Multi-preamble transmission

Abstract

In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method, comprising receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

Description

[0001] MULTI-PREAMBLE TRANSMISSION

[0002] FIELD

[0003] Various example embodiments relate to the field of wireless communication and, in particular to multi-preamble transmission.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] In the field of wireless communication, there are Non-Terrestrial Network (NTNs) such as satellite-based or high-altitude platforms that may assist or may provide additional coverage, e.g. where terrestrial networks are unavailable. To determine an, in particular global, location or position, a User Equipment (UE) may use a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). However, it may be beneficial, e.g. among other things, to improve or enhance NTNs and / or to handle and / or at least address a potentially worse UE-location estimate, in particular during initial access procedure(s) and / or initial access phase(s).

[0006] SUMMARY

[0007] According to some aspects, there is provided the subject matter of the independent claims. Some further aspects, advantages and / or features are defined in the dependent claims, the description and / or the accompanying drawings.

[0008] In a first example aspect, there may be provided an apparatus, comprising:

[0009] at least one processor; and

[0010] at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

[0011] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information to divide a plurality of preambles into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO or with at least one group of ROs, and

[0012] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0013] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein each of the groups of preambles is to be transmitted individually or separately to each other using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0014] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, ora total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0015] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates that the groups of preambles are to be formed based at least in part on at least one of:

[0016] - a total number of preambles to be transmitted,

[0017] - a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted,

[0018] - a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted,

[0019] - a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or

[0020] - a number of repetitions of a root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0021] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0022] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to thefirst example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission explicitly indicates the transmission order.

[0023] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment and / or the second example embodiment of the first example described herein, wherein the transmission order is

[0024] - included in an Information Element in the configuration information for multipreamble transmission, or

[0025] - defined in a specification.

[0026] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.

[0027] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment or the third example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is derivable from the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, wherein the transmission order is derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0028] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the fist example embodiment to the fourth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on at least one of:

[0029] - a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted,

[0030] - a root sequence index of the preambles to be transmitted

[0031] - a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or

[0032] - a number of repetitions of a root sequence per cyclic shift.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the first example embodiment to the fifth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

[0033] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0034] grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and

[0035] associating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

[0036] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles that are to be grouped together.

[0037] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles included in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0038] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission includes RO grouping information to group a plurality of ROs together for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a seventh example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0039] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eighth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the sixth example embodiment and / or the seventh example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one RO group is indicated based at least in part on at least one of:

[0040] - a time length indicator or a starting time indicator, or

[0041] - a frequency length indicator or a starting frequency indicator.

[0042] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the sixth example embodiment to the eighth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0043] determining the at least one RO group based at least in part on the RO grouping information.

[0044] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a ninth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates at least one reference RO from the plurality of ROs for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0045] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the ninth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0046] determining at least one RO group based at least in part on the at least one reference RO.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein at least one RO or RO group used for transmission of a first preamble group determines at least one RO or RO group for transmission of a second preamble group.

[0047] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a tenth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission associates preamble groups with ROs in at least one RO group, wherein the preamble groups are associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group based at least in part on at least one of:

[0048] - a transmission order,

[0049] - time-domain ROs, or

[0050] - frequency-domain ROs.

[0051] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the tenth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the preamble groups are associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group in an increasing order i) from time-domain ROs to frequency-domain ROs, or ii) from frequency domain ROs to time-domain ROs.

[0052] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eleventh example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0053] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the eleventh example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multiPhysical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0054] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0055] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

[0056] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

[0057] Furthermore, in particular further according to the first example aspect, there may be provided an apparatus, comprising means for:

[0058] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information to divide a plurality of preambles into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO or with at least one group of ROs, and

[0059] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0060] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein each of the groups of preambles is to be transmitted individually or separately to each other using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0061] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, ora total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0062] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates that the groups of preambles are to be formed based at least in part on at least one of:

[0063] - a total number of preambles to be transmitted,

[0064] - a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted,

[0065] - a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted,

[0066] - a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or

[0067] - a number of repetitions of a root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0068] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0069] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission explicitly indicates the transmission order.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment and / or the second example embodiment of the first example described herein, wherein the transmission order is

[0070] - included in an Information Element in the configuration information for multipreamble transmission, or

[0071] - defined in a specification.

[0072] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.

[0073] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment or the third example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is derivable from the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, wherein the transmission order is derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0074] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the fist example embodiment to the fourth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on at least one of:

[0075] - a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted,

[0076] - a root sequence index of the preambles to be transmitted

[0077] - a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or

[0078] - a number of repetitions of a root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0079] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the first example embodiment to the fifth example embodiment of the firstexample aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

[0080] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0081] grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and

[0082] associating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

[0083] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles that are to be grouped together.

[0084] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles included in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0085] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission includes RO grouping information to group a plurality of ROs together for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0086] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a seventh example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments describedherein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0087] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eighth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the sixth example embodiment and / or the seventh example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one RO group is indicated based at least in part on at least one of:

[0088] - a time length indicator or a starting time indicator, or

[0089] - a frequency length indicator or a starting frequency indicator.

[0090] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the sixth example embodiment to the eighth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0091] determining the at least one RO group based at least in part on the RO grouping information.

[0092] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a ninth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates at least one reference RO from the plurality of ROs for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0093] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the ninth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0094] determining at least one RO group based at least in part on the at least one reference RO.

[0095] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein at least one RO or RO group used for transmission of a first preamblegroup determines at least one RO or RO group for transmission of a second preamble group.

[0096] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a tenth example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission associates preamble groups with ROs in at least one RO group, wherein the preamble groups are associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group based at least in part on at least one of:

[0097] - a transmission order,

[0098] - time-domain ROs, or

[0099] - frequency-domain ROs.

[0100] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the tenth example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the preamble groups are associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group in an increasing order i) from time-domain ROs to frequency-domain ROs, or ii) from frequency domain ROs to time-domain ROs.

[0101] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eleventh example embodiment of the first example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0102] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the eleventh example embodiment of the first example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0103] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments describedherein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multiPhysical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0104] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0105] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

[0106] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

[0107] In a second example aspect, there may be provided a method, comprising:

[0108] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information to divide a plurality of preambles into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO or with at least one group of ROs, and

[0109] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0110] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0111] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein each of the groups of preambles is to be transmitted individuallyor separately to each other using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0112] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, or a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0113] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates that the groups of preambles are to be formed based at least in part on at least one of:

[0114] - a total number of preambles to be transmitted,

[0115] - a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted,

[0116] - a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted,

[0117] - a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or

[0118] - a number of repetitions of a root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0119] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0120] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission explicitly indicates the transmission order.In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment and / or the second example embodiment of the first example described herein, wherein the transmission order is

[0121] - included in an Information Element in the configuration information for multipreamble transmission, or

[0122] - defined in a specification.

[0123] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.

[0124] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the first example embodiment or the third example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is derivable from the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, wherein the transmission order is derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0125] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the fist example embodiment to the fourth example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on at least one of:

[0126] - a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted,

[0127] - a root sequence index of the preambles to be transmitted

[0128] - a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or

[0129] - a number of repetitions of a root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0130] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the first example embodiment to the fifth example embodiment of the secondexample aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

[0131] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0132] grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and

[0133] associating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

[0134] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles that are to be grouped together.

[0135] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles included in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0136] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission includes RO grouping information to group a plurality of ROs together for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0137] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a seventh example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodimentsdescribed herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0138] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eighth example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the sixth example embodiment and / or the seventh example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one RO group is indicated based at least in part on at least one of:

[0139] - a time length indicator or a starting time indicator, or

[0140] - a frequency length indicator or a starting frequency indicator.

[0141] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the sixth example embodiment to the eighth example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0142] determining the at least one RO group based at least in part on the RO grouping information.

[0143] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a ninth example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates at least one reference RO from the plurality of ROs for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0144] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the ninth example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0145] determining at least one RO group based at least in part on the at least one reference RO.

[0146] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein at least one RO or RO group used for transmission of a firstpreamble group determines at least one RO or RO group for transmission of a second preamble group.

[0147] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a tenth example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission associates preamble groups with ROs in at least one RO group, wherein the preamble groups are associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group based at least in part on at least one of:

[0148] - a transmission order,

[0149] - time-domain ROs, or

[0150] - frequency-domain ROs.

[0151] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the tenth example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the preamble groups are associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group in an increasing order i) from time-domain ROs to frequency-domain ROs, or ii) from frequency domain ROs to time-domain ROs.

[0152] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eleventh example embodiment of the second example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0153] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eleventh example embodiment of the second example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0154] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodimentsdescribed herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0155] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0156] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

[0157] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

[0158] In a third example aspect, there may be provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, in particular according to the first example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, causes operations comprising:

[0159] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information to divide a plurality of preambles into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO or with at least one group of ROs, and

[0160] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.The third example aspect may further comprise one or more steps and / or features of the method and / or any one of the associated example embodiments recited in the second example aspect.

[0161] In a fourth example aspect, which in particular may be combined with any one of the example aspects and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, there may be provided an apparatus, comprising:

[0162] at least one processor; and

[0163] at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

[0164] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0165] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the at least one root sequence which is repeated.

[0166] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the cyclic shift for a repeating root sequence.

[0167] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least the number of repetitions of the at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information includes or indicates at least one repetition index, k.

[0168] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the number of repetitions is provided as a list which is structured based at least in part on a repetition index, m, as [rm, ..., rm+k].

[0169] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0170] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, ora total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0171] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0172] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.

[0173] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to anyone of the first example embodiment and / or the second example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on, or derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0174] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment, the second example embodiment and / or the third example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

[0175] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0176] grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and

[0177] associating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

[0178] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the first example embodiment to the fifth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0179] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0180] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the sixth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0181] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multiPhysical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0182] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0183] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

[0184] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

[0185] Furthermore, in particular further according to the fourth example aspect, there may be provided an apparatus, comprising means for:

[0186] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, andtransmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0187] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the at least one root sequence which is repeated.

[0188] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the cyclic shift for a repeating root sequence.

[0189] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least the number of repetitions of the at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0190] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information includes or indicates at least one repetition index, k.

[0191] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the number of repetitions is provided as a list which is structured based at least in part on a repetition index, m, as [rm, ..., rm+k].

[0192] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0193] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments describedherein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, ora total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0194] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0195] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.

[0196] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment and / or the second example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on, or derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0197] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment, the second example embodiment and / or the third example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

[0198] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the means are configured for:grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and

[0199] associating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

[0200] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the first example embodiment to the fifth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0201] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0202] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0203] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the sixth example embodiment of the fourth example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0204] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multiPhysical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0205] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

[0206] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

[0207] In a fifth example aspect, which in particular may be combined with any one of the example aspects and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, there may be provided a method, comprising:

[0208] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0209] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the at least one root sequence which is repeated.

[0210] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the cyclic shift for a repeating root sequence.

[0211] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least the number of repetitions of the at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information includes or indicates at least one repetition index, k.

[0212] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the number of repetitions is provided as a list which is structured based at least in part on a repetition index, m, as [rm, ..., rm+k].

[0213] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

[0214] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, ora total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0215] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the fifth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

[0216] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the fifth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the fifth example aspect described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the fifth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment and / or the second example embodiment of the fifth example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on, or derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

[0217] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the fifth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one of the first example embodiment, the second example embodiment and / or the third example embodiment of the fifth example aspect described herein, wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

[0218] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the fifth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0219] grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and

[0220] associating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

[0221] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the first example embodiment to the fifth example embodiment of the fifth example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0222] transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0223] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the fifth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is includedin at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0224] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the sixth example embodiment of the fifth example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0225] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multiPhysical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0226] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0227] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

[0228] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the fifth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

[0229] In a sixth example aspect, there may be provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, in particular according to the fourth example aspect, and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, causes operations comprising:

[0230] receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least anumber of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0231] The sixth example aspect may further comprise one or more steps and / or features of the method and / or any one of the associated example embodiments recited in the fifth example aspect.

[0232] In a seventh example aspect, which in particular may be combined with any one of the example aspects and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, there may be provided an apparatus, comprising:

[0233] at least one processor; and

[0234] at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:

[0235] receiving, from a network device, a first configuration information for multipreamble transmission and a second configuration information for single preamble transmission,

[0236] selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information, and

[0237] transmitting a number of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the selection.

[0238] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the number of preambles are transmitted to the network device using the selected first configuration information or the selected second configuration information.

[0239] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the secondconfiguration information is based at least in part on a capability of the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0240] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0241] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus includes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine a position of the apparatus and a non-3GPP-based mechanism to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0242] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a type of the apparatus.

[0243] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the second example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the type of the apparatus includes a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, User equipment, UE and a GNSS, -less UE.

[0244] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a location estimation accuracy.

[0245] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodimentsdescribed herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on availability of or at least access to a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS.

[0246] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on whether the apparatus is equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS.

[0247] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one threshold configured by the network device.

[0248] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the third example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one threshold includes at least one of:

[0249] - a time-based threshold,

[0250] - a number of reference signals,

[0251] - a Reference Signals Received Power, RSRP, based threshold,

[0252] -a Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, based threshold, or

[0253] - a Signal-to-lnterference-plus-Noise Ratio, SI NR, based threshold.

[0254] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one time period since a previous determination of a position of the apparatus.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0255] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is available.

[0256] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0257] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a location accuracy is above or within a predefined threshold.

[0258] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0259] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that the apparatus utilizes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine a position.

[0260] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0261] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that at least one time period since a last determination of a position of the apparatus is above or within a predefined threshold.

[0262] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is unavailable.

[0263] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect or to the fifth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0264] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a location accuracy is below or outside a predefined threshold.

[0265] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a seventh example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect or any one from the fifth example embodiment to the sixth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0266] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that the apparatus utilizes a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to estimate a position.

[0267] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect or any one from the fifth example embodiment to the seventh example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:

[0268] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that at least one time period since a previous determination of a position of the apparatus is below or outside a predefined threshold.

[0269] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eighth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according tothe seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and the second configuration information for single preamble transmission are i) received together in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device, or ii) received independently from each other.

[0270] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a ninth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein at least one of: the first configuration information for multipreamble transmission, or the second configuration information for single preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0271] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the eighth example embodiment and / or the ninth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0272] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0273] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the second configuration information for single preamble transmission is for single Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0274] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments1

[0275] described herein, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0276] Furthermore, in particular further according to the seventh example aspect, there may be provided an apparatus, comprising means for:

[0277] receiving, from a network device, a first configuration information for multipreamble transmission and a second configuration information for single preamble transmission,

[0278] selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information, and

[0279] transmitting a number of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the selection.

[0280] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the number of preambles are transmitted to the network device using the selected first configuration information or the selected second configuration information.

[0281] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a capability of the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0282] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0283] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus includes a 3rd Generation PartnershipProject, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine a position of the apparatus and a non-3GPP-based mechanism to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0284] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a type of the apparatus.

[0285] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the second example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the type of the apparatus includes a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, User equipment, UE and a GNSS, -less UE.

[0286] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a location estimation accuracy.

[0287] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on availability of or at least access to a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS.

[0288] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on whether the apparatus is equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS.

[0289] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodimentsdescribed herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one threshold configured by the network device.

[0290] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the third example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one threshold includes at least one of:

[0291] - a time-based threshold,

[0292] - a number of reference signals,

[0293] - a Reference Signals Received Power, RSRP, based threshold,

[0294] -a Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, based threshold, or

[0295] - a Signal-to-lnterference-plus-Noise Ratio, SI NR, based threshold.

[0296] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one time period since a previous determination of a position of the apparatus.

[0297] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0298] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is available.

[0299] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0300] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a location accuracy is above or within a predefined threshold.In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0301] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that the apparatus utilizes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine a position.

[0302] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0303] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that at least one time period since a last determination of a position of the apparatus is above or within a predefined threshold.

[0304] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0305] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is unavailable.

[0306] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect or to the fifth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0307] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a location accuracy is below or outside a predefined threshold.

[0308] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a seventh example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of theseventh example aspect or any one from the fifth example embodiment to the sixth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0309] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that the apparatus utilizes a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to estimate a position.

[0310] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to any one from the seventh example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect or any one from the fifth example embodiment to the seventh example embodiment of the seventh example aspect described herein, wherein the means are configured for:

[0311] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that at least one time period since a previous determination of a position of the apparatus is below or outside a predefined threshold.

[0312] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eighth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and the second configuration information for single preamble transmission are i) received together in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device, or ii) received independently from each other.

[0313] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a ninth example embodiment of the seventh example aspect, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein at least one of: the first configuration information for multipreamble transmission, or the second configuration information for single preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0314] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the eighth example embodiment and / or the ninth example embodiment of the seventhexample aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0315] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0316] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the second configuration information for single preamble transmission is for single Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0317] In an example embodiment, there is provided an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0318] In an eighth example aspect, which in particular may be combined with any one of the example aspects and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, there may be provided a method, comprising:

[0319] receiving, from a network device, a first configuration information for multipreamble transmission and a second configuration information for single preamble transmission,

[0320] selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information, and

[0321] transmitting a number of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the selection.

[0322] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the number of preambles aretransmitted to the network device using the selected first configuration information or the selected second configuration information.

[0323] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a capability of the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0324] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a first example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0325] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the first example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus includes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine a position of the apparatus and a non-3GPP-based mechanism to determine a position of the apparatus.

[0326] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a second example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a type of the apparatus.

[0327] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the second example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the type of the apparatus includes a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, User equipment, UE and a GNSS, -less UE.In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on a location estimation accuracy.

[0328] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on availability of or at least access to a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS.

[0329] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on whether the apparatus is equipped with ora Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS.

[0330] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a third example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one threshold configured by the network device.

[0331] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the third example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one threshold includes at least one of:

[0332] - a time-based threshold,

[0333] - a number of reference signals,

[0334] - a Reference Signals Received Power, RSRP, based threshold,

[0335] -a Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, based threshold, or

[0336] - a Signal-to-lnterference-plus-Noise Ratio, SI NR, based threshold.In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fourth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on at least one time period since a previous determination of a position of the apparatus.

[0337] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0338] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is available.

[0339] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0340] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a location accuracy is above or within a predefined threshold.

[0341] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0342] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that the apparatus utilizes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine a position.

[0343] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0344] selecting the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that at least one time period since a last determination of a position of the apparatus is above or within a predefined threshold.In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a fifth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the eighth example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0345] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is unavailable.

[0346] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a sixth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the eighth example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect or to the fifth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0347] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that a location accuracy is below or outside a predefined threshold.

[0348] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a seventh example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the eighth example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect or any one from the fifth example embodiment to the sixth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:

[0349] selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that the apparatus utilizes a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to estimate a position.

[0350] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to any one from the eighth example aspect to the fourth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect or any one from the fifth example embodiment to the seventh example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the method comprises:selecting the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that at least one time period since a previous determination of a position of the apparatus is below or outside a predefined threshold.

[0351] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as an eighth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and the second configuration information for single preamble transmission are i) received together in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device, or ii) received independently from each other.

[0352] In an example embodiment, which may be referred to as a ninth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein at least one of: the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, or the second configuration information for single preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

[0353] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example embodiment and / or the ninth example embodiment of the eighth example aspect described herein, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

[0354] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

[0355] In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the second configuration information for single preamble transmission is for single Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.In an example embodiment, there is provided a method, in particular according to the eighth example aspect and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, wherein the method is performable or is performed by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

[0356] In a ninth example aspect, there may be provided a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, in particular according to the seventh example aspect, and / or any one of the associated example embodiments described herein, causes operations comprising:

[0357] receiving, from a network device, a first configuration information for multipreamble transmission and a second configuration information for single preamble transmission,

[0358] selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information, and

[0359] transmitting a number of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the selection.

[0360] The ninth example aspect may further comprise one or more steps and / or features of the method and / or any one of the associated example embodiments recited in the eighth example aspect.

[0361] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0362] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0363] A full and enabling disclosure to one of ordinary skill in the art is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification including reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0364] FIG. 1 shows an example output of auto-correlation as a Power Delay Profile

[0365] (PDP);FIG. 2 shows an example signaling diagram according to subject-matter described herein;

[0366] FIG. 3 shows a non-limiting example of determining at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles;

[0367] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an example aspect of the subject-matter described herein;

[0368] FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of an example aspect of the subject-matter described herein;

[0369] FIG. 6 shows a flow chart of an example aspect of the subject-matter described herein;

[0370] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart of an example aspect of the subject-matter described herein; and

[0371] FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of an example aspect of the subject-matter described herein.

[0372] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0373] Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the figures. Within the following description of the drawings, the same reference numbers may refer to same components. Generally, only the differences with respect to individual embodiments may be described. Each example may be provided by way of explanation and is not meant as a limitation. Further, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used on or in conjunction with other embodiments to yield yet a further embodiment. It is intended that the description includes such modifications and variations.The drawings are schematic drawings which are not drawn to scale. Some elements in the drawings may have dimensions which are exaggerated for the purpose of highlighting aspects of the present disclosure and / or for the sake of clarity of presentation.

[0374] A "non-terrestrial network" (NTN) may be considered as a satellite-based network that may assist or may provide additional coverage, e.g. where terrestrial networks (TN) are unavailable, disadvantageous and / or insufficient. An NTN may use for example, a Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS), which may operate between a range of about 8 and 50 km altitude. Another example may be a High Altitude Platform (HAP) or satellites, e.g. in different constellations, altitudes and / or orbits, e.g. which may carry a transmission equipment or a base station. Examples may include one or more of: Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites, medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) satellites, Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO) and / or Highly Elliptical Orbiting (HEO) satellites. A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) may be regarded as a substantially circular orbit in an altitude in the range of about 500-2.000 km, which may account for a lower delay and better link budget, but a larger number of satellites needed for coverage. A medium Earth Orbit (MEO) may be regarded as substantially circular orbit in an altitude in the range of about 8.000-20.000 km. A Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) may be regarded as a substantially circular orbit in an altitude of about 35.000 km above the Earth's equator. Due to gravitational forces a GEO satellite may be moving within a range of a few km around its nominal orbital position. A Highly Elliptical Orbiting (HEO) may be a substantially elliptical orbit around the earth. Non-terrestrial networks (NTN) may have a number of characteristics and / or limitations that require adaptations and / or modification, e.g. in comparison to terrestrial networks (TN). For example, LEO and / or MEO satellites may be moving with high velocity relative to the Earth surface, which may lead to moving cell patterns or quasi-earth fixed cell patterns, (higher) Doppler shifts / variations, and / or faster propagation delay variations. This may require enhanced beam management, in particular based on information about the (predictable) movement of the satellite (ephemeris) and / or, the location, position and / or movement of the apparatus, e.g. the UE.

[0375] The subject-matter as described herein may consider and / or address, among other things, how a potentially worse or worsening, in particular geographical, location / position of the apparatus, e.g. the UE, and / or estimation / determination thereof, can be handled, in particular during initial access, e.g. during Uplink (UL) synchronization, and / or how NTNscan be enhanced or improved. The subject-matter as described herein may consider, among other things, how to make the apparatus, e.g. the UE, independent of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). The subject-matter described herein may optimize and / or improve preamble transmission and / or enhance RA reliability.

[0376] A "GNSS" may be regarded as a satellite-based navigation and / or positioning system and / or it may refer to a satellite constellation that may, e.g., provide, in particular global, location / position-, navigation- and / or timing-data or -information. An example of a GNSS may be a Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou etc. Using signals from space, each of such systems may transmit ranging and / or timing data to, e.g. GNSS-enabled / GNSS-equippped, receivers, which then, e.g., use this data to determine their (current), in particular geographical, location / position.

[0377] The apparatus may be a User Equipment (UE), for example a mobile or handled device, for example a mobile phone or a smart phone, or may be at least comprised in a UE. The apparatus may be a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE. A NTN-UE may be regarded as a device which may connect to an NTN. For example, unlike terrestrial UEs that, e.g. connect to cell towers or base stations, NTN-UEs may connect to, e.g. LEO (Low Earth Orbit) satellites, GEO (Geostationary) satellites, HAPS (High-Altitude Platform Stations) etc. A non-limiting example of a NTN-UE may be a smartphone, e.g. with satellite messaging capability, a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) etc. NTN UEs may often be used in remote locations, such as deserts, oceans, mountains, aircraft, ships, etc. Some NTN UEs may rely on GNSS (e.g. GPS, Galileo, BeiDou etc.) for (precise) location tracking / positioning. Other UEs or NTN-UEs may lack GNSS capabilities, e.g. these may be referred to as GNSS-less UEs or UEs which lack availability of GNSS, or which are not equipped with or free of a GNSS. GNSS-less UEs may estimate their position / location differently. The position / location of the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may be important in NTN to pre-compensate for the time delays and / or frequency offset(s) (FO), in particular during initial access. This may be challenging, if the UE has no or uncertain information about its, in particular geographical, location or position.

[0378] The following is a non-limiting excerpt of TS 38.211 which may provide a background information on preambles, in particular PRACH preambles, and / or Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences. The excerpt of TS 38.211 outlines an example for generation of the random-access preamble, i.e., xuv( ). Preambles, in particular PRACH preambles, may be generated and / or differentiated based on a root index, u, and the cyclic shift index, v, that may be applied to a given root sequence. However, it should be noted that this excerpt and / or its content should be considered purely optional and / or non-limiting. The excerpt of TS 38.211 outlines sequence generation in clause 6.3.3.1 as follows:

[0379] The set of random-access preambles xuv(ri) shall be generated according to:

[0380] xu,v(n) = xu((n + Cv)modLRA)

[0381] .TtUi(i + A)

[0382] xui) = eJ LRA ,i = 0, l, ...,LRA- 1

[0383] from which the frequency-domain representation shall be generated according to

[0384]

[0385] where LRA= 839 , LRA= 139, LRA= 1151 , or LRA= 571 depending on the PRACH preamble format as given by Tables 6.3.3.1-1 and 6.3.3.1-2 of TS 38.211. There may be 64 preambles defined in each time-frequency PRACH occasion, enumerated in increasing order of first increasing cyclic shift Cvof a logical root sequence, and then in increasing order of the logical root sequence index, starting with the index obtained from the higher-layer parameter prach- RootSequencelndex or rootsequence I ndex-BF or by msgA-PRACH- RootSequencelndex if configured and a type-2 random access procedure is initiated as described in clause 8.1 of [5, TS 38.213], Additional preamble sequences, in case 64 preambles cannot be generated from a single root Zadoff-Chu sequence, are obtained from the root sequences with the consecutive logical indexes until all the 64 sequences are found. The logical root sequence order is cyclic; the logical index 0 is consecutive to LRA- 2. The sequence number u is obtained from the logical root sequence index according to Tables 6.3.3.1-3 to 6.3.3.1-4B.As such, a "root sequence" may be considered as a, in particular mathematical and / or logical, sequence such as a Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequence, which may be used as a base or foundation for generating multiple, e.g. PRACH, preambles. A "cyclic shift" may be regarded as a process of changing, modifying, shifting and / or moving a root sequence, e.g. cyclically, e.g. by a certain amount, to generate one or more different, e.g. PRACH, preamble(s), in particular from the same root sequence. As such, a single root sequence can be used to generate multiple preambles, e.g. by applying different cyclic shifts. This root sequence may, in other words, be modified using cyclic shifts to create unique preambles. This may help to increase the number of available and / or different / unique preambles, e.g. without requiring additional root sequences An "index" may be considered as a numerical value and / or identifier used to differentiate, enumerate, order, divide, assign and / or reference a specific element within a sequence, set, group and / or category, such as for example root sequences, cyclic shifts and / or repetition(s), e.g. of root sequences and / or cyclic shifts. Indexes may assist in defining and / or managing sequences, shifts, and / or repetitions, e.g. systematically. Each cyclic shift may be identified by a cyclic shift index (e.g. 1, 2, 3, etc.) and / or each root sequence may be identified by a root sequence index (e.g., 1, 2, 3, etc.). The same may correspondingly apply for the index related to the repetitions of root sequences and / or cyclic shifts.

[0386] For NTN and / or NTN-UEs, in particular GNSS-less NTN UEs, usage of double and / or multiple Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences, e.g. with different roots, may address both large Doppler shift(s) and large delay(s).

[0387] When an apparatus, e.g. a UE, selects a, e.g. PRACH, preamble from a plurality, a number or a pool of preamble resources (e.g. with 64 preambles) in a RACH occasion (RO) randomly and transmits the selected preamble in a message, e.g. Msg1 , at a base station, e.g. gNB, the receiver may first perform cross-correlation of the received signal, in particular with all hypothetical preambles in the pool, in particular 64 hypothetical sequences, to determine the transmitted preamble. Subsequently, from the output of the auto-correlation of the detected preamble with the transmitted message, e.g. Msg1, and location of the main peak, the base station, e.g. gNB, may determine an estimate of the timing advance (TA) for apparatus, e.g. the UE. The output of the auto-correlation may sometimes be referred to as power delay profile (PDP). In the absence of (large) Dopplershift(s), the location of the main peak may be affected by the delay (e.g. dtime). Now, when ZC sequences, the main impacts of (large) Doppler shifts would be an additional / extra shift to the main detected peak (in the power delay profile) of the RACH receiver and introduction of smaller mirror peaks in the PDP. In other words, the shifted location of the main peak results from both delay and Doppler shift:

[0388] d — dtime.u 4" ^Doppler, u >

[0389] wherein d may be the location of the main peak in the PDP, and the subscript u may be related to a specific preamble sequence with root u.

[0390] The important observation may be that due to the impact of Doppler shifts, the location of the main peak may not be uniquely related to TA, as there is a system of equations with two unknowns (dtime,u and ^Doppler, u) and °neequation which may not be solved uniquely. To resolve this problem above, another equation may be created with the two unknowns. A new preamble may be created, e.g. by concatenation of two ZC sequences, e.g. with different roots. Therefore, a system of equations as shown below may be created and uniquely determine the TA:

[0391]

[0392] However, this may, among others, lead to additional problems:

[0393] i) eventually the result of concatenation may lead to the introduction of a new (e.g. PRACH) preamble, which may have a great specification impact, as many new (e.g. PRACH) preambles formats / tables would need to be introduced; and / or

[0394] ii) such a design may not be forward compatible, e.g. with regards to the requirements that may appear in future. For instance, the design of a new preamble format by concatenation may be based on specific constraints on the Doppler values, which may in turn come from the satellite altitude, satellite speed, and / or other satellite / constellation parameters. This maydemand for a certain number of repetitions and / or choices of different roots, e.g. with changing of the above constraints (e.g., new Doppler constraints etc.) a new preamble format, e.g., a new in particular concatenated preamble format may be beneficial.

[0395] The problems i)-ii) outlined above, among others, may be addressed and / or potentially be resolved, e.g. when another flavor, design and / or construction of preamble transmission, in particular with multiple root / sequences is taken into account. In particular, instead of concatenating a number "N" sequences (where N may be a natural number), e.g. in a single preamble, each sequence can be transmitted separately.

[0396] However, this may also bring its own challenges and / or problems, which the subjectmatter described herein may address at least partially. In particular, one aspect may be related to the fact that transmission order of the "N" preambles may be preferably known at both the base station, e.g. the gNB, and the apparatus, e.g. the UE. In other words, a NTN-UE may transmit the "N" preambles with a given or predefined order that may also known at the base station, e.g. the gNB, in particular for combining and / or processing. The base station, e.g. the gNB, may combine the "N" preambles to estimate a Doppler shift and / or TA. According to subject-matter described herein, an apparatus, e.g. a UE, in particular a GNSS-less NTN UE may be considered, which may transmit a plurality of preambles or a number "N" of preambles, in particular for getting UL synchronization, e.g. in a structured, organized, arranged and / or sorted way. The subject-matter described herein may particularly relate to i) construction / grouping and / or order of the transmission of the "N" preambles, and / or to ii) associating, assigning and / or mapping of (each of) the "N" preambles into / onto / with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, e.g. spreading them across one or more ROs, e.g. in time and / or frequency.

[0397] "Random Access" may be regarded as a procedure where the apparatus, e.g. the UE, intends to create an initial connection with the network device. This may allow the apparatus, e.g. the UE, to request network resources, synchronize with the network device and / or re-establish communication, e.g. after losing connection. There may be two types of random access: Contention-Based Random Access (CBRA), where the UE may pick a random PRACH preamble and transmits it, and Contention-Free Random Access (CFRA), where the network may assign a dedicated preamble to the UE. A Random AccessChannel (RACH) may be regarded as a logical channel that the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may use to transmit random access request(s) to the network device. A Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) may be regarded as a physical channel that in particular may carry the RACH request, e.g. over the air. For example, an apparatus, e.g. a UE, may not initially know its exact timing relative to the network. Thus, it may transmit a preamble, e.g. a PRACH preamble, to allow the network to measure and / or correct its timing offset. The network may respond with a Random Access Response (RAR), e.g. to adjust the UE's timing. For example, the RAR may contain a Timing Advance Command which indicates to the UE how to adjust the transmission timing in subsequent transmissions. A preamble may be regarded as a specially designed signal that an apparatus, e.g. the UE, transmits to the network device, e.g. when it wants to initiate a connection, request access and / or request resources. A preamble or PRACH preamble may be for detection and / or timing estimation and / or may include at least one sequence, e.g. a root sequence, and at least one cyclic shift. The preamble may also comprise a guard period, e.g. a time interval which may ensure that preambles do not interfere with subsequent transmissions. A RACH Occasion "RO" may be a time and / or frequency slot or block, when an apparatus, e.g. the UE, may be allowed to transmit a random access request, e.g. to the network device, and / or where the network device listens or expects preambles, e.g. PRACH preambles, to be transmitted. In other words, ROs may be specific areas within the time and frequency domain, where the network device may monitor for, e.g. PRACH, preambles from apparatuses, e.g. UEs.

[0398] The subject-matter described herein may relate to a configuration information for multipreamble transmission, in particular transmitted by a network device. "Multi-preamble" transmission may refer to a transmission of multiple, a plurality of and / or a number of preambles for example as a group, set and / or cluster of preambles e.g. in association with a random access procedure, in particular instead of transmission of a single preamble (e.g. referred to below as legacy approach / transmission). "Configuration information" may be regarded as a set of instruction(s), parameters(s) and / or information that define, instruct, guide and / or tell the apparatus, e.g. the UE, howto transmit preambles, e.g. in a structured, organized, arranged and / or sorted way. The configuration may be received from a network device, e.g. a base station. The configuration information may also be referred to as multi-preamble configuration information. The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may be for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH,preamble transmission. In other words, it may correspond to configuration information for multi-PRACH preamble transmission.

[0399] The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may be included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device. The at least one broadcast channel and the at least one broadcasting signal may be collectively referred to at least one broadcasting resource. A "broadcasting resource" may be a physical and / or logical element in a wireless network to, e.g. enable devices, such as UEs, to access and / or synchronize and / or to stay synchronized with the network and / or to receive configuration and / or system information. A broadcasting signal may correspond to a physical component or signal used for broadcasting. A broadcasting channel may correspond to a logical channel or message used to convey information. For example, the broadcasting channel may be, include or correspond to at least one System Information Block (SIB). A System Information Block (SIB) may be regarded as a, in particular structured, set of broadcasted system information, e.g. transmitted by the cellular network to provide details and / or system-related configuration and / or operational information, e.g. from the network to user equipment (UE). SIBs may help the apparatus, e.g. the UE, to connect to the network and / or understand the network’s capabilities, services, and / or configurations. System information may be transmitted or broadcasted using, for example, a "Master Information Block" (MIB) and / or System Information Block(s), such as one or more of (SIB1, SIB2,..., SIB21 etc.).

[0400] The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include different / multiple parts and / or may indicate different / multiple information.

[0401] In particular, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate i) preamble grouping information, which may be referred to as a first part of the configuration information. This may allow for more efficient preamble management / structuring and / or improved preamble transmission. The preamble grouping information may be information, data, instructions and / or parameters to instruct the apparatus, e.g. the UE, howto group, divide, combine, merge, bundle, structure, organize, arrange, split, manage, distribute and / or allocated a plurality of preambles into (e.g. one or more) groups, sets or clusters of preambles (these terms may be used interchangeably herein), in particular for (preamble) transmission. In particular, the preamble groupinginformation may define how the groups of preambles are to be formed, created, constructed and / or defined. For example, the plurality of preambles may be divided into a first group of preambles, a second group of preambles etc. Each group of preambles may include a number "N" of preambles, wherein N may be a natural number. The first group of preambles and the second group of preambles may be different with respect to one another, e.g. in terms of the number "N" of preambles which they comprise, in terms of preamble characteristics, e.g. root sequences and / or cyclic shift(s) and / or a number of repetitions etc. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may indicate at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, or a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may indicate that the groups of preambles are to be formed, created and / or produced based at least in part on at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted, one or more root sequence(s) of the preambles to be transmitted, one or more cyclic shift(s) of the preambles to be transmitted, or a number of repetitions of a root sequence, e.g. per cyclic shift. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: grouping, combining, arranging and / or bundling the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information. For example, using the preamble grouping information, the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may construct the different groups of preambles.

[0402] In addition thereto, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate ii) preamble group mapping information, which may be referred to as a second part of the configuration information. The preamble group mapping information may also be referred to as a mapping / association rule, e.g. between preamble group(s) and RO(s). The preamble group mapping information may be information, data, instructions and / or parameters to instruct the apparatus, e.g. the UE, how to associate, assign, map, link and / or allocate at least one of the groups of preambles with / to at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO or with / to at least one group, set or cluster of ROs (these terms may be used interchangeably herein). The association of at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or with at least one group of ROs may be based at least in part on, in particular taking into account or considering a transmission order as described herein. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: associating, mapping, allocating and / or assigning at least one of the groups ofpreambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on or using the preamble group mapping information.

[0403] In addition thereto, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles, which may be referred to as a third part of the configuration information. The transmission order may be information, data, instructions and / or parameters to instruct the apparatus, e.g. the UE, how or in which order, series, or sequence / sequencing the preambles, e.g. within one group, are to be transmitted. This order may determine which preamble is transmitted first, second, third, and so on or how the preambles are to be transmitted one after another, which may ensure an organized and / or efficient way for the UE to access the network. The transmission order may be based at least in part on at least one of: one or more root sequence(s) of the preambles to be transmitted, a root sequence index of the preambles to be transmitted, one or more cyclic shift(s) of the preambles to be transmitted, or a number of repetitions of a root sequence, e.g. per cyclic shift. The transmission order may be defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles. For example, the network device may provide, configure and / or indicate the transmission order of preambles, e.g. in a preamble group, by providing pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts in the form of (Ui, Cj), in particular of each preamble group. This may be, for example, more suitable for a smaller number of preambles, e.g. smaller values of "N". The configuration information for multipreamble transmission may explicitly indicate the transmission order. In other words, it may be (directly) included or encoded in the configuration information, e.g. directly readable by the apparatus. In particular, the transmission order may be included in an Information Element (IE) in the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission. The transmission order may be included or encoded in the configuration information, e.g. using one or more bit(s). In another example, the transmission order may be (e.g. explicitly) defined in a specification, e.g. a standard specification. In another example, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may implicitly indicate the transmission order. For example, the transmission order may be, e.g. indirectly, derivable / derived and / or inferable / inferred from the configuration information for multipreamble transmission, e.g. the UE, may conclude to the transmission order based at least in parton the configuration information. In particular, the transmission order may derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence, e.g. percyclic shift. It may be conceivable to use a flag or pointer included in the configuration information to indicate the transmission order. In a non-limiting example, if "N" may be configured as 5 and configuration order may include [ui, u2] (e.g. root sequences), [Ci, C2, C3] (e.g. cyclic shifts) and rui= [1 , 2] (e.g. repetitions for certain root and / or cyclic shift), and ru2= [2], then the transmission order may be [x(ui,ci) x(ui, c2) X(ui,C2)X(U2I C3)X(U2I C3>]. This may mean Seq-1= x(ui, ci>, Seq-2 = x(ui, c2>, Seq-3 = x(ui, c2>, Seq-4 = x(u2, C3>, and Seq-5 = X(u2, C3).

[0404] The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and / or one or more parts thereof may optimize and / or improve preamble transmission and / or may enable, among other things, to make UEs independent of GNSS. In other words, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and / or one or more parts thereof may allow a UE to perform UL synchronization without requiring availability and / or without being equipped with GNSS. In addition, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and / or one or more parts thereof may optimize, improve and / or enhance RA reliability.

[0405] In addition thereto, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles that are to be grouped together. Likewise, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles that are not grouped together. For example, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may indicate how many preambles from the plurality of preambles should be grouped, e.g. allowing also some preambles to be not grouped (at all). In addition thereto, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate a number of preambles from the plurality of preambles included in at least one of the groups of preambles. For example, it may indicate how many preambles are included in one or more (or all) of the groups of preambles. This information may correspond to and / or indicate a size of at least one of the groups of preambles, e.g. also referred to as a preamble group size, in particular for the number of preambles that are grouped together, e.g. in one group. A preamble group size may be indicated in a sequential order in which the number of preambles are ordered, categorized and / or organized. For example, a preamble group size of [2, 1 , 1 , 1] may indicate that the first two preambles, e.g. Seq-1 , and Seq-2 are grouped together, e.g. at the first position in the list, and, e.g., that theremaining / other preambles, e.g. Seq-3, Seq-4, Seq-5 may not have been / are not to be grouped together.

[0406] In addition thereto, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate iv) RO grouping information. The RO grouping information may be information, data and / or instructions how to group, bundle, merge and / or combine a plurality of ROs together, in particular for forming, creating and / or defining at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles. The at least one RO group or group of ROs may include a number of ROs, e.g. it may correspond to a collection or set of ROs, that are grouped together. For example, there may be a first group of ROs, a second group of ROs etc. The first group of ROs may differ from the second group of ROs, e.g. by the number of ROs included and / or by a timing characteristic / domain and / or frequency characteristic / domain, e.g. a starting time and / or starting frequency etc. The groups of preambles may be associated with and / or mapped to the at least one RO group, in particular for (preamble) transmission. The RO grouping information may be explicitly included or indicated in / by the configuration information, e.g. using an Information Element (IE) and / or one or more bit(s), in particular to be (directly) readable by the UE, or implicitly, in particular so that the UE may conclude to / infer and / or derive the RO grouping information from the configuration information.

[0407] For example, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular the RO grouping information, may include or indicate at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles. The at least one RO group may be indicated based at least in part on or using at least one of: a time length indicator, ti, or a (optional) starting time, e.g. a starting time indicator, ora frequency length indicator, fi, or a (optional) starting frequency, e.g. a starting frequency indicator. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: determining the at least one RO group based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular based at least in part on at least one of: the time length indicator, ti, or the starting time, or a frequency length indicator, fi, or a starting frequency. The at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles may correspond to a dedicated RO group via which the transmission may occur. The at least one RO group may include less ROs as compared to a total number of ROs, e.g. it may be a subset or subgroup ofthe total available ROs. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: determining the at least one RO group based at least in part on the RO grouping information.

[0408] For example, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular the RO grouping information, may include or indicate at least one reference RO from / of the plurality of ROs for forming, constructing and / or defining at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles. A reference RO may be regarded as a starting point, baseline and / or origin based on which the RO group is to be formed. The reference RO may assist in defining when and / or where the remaining ROs in the group should be allocated or grouped. The reference RO may indicate a starting point of the RO group, a spacing (e.g. time) between ROs etc. A reference RO may be associated with an Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) block index and / or a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) block index. Once the reference RO is identified, determined and / or obtained, the UE may use it to construct at least one RO group.

[0409] In another example, at least one (in particular first) RO or RO group used for transmission of a first preamble group may determine at least one (in particular second) RO or RO group for transmission of a second preamble group. For example, the apparatus', e.g. the UE's, initial selection of time resource(s) (e.g. symbol, slot) and / or frequency resource(s) for the first preamble group (e.g. in an RO) transmission may specify, define and / or indicate what time resource(s) and / or frequency resource(s) the UE may use for transmission of the next group, e.g. the second preamble group (e.g. in another RO).

[0410] The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular the preamble group mapping information may associate, map and / or assign at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or with at least one group of ROs within a specified and / or indicated RO group, e.g. within at least one RO group indicated based at least in part on the RO grouping information. For example, the configuration information for multipreamble transmission may associate, map, allocate and / or assign preamble groups with ROs in at least one RO group, wherein the preamble groups may be associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group based at least in part on at least one of: a transmission order, time-domain ROs, or frequency-domain ROs. For example, the preamble groups may be associated with the ROs in the at least one RO group in an increasing order i) from time-domain ROs to frequency-domain ROs, or (vice-versa) ii) from frequencydomain ROs to time-domain ROs. It may be conceivable, to associate first the time-domain ROs (e.g. in the time-domain direction) and secondly frequency-domain ROs (e.g. in the frequency-domain direction), e.g. in increasing order, or vice versa.

[0411] According to subject-matter described herein, the at least one of the groups of preambles may be transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs. In particular, each of the groups of preambles may be transmitted individually, one-by-one or separately to each other using at least one associated or mapped RO or at least one associated or mapped group of ROs.

[0412] In the following, some examples how to group, map and / or transmit the preambles are outlined. However, it should be noted that each of the following examples may be combined with one or more steps, features and / or parts outlined in association with the configuration information and / or in particular with the i) preamble grouping information, ii) the preamble group mapping information, iii) the transmission order, iv) the RO grouping information and / or the RO grouping mechanisms / options etc. as described above and / or herein.

[0413] i) Utilizing preambles with different root sequences (optionally also with cyclic shift(s))

[0414] According to subject-matter described herein, the configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may include or indicate at least a number of preambles from a plurality of preambles which have different root sequences based on which the plurality of preambles may be divided into groups of preambles. In other words, the preambles which have different root sequences may be used, e.g. by the apparatus, e.g. the UE, to construct, form and / or define the one or more groups of preambles from the plurality of preambles. For example, the number of preambles may include a first preamble with a first root sequence and a second preamble with a second root sequence, which is in particular different from the first root sequence of the first preamble. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may further include or indicate at least one root sequence of at least one preamble of the number of preambles, e.g. directly and / or explicitly. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may include or indicate at least one root sequence index, i. The rootsequence index, i, may associate, link and / or map each preamble of the number of preambles with a different root sequence. The number of preambles which have different root sequences may be provided as a list, e.g. a list of preambles, wherein the list may be structured based at least in part on the root sequence index, i. The list may be structured as follows: [Ui, ... , ui+k], wherein in particular the subscript (i, i+1 , i+2, ... , i+k) may represent the number of different root sequences Ui. It should be noted that the grouping of preambles already works / is sufficient based on the different roots, e.g. alone. However, the configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may further include or indicate at least one cyclic shift of at least one preamble of the number of preambles. In an example the number of preambles which have different root sequences may have a same cyclic shift. In another example, the number of preambles which have different root sequences may have a different cyclic shift. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may further include or indicate at least one first root sequence of a first preamble of the number of preambles based on which at least one second root sequence of a second preamble of the number of preambles is to be assigned or selected. Thus, instead of assigning them randomly, the assignment may be based on a root sequence.

[0415] According to subject-matter described herein, the transmission order may be based at least in part on a root sequence index, i, of the preambles to be transmitted. The transmission order may be set, defined and / or provided at least based in part on an increasing order of root sequence indices, i. The configuration information for multipreamble transmission may include at least one indication that indicates at least one pair of at least one root sequence and at least one cyclic shift, e.g. (ukCj). As such, the transmission order may be defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: transmitting the at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0416] ii) Utilizing preambles with same root sequence, but different cyclic shift(s)

[0417] According to subject-matter described herein, the configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may include or indicate at least a number of preambles from a plurality of preambles which have same root sequence(s) and a different cyclic shiftbased on which the plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles. In other words, the preambles which have the same root sequence(s) but different cyclic shift(s) may be used, e.g. by the apparatus, e.g. the UE, to construct, form and / or define the one or more groups of preambles from the plurality of preambles. For example, the number of preambles may include a first preamble with a root sequence and a first cyclic shift and a second preamble with the same root sequence and a second cyclic shift, which is in particular different from the first cyclic shift of the first preamble. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may further include or indicate i) at least one root sequence of at least one preamble of the number of preambles, e.g. at least one root sequence of at least one of the number of preambles which have the same root sequences and the different cyclic shift, and / or ii) at least one cyclic shift of at least one preamble of the number of preambles, e.g. directly and / or explicitly. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may include or indicate at least one cyclic shift index, j. The number of preambles which have the same root sequence(s) may be provided as a list, e.g. a list of preambles, wherein the list may be structured based at least in part on the cyclic shift index, j. The list may be structured as follows: [Cj, ..., Cj+k], wherein in particular the subscript (j, j+1, j+2, ..., j+k) may represent the number of cyclic shifts Cj.

[0418] According to subject-matter described herein, the transmission order may be based at least in part on a cyclic shift index, j, of the preambles to be transmitted. The transmission order may be set, defined and / or provided at least based in part on an increasing order of cyclic shift indices, j, e.g. for a respective or given root sequence. The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include at least one indication that indicates at least one pair of at least one root sequence and at least one cyclic shift, e.g. (Ui, Cj). As such, the transmission order may be defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: transmitting the at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0419] iii) Utilizing repetitions of root sequences

[0420] According to subject-matter described herein, the configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may include or indicate at least a number of repetitions(e.g. how many times it is repeated) of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles. In other words, the root sequence repetition number may be used, e.g. by the apparatus, e.g. the UE, to construct, form and / or define the one or more groups of preambles from the plurality of preambles. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may further include or indicate i) the at least one root sequence which is repeated and / or the cyclic shift for a repeating root sequence, e.g. directly and / or explicitly. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may further include or indicate at least the number of repetitions of the at least one root sequence per or for each cyclic shift. The configuration information, in particular the preamble grouping information, may include or indicate at least one repetition index, m. The number of repetitions may be provided as a list, wherein the list may be structured based at least in part on the repetition index, m. The list may be structured as follows: [rm, ..., rm+k], wherein in particular the subscript (m, m+1, m+2, ..., m+k) may represent the number of repetitions.

[0421] According to subject-matter described herein, the configuration information for multipreamble transmission may indicate a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles. The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may implicitly indicate the transmission order. For example, the transmission order may be based at least in part on, or derivable, inferable or to be concluded to based at least in part on the number of repetitions of at least one root sequence, in particular the number of repetitions of at least one root sequence, e.g. per cyclic shift. The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include at least one indication that indicates at least one pair of at least one root sequence and at least one cyclic shift, e.g. (Ui, Cj). As such, the transmission order may be defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: transmitting the at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0422] According to subject-matter described herein, a new type of configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is provided. However, it may be the case that the network device may transmit and / or configure the apparatus, e.g. the UE, with both i) the new type of configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, which may be referred to as a first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and ii) with the "old" or"legacy" type of configuration information, e.g. configuration information for single preamble transmission, which may be referred to as a second configuration information for single-preamble transmission. The first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may be for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission. The second configuration information for single preamble transmission may be for single Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission. It may be conceivable that the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and the second configuration information for single preamble transmission are i) received together, collectively, in common and / or simultaneously, e.g. in at least one (e.g. a same) broadcast channel or at least one (e.g. a same) broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device, or that they may be ii) received independently or separately from each other, e.g. in different messages, broadcast channel(s) and / or broadcasting signal(s) etc.

[0423] Based at least in part on the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and the second configuration information for single-preamble transmission, the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may select, choose, decide, determine and / or pick one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information. In other words, the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may, e.g. dynamically decide which one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information it may use. Based on the selection, the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may transmit the number of preambles to the network device, e.g. based on the new type of configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, or based on the "old" or "legacy" type of configuration information for single preamble transmission. This approach may offer more flexibility for the apparatus, e.g. the UE, and / or may enable to dynamically adapt application of a respective configuration information for transmission based on a current situation, region or scenario the apparatus, e.g. the UE, is in. It should be noted that when selecting the new type of configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may group the plurality of preambles together into one or more groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, and associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or with at least one group of ROs based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information as outlined herein. In addition thereto, the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may utilize the transmission order and / or the RO grouping information to group a plurality of ROs together for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles as described herein. In thisrespect, reference is made to the foregoing, which may apply correspondingly. Then, the number of preambles may be transmitted to the network device using the selected first configuration information or the selected second configuration information.

[0424] The selection or selecting conducted by the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may be based at least in part on different parameters, factors, characteristics, properties and / or criteria. For example selecting one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

[0425] - a capability of the apparatus to determine a, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus. In other words, based on whether the apparatus is able to determine its, in particular geographical, position or location

[0426] - at least one mechanism, method and / or procedure applied or utilized by the apparatus to determine a, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus. The at least one mechanism applied by the apparatus may include or be selected from a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism (e.g. Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Round Trip Time (RTT) etc.) to determine or estimate the, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus and a non-3GPP-based mechanism (e.g. GPS, Galileo, BeiDou, etc.) to determine or estimate the, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus;

[0427] - a type of the apparatus, e.g. wherein the type of the apparatus may include or be selected from a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, User equipment, UE and a GNSS, -less UE. In otherwords, it may be based on whether the apparatus is a GNSS, -based UE or a GNSS, -less UE;

[0428] - a, in particular geographical, position or location estimation / determination accuracy, in particular of the apparatus;

[0429] - an availability of or at least access to a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, wherein in particular availability may be defined with respect to, e.g., a reference signal received power being below a particular and / or predefined threshold etc.;

[0430] - whether the apparatus is equipped with a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS;- whether the apparatus supports usage / utilization of a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS;

[0431] - at least one threshold, which may be in particular configured by the network device. The at least one threshold may include at least one of:- a time-based threshold, - a number of reference signals, - a Reference Signals Received Power, RSRP, based threshold, - a Reference Signal Received Quality, RSRQ, based threshold, or - a Signal-to-lnterference-plus-Noise Ratio, SINR, based threshold; - at least one time period, time window and / or time instance since a previous (foregoing or last) determination of a, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus, etc.

[0432] The above features may allow the apparatus, e.g. the UE, to dynamically choose / select the most suitable preamble transmission approach for a given scenario, which may improve efficiency. It may further assist UEs with poor positioning accuracy and / or with less structural capacity / equipment to successfully connect to the network device. GNSS-less UEs in satellite communications can use multi-preamble PRACH to compensate for long propagation delays. The approach according to the subject-matter described herein may support different UE types and may allow UEs to become independent of GNSS-features / functions. In other words, by enabling dynamic selection between single and multi-preamble transmission, efficient, reliable, and / or adaptive random access may be provided.

[0433] As an example, the apparatus may select, choose and / or use the second configuration information for single preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that

[0434] a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is available or the UE is equipped with a GNSS;

[0435] a, in particular geographical, position or location accuracy is above or within a predefined threshold;

[0436] the apparatus utilizes a 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine or estimate a, in particular geographical, position or location; and / orat least one time period since a previous / last determination of a, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus is above or within a predefined threshold, e.g. a time-based threshold etc.

[0437] As an example, the apparatus may select, choose and / or use the first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission based at least in part on determining that

[0438] a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS, is unavailable or the UE is not equipped with a GNSS;

[0439] a, in particular geographical, position or location accuracy is below or outside a predefined threshold;

[0440] the apparatus utilizes a non-3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, -based mechanism to determine or estimate a, in particular geographical, position or location; and / or

[0441] at least one time period since a previous / last determination of a, in particular geographical, position or location of the apparatus is below or outside a predefined threshold, e.g. a time-based threshold etc.

[0442] Other / further determinations which may affect the selection process of the UE may be conceivable.

[0443] The term "non-transitory," as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0444] As used herein, "at least one of the following: " and "at least one of " and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by "and" or "or", mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0445] The apparatus may include a processor configured to provide signals to and receive signals and to control the functioning of the apparatus. The processor may be configured to control other elements of apparatus by effecting control signaling via electrical leads connecting processor to the other elements, such as a display or a memory. The processor may, for example, be embodied in a variety of ways including circuitry, at least oneprocessing core, one or more microprocessors with accompanying digital signal processor(s), one or more processor(s) without an accompanying digital signal processor, one or more coprocessors, one or more multi-core processors, one or more controllers, processing circuitry, one or more computers, various other processing elements including integrated circuits (for example, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), and / or the like), or some combination thereof.

[0446] The term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following:

[0447] (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and

[0448] (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable): (i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and

[0449] (ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

[0450] hardware circuit(s) and / or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0451] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device ora similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0452] The apparatus may comprise memory which may store information elements. The apparatus may include volatile memory and / or non-volatile memory. For example, volatile memory may include Random Access Memory (RAM) including dynamic and / or static RAM, on-chip or off-chip cache memory, and / or the like. Non-volatile memory, which may be embedded and / or removable, may include, for example, read-only memory, flashmemory, magnetic storage devices, for example, hard disks, floppy disk drives, magnetic tape, optical disc drives and / or media, non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), and / or the like. Like volatile memory, non-volatile memory may include a cache area for temporary storage of data. At least part of the volatile and / or non-volatile memory may be embedded in processor. The memories may store one or more software programs, instructions, pieces of information, data, and / or the like which may be used by the apparatus for performing operations disclosed herein.

[0453] Fig. 1 shows an example output of a base station, e.g. gNB, receiver auto-correlation (root sequence orZC sequence of example length 839). In the absence of (large) Doppler shifts, a location of the main peak (e.g., at slot 4) may be used for TA estimation. When an apparatus, e.g. a UE, selects a, e.g. PRACH, preamble from a plurality, a number or a pool of preamble resources (e.g. with 64 preambles) in a RACH occasion (RO) randomly and transmits the selected preamble in a message, e.g. Msg1 , at a base station, e.g. gNB, the receiver may first perform cross-correlation of the received signal with all hypothetical preambles in the pool, in particular 64 hypothetical sequences, to determine the transmitted preamble. Subsequently, from the output of the auto-correlation of the detected preamble with the transmitted message, e.g. Msg1 , and location of the main peak (e.g. at slot 4, cf. Fig. 1), the base station, e.g. gNB, may determine an estimate of the timing advance (TA) for apparatus, e.g. the UE. The output of the auto-correlation may sometimes be referred to as power delay profile (PDP), which is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 also shows mirror peaks (e.g. at slots 151, 152), but it may be the case that only peaks above a certain / particular threshold may be considered.

[0454] In the absence of (large) Doppler shift(s), the location of the main peak (e.g. slot 4) may be affected by the delay (e.g. denoted as dtimein Fig. 1 ). Now, when using root sequences or ZC sequences, the main impacts of (large) Doppler shifts would be an additional / extra shift to the main detected peak (in the PDP of Fig. 1) of the RACH receiver and introduction of smaller mirror peaks in the PDP (e.g. at slots 151, 152). In other words, the shifted location of the main peak results from both delay and Doppler shift:

[0455] d — dtime.u + ^Doppler, u >1

[0456] wherein d may be the location of the main peak in the PDP, and the subscript u may be related to a specific preamble sequence with root u.

[0457] The subject-matter described herein may relate to i) construction / grouping and / or order of the transmission of the "N" preambles, and / or to ii) associating, assigning and / or mapping of (each of) the "N" preambles into / onto / with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, e.g. spreading them across one or more ROs, e.g. in time and / or frequency.

[0458] Fig. 2 shows an example signaling diagram according to subject-matter described herein. The signaling may be between an apparatus, e.g. a UE, and a network device, e.g. a gNB. Fig. 2 may be described based on the following steps and / or features, which should not be construed as limiting:

[0459] Step 1: The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may initially and optionally perform a band scan, e.g. to read at least one of an Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) and / or a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). For example, based at least in part on a Master Information Block (MIB), the apparatus, e.g. the UE, may acquire a location of a System Information Block (SIB), e.g. a SIB1 location.

[0460] Step 2: The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may receive configuration information for multipreamble transmission. The same may be included in at least one broadcast channel, which may include or correspond to at least one System Information Block, SIB, transmitted by the network. In other words, the NW or network device may transmit, e.g. SIB1, which may include the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular for NTN UEs that are not equipped with GNSS, e.g. GNSS-less UEs, or for UEs that may not have good / accurate estimation of their, in particular geographical, position or location. The configuration information may include i) preamble grouping information and ii) preamble group mapping information. The preamble grouping information may include information to divide a plurality of preambles into groups of preambles. In one example, the preamble grouping information may indicate at least a number ofpreambles from a plurality of preambles which have different root sequences, based on which the plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles. In one example, the preamble grouping information may indicate at least a number of preambles from a plurality of preambles which have same root sequences and a different cyclic shift based on which the plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles. In one example, the preamble grouping information may indicate at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence, e.g. per cyclic shift, based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles. The preamble group mapping information may be to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs. The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may further include or indicate iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles. The transmission order may be based at least in part on at least one of: a root sequence of the preambles to be transmitted, a root sequence index of the preambles to be transmitted, a cyclic shift of the preambles to be transmitted, or a number of repetitions of a root sequence, e.g. per cyclic shift. The configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate iv) RO grouping information to group a plurality of ROs together for forming at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles. In addition thereto, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission may include or indicate at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, or a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

[0461] Step 3: The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may acquires, obtain, receive and / or determine the configuration information of multiple-preamble transmission. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may group the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs, in particular for transmission, based at least in part on the preamble groupmapping information. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may determine, e.g. read, or derive, e.g. infer or conclude to, the transmission order based on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may also determine at least one grouping of ROs based at least in part on the RO grouping information.

[0462] Step 4: The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may transmit at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, e.g. using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs. transmitting the at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device based at least in part on the transmission order. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may transmit the at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device based at least in part on the transmission order.

[0463] Step 5: The network or network device may receive the at least one group of preambles, e.g. from the (NTN) UE, across the grouped ROs, and may conduct estimation of NTN UE TA (and / or Doppler shift(s)).

[0464] Fig. 3 shows a non-limiting example of determining at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles, e.g. based on RO grouping information as described herein. For example, the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular the RO grouping information, may include or indicate at least one RO group for transmission of at least one of the groups of preambles. The at least one RO group may be indicated based at least in part on or using at least one of: a time length indicator, ti, or a (optional) starting time, e.g. a starting time indicator, or a frequency length indicator, fi, or a (optional) starting frequency, e.g. a starting frequency indicator. The apparatus, e.g. the UE, may include the step of: determining the at least one RO group based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission, in particular based at least in part on at least one of: the time length indicator, ti, or the starting time, or a frequency length indicator, fi, or a starting frequency.Fig. 4 shows a flow chart 400 of an example aspect of subject-matter described herein. The flow chart may comprise steps of an apparatus, a method and / or a non-transitory computer readable medium as mentioned herein.

[0465] The flow chart 400 may include the step of receiving 410, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information to divide a plurality of preambles into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO or with at least one group of ROs. The flow chart 400 may include the step of transmitting 420 at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0466] The flow chart 400 may comprise or be combined with one or more additional steps associated with some of the example aspects and / or associate example embodiments described herein.

[0467] Fig. 5 shows a flow chart 500 of an example aspect of subject-matter described herein. The flow chart may comprise steps of an apparatus, a method and / or a non-transitory computer readable medium as mentioned herein.

[0468] The flow chart 500 may include the step of receiving 510, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of preambles from a plurality of preambles which have different root sequences based on which the plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs. The flow chart 500 may include the step of transmitting 520 at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.The flow chart 500 may comprise or be combined with one or more additional steps associated with some of the example aspects and / or associate example embodiments described herein.

[0469] Fig. 6 shows a flow chart 600 of an example aspect of subject-matter described herein. The flow chart may comprise steps of an apparatus, a method and / or a non-transitory computer readable medium as mentioned herein.

[0470] The flow chart 600 may include the step of receiving 610, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of preambles from a plurality of preambles which have same root sequences and a different cyclic shift based on which the plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs.

[0471] The flow chart 600 may include the step of transmitting 620 at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0472] The flow chart 600 may comprise or be combined with one or more additional steps associated with some of the example aspects and / or associate example embodiments described herein.

[0473] Fig. 7 shows a flow chart 700 of an example aspect of subject-matter described herein. The flow chart may comprise steps of an apparatus, a method and / or a non-transitory computer readable medium as mentioned herein.

[0474] The flow chart 700 may include the step of receiving 710, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO,or with at least one group of ROs. The flow chart 700 may include the step of transmitting 720 at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

[0475] The flow chart 700 may comprise or be combined with one or more additional steps associated with some of the example aspects and / or associate example embodiments described herein.

[0476] Fig. 8 shows a flow chart 800 of an example aspect of subject-matter described herein. The flow chart may comprise steps of an apparatus, a method and / or a non-transitory computer readable medium as mentioned herein.

[0477] The flow chart 800 may include the step of receiving 810, from a network device, a first configuration information for multi-preamble transmission and a second configuration information for single preamble transmission. The flow chart 800 may include the step of selecting 820 one of the first configuration information or the second configuration information. The flow chart 800 may include the step of transmitting 830 a number of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the selection.

[0478] The flow chart 800 may comprise or be combined with one or more additional steps associated with some of the example aspects and / or associate example embodiments described herein.

[0479] While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the disclosure, other and further embodiments of the disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

[0480] LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

[0481] 3GPP 3rdGeneration Partnership Project

[0482] 5G 5thGeneration

[0483] 6G 6thGeneration

[0484] ACK Acknowledgement

[0485] CBRA Contention based random accessCE Control Element

[0486] C-RNTI Cell-specific Radio Network Temporary Identifier CP Cyclic Prefix

[0487] CSI Channel State Information

[0488] CSI-RS Channel State Information Reference Signal DC Dual Connectivity

[0489] DL Downlink

[0490] FR1 / FR2 Frequency Range 1 / 2

[0491] gNB Generalized Node B (Base station in 5G) GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System

[0492] GUTI Globally Unique Temporary Identifier

[0493] LEO Low Earh Orbit

[0494] MAC Medium Access Control

[0495] NG Next Generation

[0496] NR New Radio

[0497] NTN Non-terrestrial network

[0498] NW Network

[0499] PBCH Physical Broadcast Channel

[0500] PCI Physical Cell Identity

[0501] PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

[0502] PDSCH Physical Data Shared Channel

[0503] PRACH Physical Random Access Channel

[0504] PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

[0505] RAN Radio Access Network

[0506] RRC Radio Resource Control

[0507] RA Random Access

[0508] RACH Random Access Channel

[0509] RAR Random Access Response

[0510] RS Reference Signal

[0511] RSRP Reference Signal Received Power

[0512] RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality

[0513] RTT Round Trip Time

[0514] RX Reception (or receiver)

[0515] SI NR Signal to Interference Noise RatioSS Synchronization Signal

[0516] SSB Synchronization Signal Block SIB System Information Block

[0517] TA Timing Advance

[0518] TCI Transmission Configuration Index TX Transmission (or transmitter) UE User Equipment

[0519] UL Uplink

[0520] LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0521] 410-810 Receiving step

[0522] 420-720 Transmitting step

[0523] 820 Selecting step

[0524] 830 Transmitting step

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus, comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform:receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the at least one root sequence which is repeated.

3. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preamble grouping information further includes or indicates the cyclic shift for a repeating root sequence.

4. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least the number of repetitions of the at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

5. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preamble grouping information includes or indicates at least one repetition index, k.

6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the number of repetitions is provided as a list which is structured based at least in part on a repetition index, m, as [rm, ..., rm+k].

7. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one of the groups of preambles is transmitted using at least one associated RO or at least one associated group of ROs.

8. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the preamble grouping information indicates at least one of: a total number of preambles to be transmitted, or a total number of preambles per group to be transmitted.

9. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission indicates iii) a transmission order of each preamble in at least one of the groups of preambles.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the configuration information for multipreamble transmission implicitly indicates the transmission order.

11. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 9-10, wherein the transmission order is based at least in part on, or derivable based at least in part on a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence per cyclic shift.

12. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 9-11 , wherein the transmission order is defined by pairs of root sequences and cyclic shifts of each preamble group of the groups of preambles.

13. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:grouping the plurality of preambles together into groups of preambles based at least in part on the preamble grouping information, andassociating at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one RO or at least one group of ROs for transmission based at least in part on the preamble group mapping information.

14. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims 9-13, wherein the apparatus is caused at least to perform:transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the transmission order.

15. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is included in at least one broadcast channel or at least one broadcasting signal transmitted by the network device.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the at least one broadcast channel transmitted by the network device includes or corresponds to at least one System Information Block, SIB.

17. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission is for multi-Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble transmission.

18. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is a User equipment, UE, or wherein the apparatus is comprised in a UE.

19. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is a Non-Terrestrial-Network, NTN, User equipment, UE.

20. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is a Global Navigation Satellite System, GNSS,-less User equipment, UE.

21. Method, comprising:receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

22. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, causes operations comprising:receiving, from a network device, configuration information for multi-preamble transmission which includes i) preamble grouping information that indicates at least a number of repetitions of at least one root sequence based on which a plurality of preambles is to be divided into groups of preambles, and ii) preamble group mapping information to associate at least one of the groups of preambles with at least one Random Access Channel, RACH, Occasion, RO, or with at least one group of ROs, and transmitting at least one of the groups of preambles to the network device, based at least in part on the configuration information for multi-preamble transmission.

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