g., time interleaving parameter and / or frequency interleaving parameter). Alternatively, an absence of time-interleaving may be signaled by indicating M=1 and / or N=1 or by not configuring M and / or N parameters in the PMCH configurations.

[0142] In an embodiment, the PMCH-configuration may include at least one PMCH corresponding to at least one of sub-carrier spacing of 0.37 KHz, 1.25 KHz and 2.25 KHz. That is, PMCH-configuration may possibly include configuration of the PMCHs with different sub-carrier spacing (e.g., supporting different mobility or deployment scenarios). Further, the configuration of the PMCHs may be associated with different values of the parameters for time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions. That is, time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving for the PMCH may correspond to at least one sub-carrier spacing.

[0143] In an embodiment, each of the FeMBMS cell may include at least one PMCH corresponding to at least one of sub-carrier spacing of 0.37 KHz, 1.25 KHz and 2.25 KHz. That is, different FeMBMS cells may be configured with diffferent sub-carrier spacing (e.g., supporting different mobility or deployment scenarios). Further, the configuration of the PMCHs over different FeMBMS cells may be associated with different values of the parameters for time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or repetitions.

[0144] In an embodiment, the UE (100) determines the redundancy version and HARQ process identity for the received transport block implicitly based on the timing of the present sub-frame carrying the transport block for PMCH with respect to the scheduling information provided in the MSI and / or extended MSI, and using the configuration of the PMCH including at least one of the M parameter, N parameter, mode of interleaving. For example, if M=3, N=3 and interleaving mode = mode1 is configured for PMCH, the UE (100) can deduce the transport block (TB0, RV0) is received in the first MBSFN sub-frame from the beginning of the schedule indicated by MSI, (TB1, RV0) is received in the second MBSFN sub-frame, (TB2, RV0) is received in the third MBSFN sub-frame, (TB0, RV1) is received in the fourth MBSFN sub-frame and so on. The UE (100) may consider the MBSFN sub-frame where MSI or extended MSI or MCCH occurs to always carry first transmission of the transport block and no further repetitions for this transport block.

[0145] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g., LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the Release 19 5G Broadcast transmission feature in the UE capability information message.

[0146] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g., LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions (e.g., termed as pmch-TFI) in the UE capability information message. The time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving may correspond to at least one of 0.37 KHz, 1.25 KHz and 2.25 KHz.

[0147] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g., LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the one or more scaling factors for operating with different modes of time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions and / or associated parameters in the UE capability information message.

[0148] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g., LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the different modes of time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions and / or associated parameters in the UE capability information message.

[0149] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g., LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the rate matching and / or associated parameters for the reception of Release 19 5G Broadcast in the UE capability information message.

[0150] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g. LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the reception of the maximum number of transport blocks that can be grouped together (i.e. spread across multiple sub-frames) for the repetitions (e.g., termed as pmch-MaxGroupTB ) in the UE capability information message.

[0151] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g. LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support the reception of the number of redundancy versions that can be applied to the transport for the repetitions (e.g., termed as pmch-MaxNumRV) in the UE capability information message.

[0152] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g. LTE or 5G NR) with its capability to support time staggering length in number of slots or MBSFN reference pattern type when the UE (100) supports time-frequency interleaving in a specific sub-carrier spacing and operating on a specific band, in the UE capability information message.

[0153] In an embodiment, the UE (100) informs the network apparatus (200) (e.g., LTE or 5G NR) with its capability for specific band whether the UE (100) in RRC_CONNECTED supports MBMS reception via MBSFN from MBMS-dedicated cells in an MBSFN area with PMCH bandwidth of 40 / 35 / 30 PRBs, when the UE supports time-frequency interleaving, in the UE capability information message.

[0154] In an embodiment, an example of the message for the UE capability information is provided that indicates to the network apparatus (200) about the parameters supported by the UE (100) for the time interleaving and / or frequency interleaving and / or HARQ operation with repetitions as follows:

[0155]

[0156]

[0157] Fig. 3 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network by the UE (100) according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The method includes steps (302-306). Each step is explained in further detail below.

[0158] At step (302), the method includes receiving by the UE (100) a MCCH message from a network apparatus (200). The network apparatus (200) indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration within the MCCH message. The PMCH configuration comprises at least one PMCH corresponding to at least one sub-carrier spacing of one of 0.37 KHz, 1.25 KHz and 2.25 KHz. The MCCH message includes a first set of PMCHs corresponding to Pre-R19 PMCH configurations and a second set of PMCHs corresponding to R19 PMCH configurations. The configurations of the R19 PMCHs are placed after the configurations for the Pre-R19 PMCHs in an extended PMCH list in the PMCH-Config information element in the MCCH message. The one or more one or more configuration parameters includes at least one of:

[0159] 1) A time interleaving parameter that indicates whether a time interleaving is configured or enabled, or not configured or disabled;

[0160] 2) A frequency interleaving parameter that indicates whether a frequency interleaving is configured or enabled, or not configured or disabled;

[0161] 3) A group TB parameter that indicates a number of TBs that are grouped together for time interleaving. The group TB parameter is indicated as a 'M' parameter in the PMCH configuration. The group TB parameter further indicates that a number of grouped TBs are interleaved together in ordinal multicast-broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes followed by their redundancy versions or repetitions excluding the MBSFN subframes carrying a multicast control channel (MCH) scheduling information (MSI), an extended MSI, or MCCH. When the group TB parameter is not configured and / or the numRV parameter is configured to 1, time interleaving is interpreted as not being configured.

[0162] 4) A number of redundancy versions (numRV) parameter that indicates a number of redundancy versions for TBs that are scheduled or transmitted. The numRV parameter is indicated as a 'N' parameter in the PMCH configuration. The numRV parameter can also be termed as “TBS scaling factor”.

[0163] At step (304), the method includes configuring the UE (100) based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one MBMS session. Further the method includes, when the time interleaving parameter is not configured or is absent, time interleaving for the PMCH is interpreted as not being configured and when the frequency interleaving parameter is not configured or is absent, frequency interleaving for the PMCH is interpreted as not being configured. At step (306), the method includes receiving by the UE (100) the at least one MBMS session from the network apparatus (200).

[0164] Fig. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates a method configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network by the network apparatus (200) according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The method includes steps (402-416). Each step is explained in further detail below.

[0165] At step (402), the method includes configuring by the network apparatus (200) one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration. The PMCH configuration corresponds to R19 PMCH configuration. The one or more parameters includes a time interleaving parameter, a frequency interleaving parameter, a group TB parameter, and a numRV parameter.

[0166] At step (404), the method included configuring by the network apparatus (200) a first set of PMCHs corresponding to Pre-R19 PMCH configurations. At step (406), the method includes configuring by the network apparatus (200) a second set of PMCHs corresponding to R19 PMCH configurations. The configurations of the R19 PMCHs are placed after the configurations for the Pre-R19 PMCHs in an extended PMCH list in the PMCH-Config information element in the MCCH message.

[0167] At step (408), the method includes generating a MCCH message including the PMCH configuration to the UE (100) via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. At step (410), the method includes detecting by the network apparatus (200) whether at least one of a time interleaving or a frequency interleaving pertaining to the R19 5G broadcast transmissions is not applied within the PMCH configuration. At step (412), the method includes setting by the network apparatus (200) at least one of a time interleaving parameter and a frequency interleaving parameter as not configured or absent in the PMCH configuration when at least one of the time interleaving and the frequency interleaving is not applied to the PMCH configuration. At step (414), the method includes updating by the network apparatus (200) the MCCH message based on setting of at least one of the time interleaving parameter and the frequency interleaving parameter in the PMCH configuration. At step (416), the method includes transmitting the MCCH message to the UE (100).

[0168] Fig. 5 is a block diagram of a terminal or user equipment (UE) 500 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0169] The terminal is an electronic device capable of wireless communication, may include a User Equipment (UE), a portable phone, a smartphone, a tablet, an Internet of things (IoT) device, etc., having various form factors, and may perform wireless communication with a base station (BS) through a wireless channel.

[0170] Referring to Fig. 5, the UE 500 may include at least one transceiver (hereinafter, referred to as simply “transceiver”) 501, at least one processor (hereinafter, referred to as simply “processor”) 502, and at least one memory (hereinafter, referred to as simply “memory”) 503. According to at least one or a combination of methods corresponding to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the transceiver 501, the processor 502, and the memory 503 of the UE 500 may operate. However, components of the UE 500 are not limited to the exemplary components illustrated in Fig. 5. In another embodiment, the UE 500 may further include additional components in addition to the above-mentioned components, or some components may be omitted. Further, in some embodiments, any combination of the transceiver 501, the processor 502, or the memory 503 may be integrated in the form of one component.

[0171] The transceiver 501 may be a communication circuit or communication circuitry that enables the UE 500 to perform wireless communication with a node or an entity of a network. For example, the transceiver 501 may enable the UE 500 to transmit or receive a signal to or from a BS through cellular communication, or to transmit or receive a signal to or from another UE through cellular communication. For example, the transceiver 501 may support at least one of various cellular communication technologies including 3rd generation (3G), 4th generation (4G), long term evolution (LTE), 5th generation (5G) NR, 6th generation (6G), and various cellular wireless communication technologies supported by the transceiver (501) may include all subsequent generations of evolved wireless communications.

[0172] According to an embodiment, the UE 500 may include a plurality of transceivers. For example, in the case of supporting evolved-universal terrestrial radio access-new radio (E-UTRA-NR) sual connectivity (EN-DC), the UE 500 may include a first transceiver supporting the 4G LTE wireless communication and a second transceiver supporting the 5G NR wireless communication. According to another embodiment, in the case of supporting NR-dual connectivity (NR-DC), the UE 500 may include a plurality of transceivers supporting the 5G NR wireless communication. According to still another embodiment, in the case of supporting near field wireless communication, the UE 500 may separately include a transceiver supporting at least one standard in the group of wireless communication protocol standards as defined in the protocol standards for Bluetooth®, wireless local area network (WLAN) network (including institute of electrical and electronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11-2016 standard or its amendments, e.g., 802.11ah, 802.11ad, 802.11ay, 802.11ax, 802.11az, 802.11ba, and 802.11be, without being limited thereto).

[0173] According to an embodiment, the transceiver 501 may include various circuit structures used to transmit or receive signals to or from a BS through a wireless channel. The signals may include control information and data. For example, the transceiver 501 may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency thereof. The transceiver 501 may output a signal received through a wireless channel to the processor 502 and may transmit, through a wireless channel, a signal output from the processor 502.

[0174] The processor 502 may control general operations of the UE 500 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 502 may be implemented by one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips and may execute various data processings. The processor 502 may include at least one electric circuit, and may execute instructions (or a program, codes, data, etc.) stored in the memory 503, individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. Further, the processor 502 may include a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and may include a processor assembly including a plurality of processing circuits (circuitry) according to a specific implementation scheme.

[0175] The processor 502 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the transceiver 501 to control the transceiver 501.

[0176] The processor 502 may include at least one processor (or processing circuitry), and the at least one processor may perform the following operations individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. For example, the processor 502 may include a communication processor (CP) configured to control communication operations and an application processor (AP) configured to control execution of an upper layer (for example, an application layer) . In a specific embodiment, at least a part of the processor 502 may be included in one chip and the other part of the processor 502 may be included in another chip. Otherwise, at least one processor may be included in another component, for example, the transceiver 501 or the memory 503.

[0177] The processor 502 may perform or control or cause an operation of the UE 500 for executing at least one or a combination of methods according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the processor 502 may control operations of the UE 500 for processing a downlink signal received from a BS or generating and transmitting an uplink signal to a BS. To this end, the processor 502 may execute a computer program, codes, or instructions stored in the memory 503, so as to control other components of the UE 500 to enable execution of various operations.

[0178] The memory 503 corresponds to a hardware storage device capable of temporarily or permanently storing information and may include one or more storage media. For example, the memory 503 may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory, such as a hard drive, flash memory, or read-only memory (ROM), semipermanent memory, such as random access memory (RAM), cache memory, or a combination thereof.

[0179] The memory 503 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the processor 502 and may be accessed by the processor 502.

[0180] The memory 503 may store a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 502. According to an embodiment, a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 502 may be either stored in a single memory device or separated and distributedly stored in two or more memory devices. By executing the instructions stored in the memory 503, the processor 502 may perform various functions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0181] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, operations of the UE 500 may be caused to be performed based on execution of instructions (or a computer program or codes) stored in the memory 503 by at least one processor (or processing circuitry) configured to execute the same individually, collectively, or in any combination thereof, based on processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions, and / or based on components of processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions.

[0182] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a base station (BS) 600 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0183] The BS 600 may perform wireless communication with at least one user equipment (UE) located within the area of the BS 600 through a wireless channel.

[0184] Referring to Fig. 6, the BS 600 may include at least one transceiver (hereinafter, referred to as simply “transceiver”) 601, at least one processor (hereinafter, referred to as simply “processor”) 602, and at least one memory (hereinafter, referred to as simply “memory”) 603. According to at least one or a combination of methods corresponding to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the transceiver 601, the processor 602, and the memory 603 of the BS 600 may operate. However, components of the BS 600 are not limited to the exemplary components illustrated in Fig. 6. In another embodiment, the BS 600 may further include additional components in addition to the above-mentioned components, or some components may be omitted. Further, in some embodiments, any combination of the transceiver 601, the processor 602, or the memory 603 may be integrated in the form of one component.

[0185] The transceiver 601 may be a communication circuit or communication circuitry that enables the BS 600 to perform wireless communication with a node or an entity of a network. For example, the transceiver 601 may enable the BS 600 to transmit or receive a signal to or from the UE X00 through cellular communication, or to transmit or receive a signal to or from another network entity through wireless communication. For example, the transceiver 601 may support various cellular communication technologies including 3rd generation (3G), 4th generation (4G), long term evolution (LTE), 5th generation (5G) NR, 6th generation (6G), and various cellular wireless communication technologies supported by the transceiver (601) may include all subsequent generations of evolved wireless communications.. According to an embodiment, the transceiver 601 may include various circuit structures used to transmit or receive signals to or from a UE through a wireless channel. The signals may include control information and data. For example, the transceiver 601 may include a radio frequency (RF) transmitter for up-converting and amplifying the frequency of a transmitted signal and an RF receiver for low-noise-amplifying a received signal and down-converting the frequency thereof. The transceiver 601 may output a signal received through a wireless channel to the processor 602 and may transmit, through a wireless channel, a signal output from the processor 602.

[0186] Meanwhile, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the BS 600 may perform communication with a node or an entity of a network through wired or wireless communication. For example, the BS 600 may perform wired or wireless communication with an adjacent BS, or a node or an entity of a core network through a backhaul network. Although not illustrated in Fig. 6, when the BS 600 performs wired communication, the BS 600 may further include a separate network interface for wired communication in addition to the transceiver 601. The network interface may be referred to as network interface circuitry or communication interface circuitry.

[0187] The processor 602 may control general operations of the BS 600 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 602 may be implemented by one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips and may execute various data processings. The processor 602 may include at least one electric circuit, and may execute instructions (or a program, codes, data, etc.) stored in the memory 603, individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. Further, the processor 602 may include a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and may include a processor assembly including a plurality of processing circuits (circuitry) according to a specific implementation scheme.

[0188] The processor 602 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the transceiver 601 to control the transceiver 601.

[0189] The processor 602 may include at least one processor (or processing circuitry), and the at least one processor may perform the following operations individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, at least a part of the processor 602 may be included in one chip and the other part of the processor 602 may be included in another chip. Otherwise, at least one processor may be included in another component, for example, the transceiver 601 or the memory 603.

[0190] The processor 602 may perform or control or cause an operation of the BS 600 for executing at least one or a combination of methods according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the processor 602 may control operations of the BS 600 for generating and transmitting a downlink signal to a UE or processing an uplink signal received from a UE. Otherwise, the BS 600 may transmit or receive a signal to or from a neighboring BS, transfer a signal received from a UE to an upper node of the network, or transmit a signal transferred from an upper node of the network to a UE. To this end, the processor 602 may execute a computer program, codes, or instructions stored in the memory 603, so as to control other components of the BS 600 to enable execution of various operations.

[0191] The memory 603 corresponds to a hardware storage device capable of temporarily or permanently storing information and may include one or more storage media. For example, the memory 603 may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory, such as a hard drive, flash memory, or read-only memory (ROM), semipermanent memory, such as random access memory (RAM), cache memory, or a combination thereof.

[0192] The memory 603 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the processor 602 and may be accessed by the processor 602.

[0193] The memory 603 may store a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 602. According to an embodiment, a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 602 may be either stored in a single memory device or separated and distributedly stored in two or more memory devices. By executing the instructions stored in the memory 603, the processor 602 may perform various functions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0194] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, operations of the BS 600 may be caused to be performed based on execution of instructions (or a computer program or codes) stored in the memory 603 by at least one processor (or processing circuitry) configured to execute the same individually, collectively, or in any combination thereof, based on processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions, and / or based on components of processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions.

[0195] The UE or the base station may perform various communication procedures related to the control plane or the user plane by cooperating with one or more network entities based on wireless communication. For example, the UE may communicate with network entity such as an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) or a Session Management Function (SMF) via the base station, or the base station may perform at least one communication procedure by directly transmitting and receiving signals to / from, or relaying signals between, the network entities.

[0196] The structure of the above-described network entity will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0197] Fig. 7 is a block diagram of a network entity 700 according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0198] The network entity 700 may include an entity (apparatus, device, or server, etc.) that performs one or more network functions (NFs) or a part of a network function constituting a core network (e.g., a 5th generation (5G) core (5GC)) in a communication system. In this case, multiple NFs may be implemented within a single network entity, or a single NF may be distributed and implemented across a plurality of network entities. In addition, when an NF is implemented within the network entity, the NF may be implemented in the form of software, and in such a case, a program for operating the NF may be stored in memory of the network entity 700.

[0199] A single NF may be implemented by one or more instances, which may be deployed on the same network entity or distributed across multiple network entities to operate. The instance may be a software unit that logically executes a specific network function, and may be implemented in a form that is decoupled from physical hardware resources. Further, one or more NFs may be implemented in the form of one network slice to operate to satisfy specifications required by a particular service.

[0200] The NF may include at least one of an access and mobility management function (AMF), a session management function (SMF), a local session management function (L-SMF), a user plane function (UPF), a local user plane function (L-UPF), a policy control function (PCF), a unified data management (UDM), a unified data repository (UDR), a network exposure function (NEF), a network repository function (NRF), an application function (AF), a network slice selection function (NSSF), a network data analytics function (NWDAF), a network slice admission control function (NSACF), an authentication server function (AUSF), or a data network (DN).

[0201] Referring to Fig. 7, the network entity 700 may include at least one network interface 701, at least one processor 702 (hereinafter, “processor”), and at least one memory 703 (hereinafter, “memory”). As described above, a NF may be implemented in the form of a physical device such as the network entity 700, or may be virtualized and executed in the form of an instance. When implemented as an instance, the NF need not necessarily include physical components as illustrated in Fig. 7. In such a case, the instance may be logically represented as comprising one or more logical functional elements.

[0202] According to at least one or a combination of methods corresponding to the embodiments described in the present disclosure, the network interface 701, the processor 702, and the memory 703 of the network entity 700 may operate. However, components of the network entity 700 are not limited to the exemplary components illustrated in Fig. 7. In another embodiment, the network entity 700 may further include additional components in addition to the above-mentioned components, or some components may be omitted. Further, in an embodiment, the network interface 701, the processor 702, or the memory 703 may be integrated in the form of one component.

[0203] The network interface 701 is a collective term for a transmitter part of the network entity 700 and a receiver part of the network entity 700, and may be a communication circuit for transmitting or receiving a signal to or from a user equipment (UE), a base station (BS), or another network entity. Here, the communication circuit may include both a communication circuit for wireless communication and a communication circuit for a wired communication. For example, the network interface 701 may include a circuit, logic, hardware, etc., configured to exchange a control plane message or a user plane message with a UE, a BS, or other core network entities through wireless communication or wired communication. The network interface 701 may operate using various protocols (e.g., non-access stratum (NAS) protocol). The network interface 701 may also be referred to, for convenience of description or depending on implementation, as communication circuitry, network interface circuitry, or a communication interface circuitry.

[0204] The processor 702 may control general operations of the network entity 700 according to embodiments of the disclosure. The processor 702 may be implemented by one or more integrated circuit (or circuitry) (IC) chips and may execute various data processings. The processor 702 may include at least one electric circuit, and may execute instructions (or a program, codes, data, etc.) stored in the memory 703, individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. Further, the processor 702 may include a single-core processor or multi-core processor, and may include a processor assembly including a plurality of processing circuits (circuitry) according to a specific implementation scheme. Further, it should be noted that, according to another embodiment, in a case where NF is implemented in the form of an instance, the network function may be not necessarily configured by physical hardware.

[0205] According to an embodiment, the processor 702 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the network interface 701 to control the network interface 701.

[0206] The processor 702 may include at least one processor (or processing circuitry), and the at least one processor may perform the following operations individually, collectively or in any combination thereof. In a specific embodiment, at least a part of the processor 702 may be included in one chip and the other part of the processor 702 may be included in another chip. Otherwise, at least one processor may be included in another component, for example, the network interface 701 or the memory 703.

[0207] The processor 702 may perform or control or cause an operation of the network entity 700 for executing at least one or a combination of methods according to embodiments of the disclosure. For example, the processor 702 may control operations of the network entity 700 for exchanging a control plane message or a user plane message with a UE, a BS, or other core network entities through wireless or wired communication, using various protocols (e.g., NAS protocol). To this end, the processor 702 may execute a computer program, codes, or instructions stored in the memory 703, so as to control other components of the network entity 700 to enable execution of various operations.

[0208] The memory 703 corresponds to a hardware storage device capable of temporarily or permanently storing information and may include one or more storage media. For example, the memory 703 may include a memory assembly including one or more storage media. For example, the one or more storage media may include permanent memory, such as a hard drive, flash memory, or read-only memory (ROM), semipermanent memory, such as random access memory (RAM), cache memory, or a combination thereof.

[0209] The memory 703 may be electrically, operatively, or communicatively coupled to the processor 702 and may be accessed by the processor 702.

[0210] The memory 703 may store a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 702. According to an embodiment, a computer program, codes, or instructions executable by the processor 702 may be either stored in a single memory device or separated and distributedly stored in two or more memory devices. By executing the instructions stored in the memory 703, the processor 702 may perform various functions according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0211] According to an embodiment of the disclosure, operations of the network entity 700 may be caused to be performed based on execution of instructions (or a computer program or codes) stored in the memory 703 by at least one processor (or processing circuitry) configured to execute the same individually, collectively, or in any combination thereof, based on processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions, and / or based on components of processing circuitry that is not configured to execute instructions.

[0212] According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a method for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network is provided. the method comprising: receiving, by a user equipment (UE) (100), a multicast control channel (MCCH) message from a network apparatus (200), wherein the network apparatus (200) indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration within the MCCH message; configuring the UE (100) based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one multimedia multicast broadcast service (MBMS) session; and receiving, by the UE (100), the at least one MBMS session from the network apparatus (200).

[0213] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the MCCH message comprises a first set of PMCHs corresponding to Pre-Release 19 (Pre-R19) PMCH configurations and a second set of PMCHs corresponding to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configurations, wherein the configurations of the R19 PMCHs are placed after the configurations for the Pre-R19 PMCHs in an extended PMCH list in the PMCH-Config information element in the MCCH message.

[0214] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the one or more configuration parameters comprise at least one of: a time interleaving parameter that indicates whether a time interleaving is configured or enabled, or not configured or disabled; a frequency interleaving parameter that indicates whether a frequency interleaving is configured or enabled, or not configured or disabled; a group transport block (TB) parameter that indicates a number of TBs that are grouped together for time interleaving, wherein the group TB parameter is indicated as a 'M' parameter in the PMCH configuration; and a number of redundancy versions (numRV) parameter that indicates a number of redundancy versions for TBs that are scheduled or transmitted, wherein the numRV parameter is indicated as a 'N' parameter in the PMCH configuration.

[0215] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the group TB parameter further indicates that a number of grouped TBs are interleaved together in ordinal multicast-broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes followed by their redundancy versions or repetitions excluding the MBSFN subframes carrying a multicast control channel (MCH) scheduling information (MSI), an extended MSI, or MCCH.

[0216] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein when the time interleaving parameter is not configured or is absent, time interleaving for the PMCH is interpreted as not being configured.

[0217] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein when the frequency interleaving parameter is not configured or is absent, the frequency interleaving for the PMCH is interpreted as not being configured.

[0218] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein a sequence or order of the number of redundancy versions in a set of possible redundancy versions or repetitions is at least one of pre-specified or configured.

[0219] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the PMCH configuration comprises at least one PMCH corresponding to at least one sub-carrier spacing of one of 0.37 KHz, 1.25 KHz and 2.25 KHz.

[0220] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, the method comprising: generating, by the UE (100), a UE capability information message; and transmitting, by the UE (100), the UE capability information message to the network apparatus (200). wherein the UE capability information message comprises at least one of: a capability of the UE (100) to support at least one of a time interleaving and a frequency interleaving; and a capability of the UE (100) to support a MBMS reception via a multicast-broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) from MBMS-dedicated cells in a MBSFN area with a PMCH bandwidth of at least one of 40 physical resource blocks (PRBs), 35 PRBs, and 30 PRBs.

[0221] According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a method for configuration of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network is provided. the method comprising: configuring, by a network apparatus (200), one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration, wherein the PMCH configuration corresponds to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configuration; generating, by the network apparatus (200), a multicast control channel (MCCH) message by including the PMCH configuration; and transmitting, by the network apparatus (200), the MCCH message comprising the PMCH configuration to a UE (100) via radio resource control (RRC) signaling.

[0222] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, the method, configuring, by the network apparatus (200), the one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in the PMCH configuration comprises: configuring, by the network apparatus (200), a first set of PMCHs corresponding to Pre-Release 19 (Pre-R19) PMCH configurations; and configuring, by the network apparatus (200), a second set of PMCHs corresponding to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configurations, wherein the configurations of the R19 PMCHs are placed after the configurations for the Pre-R19 PMCHs in an extended PMCH list in the PMCH-Config information element in the MCCH message.

[0223] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the one or more parameters comprise at least one of: a time interleaving parameter that indicates whether a time interleaving is configured or enabled, or not configured or disabled; a frequency interleaving parameter that indicates whether a frequency interleaving is configured or enabled, or not configured or disabled; a group transport block (TB) parameter that indicates a number of TBs that are grouped together for time interleaving, wherein the group TB parameter is indicated as a 'M' parameter in the PMCH configuration; and a number of redundancy versions (numRV) parameter that indicates a number of redundancy versions for TBs that are scheduled or transmitted, wherein the numRV parameter is indicated as a 'N' parameter in the PMCH configuration.

[0224] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the group TB parameter further indicates that a number of grouped TBs are interleaved together in ordinal MBSFN subframes followed by their redundancy versions or repetitions excluding the MBSFN subframes carrying MSI or extended MSI or MCCH.

[0225] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein when the time interleaving parameter is not configured or is absent, the time interleaving for the PMCH is interpreted as not being configured.

[0226] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein when the frequency interleaving parameter is not configured or is absent, the frequency interleaving for the PMCH is interpreted as not being configured.

[0227] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein a sequence or order of the number of redundancy versions in a set of possible redundancy versions or repetitions is at least one of pre-specified or configured.

[0228] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, the method comprising: configuring, by the network apparatus (200), a change, addition, or removal of at least one parameter for the PMCH configuration included in the MCCH message, wherein the change, addition, or removal of at least one parameter is indicated by at least one bit, bitmap, or field in a MasterInformationBlock-MBMS (MIB) or SystemInformationBlockType1-MBMS (SIB) or MCCH change notification provided in a Cell Acquisition Sub-frame (CAS) or additional non-Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (non-MBSFN) sub-frames configured after a sub-frame containing a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH); and transmitting, by the network apparatus (200), change, addition, or removal of at least one parameter for the PMCH configuration included in the MCCH message to the UE (100).

[0229] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the change in the MCCH configuration comprises a change, addition, or removal of at least one parameter for R19 PMCH configuration or pertinent Broadcast session(s) configuration or start / stop of pertinent Broadcast session(s) included in the MCCH message.

[0230] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the MCCH change notification is provided through a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and the PDCCH is scrambled by and / or addressed to a Multicast Radio Network Temporary Identifier (M-RNTI).

[0231] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein the change in the MCCH configuration is indicated by the same bit(s) in the MCCH change notification as the bit(s) defined in a Pre-R19 specification for the MCCH change notification, wherein a Pre-R19 UE that receives the MCCH change notification and does not find the change in the MCCH message, due to the change being related to R19 PMCH or pertinent MBMS sessions, ignores the MCCH message.

[0232] According to another embodiments of the disclosure, wherein generating, by the network apparatus (200), the MCCH message comprises: detecting, by the network apparatus (200), whether at least one of a time interleaving or a frequency interleaving pertaining to the R19 5G Broadcast transmissions is not applied to the PMCH; setting, by the network apparatus (200), at least one of a time interleaving parameter and a frequency interleaving parameter as not configured or absent in the PMCH configuration when at least one of the time interleaving or the frequency interleaving is not applied to the PMCH; and updating, by the network apparatus (200), the MCCH message based on setting of at least one of the time interleaving parameter and the frequency interleaving parameter in the PMCH configuration.

[0233] According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a UE (100) for configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network is provided. the UE comprising: a processor (102); a memory (104) coupled to the processor (102); and a 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108) communicatively coupled to the processor (102) and the memory (104), wherein the 5G Broadcast transmission configuration controller (108): receives a MCCH message from a network apparatus (200), wherein the network apparatus (200) indicates one or more configuration parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a PMCH configuration within the MCCH message; configures the UE (100) based on the PMCH configuration within the MCCH message to obtain at least one MBMS session; and receives the at least one MBMS session from the network apparatus (200).

[0234] According to various embodiments of the disclosure, a network apparatus (200) for configuring of 5G Broadcast transmissions in a wireless communication network is provided. the network apparatus comprising: a processor (202); a memory (204) coupled to the processor (202); and a 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208) coupled to the processor (202) and the memory (204), wherein the 5G Broadcast transmission controller (208): configures one or more parameters for at least one of time interleaving and frequency interleaving in a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration, wherein the PMCH configuration corresponds to Release 19 (R19) PMCH configuration; generates a MCCH message by including the PMCH configuration; and transmits the MCCH message comprising the PMCH configuration to a UE (100) via RRC signaling.

[0235] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the embodiments as described herein.

[0236] Meanwhile, although specific embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiments, but should be defined by the claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

A method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:receiving, from a base station (BS), a multimedia broadcast multicast service control channel (MCCH) comprising a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration including interleaving configuration information for PMCH; andreceiving, from the BS, data through a PMCH based on the PMCH configuration.The method of claim 1,wherein the interleaving configuration information comprises at least one of a time interleaving configuration information indicating time interleaving for PMCH or a frequency interleaving information indicating frequency interleaving for PMCH,wherein the time interleaving configuration information comprises a parameter indicating a number of multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes excluding MCCH and MSI between two successive transmissions of same transport block.The method of claim 1, further comprising:identifying a change notification of the MCCH based on at least one of a master information block (MIB) or a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).The method of claim 3,wherein identifying the change notification of the MCCH comprises:identifying first information included in the MIB;monitoring the PDCCH indicated by a notification subframe index, based on the first information; andidentifying the change notification of the MCCH based on the PDCCH.The method of claim 1, further comprising:transmitting, to the BS, a UE capability information message indicating whether the UE supports at least one of time interleaving or frequency interleaving for a specific frequency band.A method performed by the base station (BS) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:transmitting, to a user equipment (UE), a multimedia broadcast multicast service control channel (MCCH) comprising a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration including interleaving configuration information for PMCH; andtransmitting, to the UE, data through a PMCH based on the PMCH configuration.The method of claim 6,wherein the interleaving configuration information comprises at least one of a time interleaving configuration information indicating time interleaving for PMCH or a frequency interleaving information indicating frequency interleaving for PMCH,wherein the time interleaving configuration information comprises a parameter indicating a number of multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes excluding MCCH and MSI between two successive transmissions of same transport block.The method of claim 6, further comprising:transmitting a change notification of the MCCH based on at least one of a master information block (MIB) or a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).The method of claim 6, further comprising:receiving, from the UE, a UE capability information message indicating whether the UE supports at least one of time interleaving or frequency interleaving for a specific frequency band.A user equipment (UE) comprising:at least one transceiver;at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver; andat least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor individually or in any combination to cause the UE to:receive, from a base station (BS), a multimedia broadcast multicast service control channel (MCCH) comprising a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration including interleaving configuration information for PMCH; andreceive, from the BS, data through a PMCH based on the PMCH configuration.The UE of claim 10,wherein the interleaving configuration information comprises at least one of a time interleaving configuration information indicating time interleaving for PMCH or a frequency interleaving information indicating frequency interleaving for PMCH,wherein the time interleaving configuration information comprises a parameter indicating a number of multimedia broadcast single frequency network (MBSFN) subframes excluding MCCH and MSI between two successive transmissions of same transport block.The UE of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:identify a change notification of the MCCH based on at least one of a master information block (MIB) or a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH).The UE of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:identify first information included in the MIB;monitor the PDCCH indicated by a notification subframe index, based on the first information; andidentify the change notification of the MCCH based on the PDCCH.The UE of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause the UE to:transmit, to the BS, a UE capability information message indicating whether the UE supports at least one of time interleaving or frequency interleaving for a specific frequency band.A base station comprising:at least one transceiver;at least one processor communicatively coupled to the at least one transceiver; andat least one memory, communicatively coupled to the at least one processor, storing instructions executable by the at least one processor individually or in any combination to cause the base station to:transmit, to a user equipment (UE), a multimedia broadcast multicast service control channel (MCCH) comprising a physical multicast channel (PMCH) configuration including interleaving configuration information for PMCH; andtransmit, to the UE, data through a PMCH based on the PMCH configuration.

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