DETERMINATION OF RAR WINDOW AND RA-RNTI FOR MULTIPLE PRACH TRANSMISSIONS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/391,237, which was filed July 21, 2022; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/407,793, which was filed September 19, 2022; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/421,677, which was filed November 2, 2022; and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/494,298, which was filed April 5, 2023.

FIELD

Various embodiments generally may relate to the field of wireless communications. For example, some embodiments may relate to determination of random access response (RAR) window and/or random access (RA) - radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) for multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions.

BACKGROUND

Mobile communication has evolved significantly from early voice systems to today’s highly sophisticated integrated communication platform. The next generation wireless communication system, 5G, or new radio (NR) will provide access to information and sharing of data anywhere, anytime by various users and applications. NR is expected to be a unified network/system that target to meet vastly different and sometime conflicting performance dimensions and services. Such diverse multi-dimensional requirements are driven by different services and applications. In general, NR will evolve based on 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE)- Advanced with additional potential new Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to enrich people's lives with better, simple and seamless wireless connectivity solutions. NR will enable everything connected by wireless and deliver fast, rich content and services.

For cellular systems, coverage is an important factor for successful operation. Compared to LTE, NR can be deployed at a relatively higher carrier frequency in frequency range 1 (FR1), e.g., at 3.5GHz. In this case, coverage loss is expected due to a larger path-loss, which makes it more challenging to maintain an adequate quality of service. Typically, uplink coverage is the bottleneck for system operation considering the low transmit power at UE side.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitate this description, like reference numerals designate like structural elements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 schematically illustrates a 4-step random access channel (RACH) procedure, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 2A illustrates a random access response (RAR) window after a last symbol of a last physical random access channel (PRACH) occasion, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 2B illustrates a RAR window after the last symbol of the actual PRACH transmission, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 3A illustrates a RAR window after the last symbol of the first PRACH occasion, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 3B illustrates a RAR window after the last symbol of the first actual PRACH transmission, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 4 illustrates a RAR window after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 5 schematically illustrates a wireless network in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates components of a wireless network in accordance with various embodiments.

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

Figures 8, 9, and 10 depict example procedures for practicing the various embodiments discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers may be used in different drawings to identify the same or similar elements. In the following description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, specific details are set forth such as particular structures, architectures, interfaces, techniques, etc. in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various aspects of various embodiments. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure that the various aspects of the various embodiments may be practiced in other examples that depart from these specific details. In certain instances, descriptions of well-known devices, circuits, and methods are omitted so as not to obscure the description of the various embodiments with unnecessary detail. For the purposes of the present document, the phrases “A or B” and “A/B” mean (A), (B), or (A and B). Various embodiments herein provide techniques for multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions. For example, embodiments provide techniques to determine a random access response (RAR) window and/or a random access (RA) - radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) for multiple PRACH transmissions. Furthermore, embodiments relate to multiple PRACH transmissions triggered by physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order.

In NR Rel-15, a 4-step procedure was defined. Figure 1 illustrates the 4-step RACH procedure for initial access. In the first step, UE transmits physical random access channel (PRACH) in the uplink by randomly selecting one preamble signature, which would allow gNB to estimate the delay between gNB and UE for subsequent UL timing adjustment. Subsequently, in the second step, gNB feedbacks the random access response (RAR) which carries timing advance (TA) command information and uplink grant for the uplink transmission in the third step. The UE expects to receive the RAR within a time window, of which the start and end are configured by the gNB via system information block (SIB).

As defined in NR Rel-15, number of repetitions is 2 and 4 for PRACH format 1 and 2, respectively, which can help in improving the coverage for long PRACH format. However, for short PRACH format, repetition is not defined. Note that PRACH transmission is very important for many procedures, e.g., initial access and beam failure recovery. In order to improve the coverage for PRACH, especially short PRACH format, multiple PRACH transmissions can be considered.

During 4-step RACH, UE monitors physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) for scheduling Msg2 transmission in a RAR monitoring window, which starts at the first symbol of the earliest control resource set (CORESET) the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel- PDCCH common search space (CSS) set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of the PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission. In case when multiple PRACH transmissions are supported for coverage enhancement, the determination of RAR monitoring window needs to be developed.

Various embodiments herein provide mechanisms for the determination of RAR window and/or RA-RNTI for multiple PRACH transmissions. For example, aspects of various embodiments may include:

• Determination of RAR monitoring window for multiple PRACH transmissions;

• Determination of RA-RNTI for multiple PRACH transmissions; and/or

• Multiple PRACH transmissions triggered by PDCCH order.

The embodiments herein may improve NR PRACH coverage. Determination of RAR monitoring window for multiple PRACH transmissions

As mentioned above, during 4- step RACH, UE monitors PDCCH for scheduling Msg2 transmission in a RAR monitoring window, which starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of the PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission. In case when multiple PRACH transmissions are supported, the prior technique for determination of RAR monitoring window may not be suitable.

Various embodiments herein provide techniques for the determination of RAR monitoring window for multiple PRACH transmissions.

In one embodiment, RAR window starts after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions. In this case, single RAR window can be monitored for multiple PRACH transmissions.

For example, RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Figure 2A illustrates one example of RAR window after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion. In the example, two repetitions are applied for PRACH transmission in slot#0 and slot#3. Further, CORESET with Type-1 CSS is configured in slot #2 and slot #5. Based on this option, RAR window starts from the first symbol in slot#5, which is after the 2 ^nd PRACH repetition.

In one option, the last PRACH occasion may correspond to the last PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the last PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped. In some aspects, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another option, the last PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual last PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions. As mentioned above, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

Figure 2B illustrates one example of RAR window after the last symbol of the last actual PRACH transmission. In the example, one PRACH occasion group includes 4 PRACH occasions (RO). PRACH transmission in the last PRACH occasion #3 is cancelled. For this option, RAR window starts after the last symbol of the last actual PRACH transmission in RO#2.

In another embodiment, RAR window starts after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions. In this case, single RAR window can be monitored for multiple PRACH transmissions.

For example, RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of the first PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission. In one option, the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

In this case, RAR window size may be determined based on the configured RAR window size and the position of PRACH occasion for the corresponding last PRACH repetition. In one option, the RAR window starts from the option as mentioned above, and the last symbol of the RAR window is determined in accordance with the configured RAR window size and the position of PRACH occasion for the corresponding last PRACH repetition.

Figure 3A illustrates one example of RAR window after the last symbol of the first PRACH occasion. In the example, two repetitions are applied for PRACH transmission in slot#0 and slot#3. Further, CORESET with Type-1 CSS is configured in slot #2 and slot #5. Based on this option, RAR window starts from the first symbol in slot#2, which is after the 1 ^st PRACH repetition.

In one option, the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the first PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped. In some aspects, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another option, the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual first PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions. As mentioned above, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

Figure 3B illustrates one example of RAR window after the last symbol of the first actual PRACH transmission. In the example, one PRACH occasion group includes 4 PRACH occasions (RO). PRACH transmission in the first PRACH occasion #0 is cancelled. For this option, RAR window starts after the last symbol of the first actual PRACH transmission in RO#1.

In another embodiment, RAR window starts after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions. In particular, RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

In this case, multiple RAR windows can be monitored for multiple PRACH transmissions, which correspond to each PRACH repetition. This may apply for the case when different Tx beams are applied for the different PRACH repetitions.

Figure 4 illustrates one example of RAR window after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion. In the example, two repetitions are applied for PRACH transmission in slot#0 and slot#3. Further, CORESET with Type-1 CSS is configured in slot #2 and slot #5. Based on this option, two RAR windows are monitored, where the 1 ^st RAR window starts from the first symbol in slot#2 and 2 ^nd RAR window starts from the first symbol in slot #5.

In another embodiment, RAR window starts after the last symbol of each of a subset of PRACH occasions for the corresponding multiple PRACH transmissions. In particular, RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of each of the subset of PRACH occasions corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

In one option, the subset of PRACH occasions can be configured by higher layers via NR remaining minimum system information (RMSI), NR other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling. In another option, the subset of PRACH occasions may be determined in accordance with the number of repetitions for PRACH transmission. In one example, when the number of repetitions for PRACH transmission is 8, RAR window may start after the last symbol of every 2nd PRACH occasions for the corresponding multiple PRACH transmissions.

Note that for this option, multiple RAR windows can be monitored for multiple PRACH transmissions, which correspond to each of the subset of PRACH occasions for multiple PRACH transmission.

In another embodiment, RAR window starts after the last symbol of a PRACH occasion for one of the corresponding multiple PRACH transmissions. In particular, RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel- PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of the PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

In one option, the PRACH occasion for the determination of RAR monitoring window can be configured by higher layers via RMSI, OSI, or RRC signalling. In another option, the PRACH occasion may be determined in accordance with the number of repetitions for PRACH transmission. In particular, the PRACH occasion for the determination of RAR monitoring window can be located after the PRACH repetitions with the half of the number of repetitions. In one example, when the number of repetitions for PRACH transmission is 8, RAR window may start after the last symbol of 5 ^th PRACH occasions for the corresponding PRACH repetition.

Note that for this option, single RAR window can be monitored for multiple PRACH transmissions, which corresponds to the PRACH occasion for the corresponding PRACH repetition.

Determination of RA-RNTI for multiple PRACH transmissions

As defined in 4-step RACH, UE monitors PDCCH with Cyclic Redundancy Error (CRC) scrambled by a Random Access - Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) in the second step for RAR reception. Note that the determination of RA-RNTI is described in Section 5.1.3 in TS38.321, V16.2.0 [1]:

The RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH occasion in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted, is computed as:

RA-RNTI = 1 + s_id + 14 x t_id + 14 x 80 x f id + 14 x 80 x 8 x ul_carrier_id where s_id is the index of the first OFDM symbol of the PRACH occasion (0 < s_id < 14), t_id is the index of the first slot of the PRACH occasion in a system frame (0 < t_id < 80), where the subcarrier spacing to determine t_id is based on the value of p specified in clause 5.3.2 in TS 38.211 [8], f_id is the index of the PRACH occasion in the frequency domain (0 < f_id < 8), and ul_carrier_id is the UL carrier used for Random Access Preamble transmission (0 for NUL carrier, and 1 for SUL carrier).

For multiple PRACH transmissions, PRACH transmissions may be repeated in more than one PRACH occasions. In this case, the existing equation for the determination of RA-RNTI may not be directly applied. Hence, certain mechanisms on the determination of RA-RNTI during 4- step RACH procedure may need to be defined.

Various embodiments herein provide techniques to determine RA-RNTI for multiple PRACH transmissions.

In one embodiment, for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with the first PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

In one example, for RA-RNTI determination, the following text in Section 5.1.3 in TS38.321 can be updated as indicated below with underline.

The RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH occasion in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted, is computed as:

RA-RNTI = 1 + s_id + 14 x t_id + 14 x 80 x f id + 14 x 80 x 8 x ul_carrier_id where s_id is the index of the first OFDM symbol of the first PRACH occasion (0 < s_id < 14), t_id is the index of the first slot of the first PRACH occasion in a system frame (0 < t_id < 80), where the subcarrier spacing to determine t_id is based on the value of p specified in clause 5.3.2 in TS 38.211 [8], f_id is the index of the first PRACH occasion in the frequency domain (0

< f_id < 8), and ul_carrier_id is the UL carrier used for Random Access Preamble transmission (0 for NUL carrier, and 1 for SUL carrier).

In one example, for RA-RNTI determination, the following text in Section 5.1.3 in TS38.321 can be updated as indicated with underline.

The RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH occasion in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted, is computed as:

RA-RNTI = 1 + s_id + 14 x t_id + 14 x 80 x f id + 14 x 80 x 8 x ul_carrier_id where s_id is the index of the first OFDM symbol of the first PRACH occasion (0 < s_id

< 14), t_id is the index of the first slot of the first PRACH occasion in a system frame (0 < t_id < 80), where the subcarrier spacing to determine t_id is based on the value of p specified in clause 5.3.2 in TS 38.211 [8] for p = {0, 1, 2, 3}, and for p = {5, 6}, t_id is the index of the 120 kHz slot in a system frame that contains the first PRACH occasion (0 < t_id < 80), f_id is the index of the first PRACH occasion in the frequency domain (0 < f_id < 8), and ul_carrier_id is the UL carrier used for Random Access Preamble transmission (0 for NUL carrier, and 1 for SUL carrier).

In one option, the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the first PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped. In some aspects, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another option, the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual first PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions. As mentioned above, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another embodiment, for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with the last PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

In one example, for RA-RNTI determination, the following text in Section 5.1.3 in TS38.321 can be updated as indicated in underline.

The RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH occasion in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted, is computed as:

RA-RNTI = 1 + s_id + 14 x t_id + 14 x 80 x f id + 14 x 80 x 8 x ul_carrier_id where s_id is the index of the first OFDM symbol of the last PRACH occasion (0 < s_id

< 14), t_id is the index of the first slot of the last PRACH occasion in a system frame (0 < t_id < 80), where the subcarrier spacing to determine t_id is based on the value of p specified in clause 5.3.2 in TS 38.211 [8], f_id is the index of the last PRACH occasion in the frequency domain (0

< f_id < 8), and ul_carrier_id is the UL carrier used for Random Access Preamble transmission (0 for NUL carrier, and 1 for SUL carrier).

In one example, for RA-RNTI determination, the following text in Section 5.1.3 in TS38.321 can be updated as indicated in underline.

The RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH occasion in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted, is computed as:

RA-RNTI = 1 + s_id + 14 x t_id + 14 x 80 x f_id + 14 x 80 x 8 x ul_carrier_id where s_id is the index of the first OFDM symbol of the last PRACH occasion (0 < s_id

< 14), t_id is the index of the first slot of the last PRACH occasion in a system frame (0 < t_id < 80), where the subcarrier spacing to determine t_id is based on the value of p specified in clause 5.3.2 in TS 38.211 [8] for p = {0, 1, 2, 3}, and for p = {5, 6}, t_id is the index of the 120 kHz slot in a system frame that contains the last PRACH occasion (0 < t_id < 80), f_id is the index of the last PRACH occasion in the frequency domain (0 < f_id < 8), and ul_carrier_id is the UL carrier used for Random Access Preamble transmission (0 for NUL carrier, and 1 for SUL carrier).

In one option, the last PRACH occasion may correspond to the last PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the last PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped. In some aspects, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another option, the last PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual last PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions. As mentioned above, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another embodiment, for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with a PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions. The PRACH occasion may be pre-defined in the specification or configured by higher layers via NR remaining minimum system information (RMSI), NR other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

In another embodiment, for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with each PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions. In this case, UE may monitor multiple RARs which correspond to each PRACH repetition.

Multiple PRACH transmissions triggered by PDCCH order

Various embodiments herein provide techniques for multiple PRACH transmissions triggered by PDCCH order.

In one embodiment, if a random access procedure is initiated by a PDCCH order, the UE, if requested by higher layers, transmits a PRACH in the selected PRACH occasion, as described in [11, TS 38.321], for which a time between the last symbol of the PDCCH order reception and the first symbol of the first PRACH transmission is larger than or equal to N _{T 2} + A _{BWPS wiLch i ng} + A _D elay + Switch msec, where N _TI2 , A _BWPSwitching , A _Delay and T _switch are defined in TS38.213, 16.10.0 [2],

In one option, the first PRACH transmission may correspond to the first PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped. In some aspects, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic slot format indication (SFI).

In another option, the first PRACH transmission may correspond to the actual first PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions. As mentioned above, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic SFI.

In another embodiment, for a PRACH transmission by a UE triggered by a PDCCH order, the PRACH mask index field [5, TS 38.212], if the value of the random access preamble index field is not zero, indicates the PRACH occasion for the PRACH transmission where the PRACH occasions are associated with the SS/PBCH block index indicated by the SS/PBCH block index field of the PDCCH order. If the UE is provided A _ce n, offset by CellSpecific_Koffset, the first PRACH occasion is after slot n + 2 ^M ■ K _C eii, offset where n is the slot of the UL BWP for the PRACH transmission that overlaps with the end of the PDCCH order reception assuming T _TA = 0, and p is the SCS configuration for the PRACH transmission.

In one option, the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the first PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped. In some aspects, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic SFI.

In another option, the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual first PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions. As mentioned above, the PRACH transmission may be cancelled or dropped due to collision with DL symbols as indicated by dynamic SFI.

SYSTEMS AND IMPLEMENTATIONS

Figures 5-7 illustrate various systems, devices, and components that may implement aspects of disclosed embodiments.

Figure 5 illustrates a network 500 in accordance with various embodiments. The network 500 may operate in a manner consistent with 3GPP technical specifications for LTE or 5G/NR systems. However, the example embodiments are not limited in this regard and the described embodiments may apply to other networks that benefit from the principles described herein, such as future 3GPP systems, or the like.

The network 500 may include a UE 502, which may include any mobile or non-mobile computing device designed to communicate with a RAN 504 via an over-the-air connection. The UE 502 may be communicatively coupled with the RAN 504 by a Uu interface. The UE 502 may be, but is not limited to, a smartphone, tablet computer, wearable computer device, desktop computer, laptop computer, in-vehicle infotainment, in-car entertainment device, instrument cluster, head-up display device, onboard diagnostic device, dashtop mobile equipment, mobile data terminal, electronic engine management system, electronic/engine control unit, electronic/engine control module, embedded system, sensor, microcontroller, control module, engine management system, networked appliance, machine-type communication device, M2M or D2D device, loT device, etc.

In some embodiments, the network 500 may include a plurality of UEs coupled directly with one another via a sidelink interface. The UEs may be M2M/D2D devices that communicate using physical sidelink channels such as, but not limited to, PSBCH, PSDCH, PSSCH, PSCCH, PSFCH, etc.

In some embodiments, the UE 502 may additionally communicate with an AP 506 via an over-the-air connection. The AP 506 may manage a WLAN connection, which may serve to offload some/all network traffic from the RAN 504. The connection between the UE 502 and the AP 506 may be consistent with any IEEE 802.11 protocol, wherein the AP 506 could be a wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi®) router. In some embodiments, the UE 502, RAN 504, and AP 506 may utilize cellular- WLAN aggregation (for example, LWA/LWIP). Cellular- WLAN aggregation may involve the UE 502 being configured by the RAN 504 to utilize both cellular radio resources and WLAN resources. The RAN 504 may include one or more access nodes, for example, AN 508. AN 508 may terminate air-interface protocols for the UE 502 by providing access stratum protocols including RRC, PDCP, RLC, MAC, and LI protocols. In this manner, the AN 508 may enable data/voice connectivity between CN 520 and the UE 502. In some embodiments, the AN 508 may be implemented in a discrete device or as one or more software entities running on server computers as part of, for example, a virtual network, which may be referred to as a CRAN or virtual baseband unit pool. The AN 508 be referred to as a BS, gNB, RAN node, eNB, ng-eNB, NodeB, RSU, TRxP, TRP, etc. The AN 508 may be a macrocell base station or a low power base station for providing femtocells, picocells or other like cells having smaller coverage areas, smaller user capacity, or higher bandwidth compared to macrocells.

In embodiments in which the RAN 504 includes a plurality of ANs, they may be coupled with one another via an X2 interface (if the RAN 504 is an LTE RAN) or an Xn interface (if the RAN 504 is a 5G RAN). The X2/Xn interfaces, which may be separated into control/user plane interfaces in some embodiments, may allow the ANs to communicate information related to handovers, data/context transfers, mobility, load management, interference coordination, etc.

The ANs of the RAN 504 may each manage one or more cells, cell groups, component carriers, etc. to provide the UE 502 with an air interface for network access. The UE 502 may be simultaneously connected with a plurality of cells provided by the same or different ANs of the RAN 504. For example, the UE 502 and RAN 504 may use carrier aggregation to allow the UE 502 to connect with a plurality of component carriers, each corresponding to a Pcell or Scell. In dual connectivity scenarios, a first AN may be a master node that provides an MCG and a second AN may be secondary node that provides an SCG. The first/second ANs may be any combination of eNB, gNB, ng-eNB, etc.

The RAN 504 may provide the air interface over a licensed spectrum or an unlicensed spectrum. To operate in the unlicensed spectrum, the nodes may use LAA, eLAA, and/or feLAA mechanisms based on CA technology with PCells/Scells. Prior to accessing the unlicensed spectrum, the nodes may perform medium/carrier-sensing operations based on, for example, a listen-before-talk (LBT) protocol.

In V2X scenarios the UE 502 or AN 508 may be or act as a RSU, which may refer to any transportation infrastructure entity used for V2X communications. An RSU may be implemented in or by a suitable AN or a stationary (or relatively stationary) UE. An RSU implemented in or by: a UE may be referred to as a “UE-type RSU”; an eNB may be referred to as an “eNB-type RSU”; a gNB may be referred to as a “gNB-type RSU”; and the like. In one example, an RSU is a computing device coupled with radio frequency circuitry located on a roadside that provides connectivity support to passing vehicle UEs. The RSU may also include internal data storage circuitry to store intersection map geometry, traffic statistics, media, as well as applications/software to sense and control ongoing vehicular and pedestrian traffic. The RSU may provide very low latency communications required for high speed events, such as crash avoidance, traffic warnings, and the like. Additionally or alternatively, the RSU may provide other cellular/WLAN communications services. The components of the RSU may be packaged in a weatherproof enclosure suitable for outdoor installation, and may include a network interface controller to provide a wired connection (e.g., Ethernet) to a traffic signal controller or a backhaul network.

In some embodiments, the RAN 504 may be an LTE RAN 510 with eNBs, for example, eNB 512. The LTE RAN 510 may provide an LTE air interface with the following characteristics: SCS of 15 kHz; CP-OFDM waveform for DL and SC-FDMA waveform for UL; turbo codes for data and TBCC for control; etc. The LTE air interface may rely on CSI-RS for CSI acquisition and beam management; PDSCH/PDCCH DMRS for PDSCH/PDCCH demodulation; and CRS for cell search and initial acquisition, channel quality measurements, and channel estimation for coherent demodulation/detection at the UE. The LTE air interface may operating on sub-6 GHz bands.

In some embodiments, the RAN 504 may be an NG-RAN 514 with gNBs, for example, gNB 516, or ng-eNBs, for example, ng-eNB 518. The gNB 516 may connect with 5G-enabled UEs using a 5G NR interface. The gNB 516 may connect with a 5G core through an NG interface, which may include an N2 interface or an N3 interface. The ng-eNB 518 may also connect with the 5G core through an NG interface, but may connect with a UE via an LTE air interface. The gNB 516 and the ng-eNB 518 may connect with each other over an Xn interface.

In some embodiments, the NG interface may be split into two parts, an NG user plane (NG-U) interface, which carries traffic data between the nodes of the NG-RAN 514 and a UPF 548 (e.g., N3 interface), and an NG control plane (NG-C) interface, which is a signaling interface between the nodes of the NG-RAN514 and an AMF 544 (e.g., N2 interface).

The NG-RAN 514 may provide a 5G-NR air interface with the following characteristics: variable SCS; CP-OFDM for DL, CP-OFDM and DFT-s-OFDM for UL; polar, repetition, simplex, and Reed-Muller codes for control and LDPC for data. The 5G-NR air interface may rely on CSI-RS, PDSCH/PDCCH DMRS similar to the LTE air interface. The 5G-NR air interface may not use a CRS, but may use PBCH DMRS for PBCH demodulation; PTRS for phase tracking for PDSCH; and tracking reference signal for time tracking. The 5G-NR air interface may operating on FR1 bands that include sub-6 GHz bands or FR2 bands that include bands from 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. The 5G-NR air interface may include an SSB that is an area of a downlink resource grid that includes PSS/SSS/PBCH. In some embodiments, the 5G-NR air interface may utilize BWPs for various purposes. For example, BWP can be used for dynamic adaptation of the SCS. For example, the UE 502 can be configured with multiple BWPs where each BWP configuration has a different SCS. When a BWP change is indicated to the UE 502, the SCS of the transmission is changed as well. Another use case example of BWP is related to power saving. In particular, multiple BWPs can be configured for the UE 502 with different amount of frequency resources (for example, PRBs) to support data transmission under different traffic loading scenarios. A BWP containing a smaller number of PRBs can be used for data transmission with small traffic load while allowing power saving at the UE 502 and in some cases at the gNB 516. A BWP containing a larger number of PRBs can be used for scenarios with higher traffic load.

The RAN 504 is communicatively coupled to CN 520 that includes network elements to provide various functions to support data and telecommunications services to customers/subscribers (for example, users of UE 502). The components of the CN 520 may be implemented in one physical node or separate physical nodes. In some embodiments, NFV may be utilized to virtualize any or all of the functions provided by the network elements of the CN 520 onto physical compute/storage resources in servers, switches, etc. A logical instantiation of the CN 520 may be referred to as a network slice, and a logical instantiation of a portion of the CN 520 may be referred to as a network sub-slice.

In some embodiments, the CN 520 may be an LTE CN 522, which may also be referred to as an EPC. The LTE CN 522 may include MME 524, SGW 526, SGSN 528, HSS 530, PGW 532, and PCRF 534 coupled with one another over interfaces (or “reference points”) as shown. Functions of the elements of the LTE CN 522 may be briefly introduced as follows.

The MME 524 may implement mobility management functions to track a current location of the UE 502 to facilitate paging, bearer activation/deactivation, handovers, gateway selection, authentication, etc.

The SGW 526 may terminate an SI interface toward the RAN and route data packets between the RAN and the LTE CN 522. The SGW 526 may be a local mobility anchor point for inter-RAN node handovers and also may provide an anchor for inter-3GPP mobility. Other responsibilities may include lawful intercept, charging, and some policy enforcement.

The SGSN 528 may track a location of the UE 502 and perform security functions and access control. In addition, the SGSN 528 may perform inter-EPC node signaling for mobility between different RAT networks; PDN and S-GW selection as specified by MME 524; MME selection for handovers; etc. The S3 reference point between the MME 524 and the SGSN 528 may enable user and bearer information exchange for inter-3GPP access network mobility in idle/active states. The HSS 530 may include a database for network users, including subscription-related information to support the network entities’ handling of communication sessions. The HSS 530 can provide support for routing/roaming, authentication, authorization, naming/addressing resolution, location dependencies, etc. An S6a reference point between the HSS 530 and the MME 524 may enable transfer of subscription and authentication data for authenticating/authorizing user access to the LTE CN 520.

The PGW 532 may terminate an SGi interface toward a data network (DN) 536 that may include an application/content server 538. The PGW 532 may route data packets between the LTE CN 522 and the data network 536. The PGW 532 may be coupled with the SGW 526 by an S5 reference point to facilitate user plane tunneling and tunnel management. The PGW 532 may further include a node for policy enforcement and charging data collection (for example, PCEF). Additionally, the SGi reference point between the PGW 532 and the data network 5 36 may be an operator external public, a private PDN, or an intra-operator packet data network, for example, for provision of IMS services. The PGW 532 may be coupled with a PCRF 534 via a Gx reference point.

The PCRF 534 is the policy and charging control element of the LTE CN 522. The PCRF 534 may be communicatively coupled to the app/content server 538 to determine appropriate QoS and charging parameters for service flows. The PCRF 532 may provision associated rules into a PCEF (via Gx reference point) with appropriate TFT and QCI.

In some embodiments, the CN 520 may be a 5GC 540. The 5GC 540 may include an AUSF 542, AMF 544, SMF 546, UPF 548, NSSF 550, NEF 552, NRF 554, PCF 556, UDM 558, and AF 560 coupled with one another over interfaces (or “reference points”) as shown. Functions of the elements of the 5GC 540 may be briefly introduced as follows.

The AUSF 542 may store data for authentication of UE 502 and handle authentication- related functionality. The AUSF 542 may facilitate a common authentication framework for various access types. In addition to communicating with other elements of the 5GC 540 over reference points as shown, the AUSF 542 may exhibit an Nausf service-based interface.

The AMF 544 may allow other functions of the 5GC 540 to communicate with the UE 502 and the RAN 504 and to subscribe to notifications about mobility events with respect to the UE 502. The AMF 544 may be responsible for registration management (for example, for registering UE 502), connection management, reachability management, mobility management, lawful interception of AMF-related events, and access authentication and authorization. The AMF 544 may provide transport for SM messages between the UE 502 and the SMF 546, and act as a transparent proxy for routing SM messages. AMF 544 may also provide transport for SMS messages between UE 502 and an SMSF. AMF 544 may interact with the AUSF 542 and the UE 502 to perform various security anchor and context management functions. Furthermore, AMF 544 may be a termination point of a RAN CP interface, which may include or be an N2 reference point between the RAN 504 and the AMF 544; and the AMF 544 may be a termination point of NAS (Nl) signaling, and perform NAS ciphering and integrity protection. AMF 544 may also support NAS signaling with the UE 502 over an N3 IWF interface.

The SMF 546 may be responsible for SM (for example, session establishment, tunnel management between UPF 548 and AN 508); UE IP address allocation and management (including optional authorization); selection and control of UP function; configuring traffic steering at UPF 548 to route traffic to proper destination; termination of interfaces toward policy control functions; controlling part of policy enforcement, charging, and QoS; lawful intercept (for SM events and interface to LI system); termination of SM parts of NAS messages; downlink data notification; initiating AN specific SM information, sent via AMF 544 over N2 to AN 508; and determining SSC mode of a session. SM may refer to management of a PDU session, and a PDU session or “session” may refer to a PDU connectivity service that provides or enables the exchange of PDUs between the UE 502 and the data network 536.

The UPF 548 may act as an anchor point for intra-RAT and inter-RAT mobility, an external PDU session point of interconnect to data network 536, and a branching point to support multi-homed PDU session. The UPF 548 may also perform packet routing and forwarding, perform packet inspection, enforce the user plane part of policy rules, lawfully intercept packets (UP collection), perform traffic usage reporting, perform QoS handling for a user plane (e.g., packet filtering, gating, UL/DL rate enforcement), perform uplink traffic verification (e.g., SDF- to-QoS flow mapping), transport level packet marking in the uplink and downlink, and perform downlink packet buffering and downlink data notification triggering. UPF 548 may include an uplink classifier to support routing traffic flows to a data network.

The NSSF 550 may select a set of network slice instances serving the UE 502. The NSSF 550 may also determine allowed NSSAI and the mapping to the subscribed S-NSSAIs, if needed. The NSSF 550 may also determine the AMF set to be used to serve the UE 502, or a list of candidate AMFs based on a suitable configuration and possibly by querying the NRF 554. The selection of a set of network slice instances for the UE 502 may be triggered by the AMF 544 with which the UE 502 is registered by interacting with the NSSF 550, which may lead to a change of AMF. The NSSF 550 may interact with the AMF 544 via an N22 reference point; and may communicate with another NSSF in a visited network via an N31 reference point (not shown). Additionally, the NSSF 550 may exhibit an Nnssf service-based interface.

The NEF 552 may securely expose services and capabilities provided by 3GPP network functions for third party, internal exposure/re-exposure, AFs (e.g., AF 560), edge computing or fog computing systems, etc. In such embodiments, the NEF 552 may authenticate, authorize, or throttle the AFs. NEF 552 may also translate information exchanged with the AF 560 and information exchanged with internal network functions. For example, the NEF 552 may translate between an AF-Service-Identifier and an internal 5GC information. NEF 552 may also receive information from other NFs based on exposed capabilities of other NFs. This information may be stored at the NEF 552 as structured data, or at a data storage NF using standardized interfaces. The stored information can then be re-exposed by the NEF 552 to other NFs and AFs, or used for other purposes such as analytics. Additionally, the NEF 552 may exhibit an Nnef service-based interface.

The NRF 554 may support service discovery functions, receive NF discovery requests from NF instances, and provide the information of the discovered NF instances to the NF instances. NRF 554 also maintains information of available NF instances and their supported services. As used herein, the terms “instantiate,” “instantiation,” and the like may refer to the creation of an instance, and an “instance” may refer to a concrete occurrence of an object, which may occur, for example, during execution of program code. Additionally, the NRF 554 may exhibit the Nnrf service-based interface.

The PCF 556 may provide policy rules to control plane functions to enforce them, and may also support unified policy framework to govern network behavior. The PCF 556 may also implement a front end to access subscription information relevant for policy decisions in a UDR of the UDM 558. In addition to communicating with functions over reference points as shown, the PCF 556 exhibit an Npcf service-based interface.

The UDM 558 may handle subscription-related information to support the network entities’ handling of communication sessions, and may store subscription data of UE 502. For example, subscription data may be communicated via an N8 reference point between the UDM 558 and the AMF 544. The UDM 558 may include two parts, an application front end and a UDR. The UDR may store subscription data and policy data for the UDM 558 and the PCF 556, and/or structured data for exposure and application data (including PFDs for application detection, application request information for multiple UEs 502) for the NEF 552. The Nudr service-based interface may be exhibited by the UDR 221 to allow the UDM 558, PCF 556, and NEF 552 to access a particular set of the stored data, as well as to read, update (e.g., add, modify), delete, and subscribe to notification of relevant data changes in the UDR. The UDM may include a UDM- FE, which is in charge of processing credentials, location management, subscription management and so on. Several different front ends may serve the same user in different transactions. The UDM-FE accesses subscription information stored in the UDR and performs authentication credential processing, user identification handling, access authorization, registration/mobility management, and subscription management. In addition to communicating with other NFs over reference points as shown, the UDM 558 may exhibit the Nudm service-based interface.

The AF 560 may provide application influence on traffic routing, provide access to NEF, and interact with the policy framework for policy control.

In some embodiments, the 5GC 540 may enable edge computing by selecting operator/3 ^rd party services to be geographically close to a point that the UE 502 is attached to the network. This may reduce latency and load on the network. To provide edge-computing implementations, the 5GC 540 may select a UPF 548 close to the UE 502 and execute traffic steering from the UPF 548 to data network 536 via the N6 interface. This may be based on the UE subscription data, UE location, and information provided by the AF 560. In this way, the AF 560 may influence UPF (re)selection and traffic routing. Based on operator deployment, when AF 560 is considered to be a trusted entity, the network operator may permit AF 560 to interact directly with relevant NFs. Additionally, the AF 560 may exhibit an Naf service-based interface.

The data network 536 may represent various network operator services, Internet access, or third party services that may be provided by one or more servers including, for example, application/content server 538.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates a wireless network 600 in accordance with various embodiments. The wireless network 600 may include a UE 602 in wireless communication with an AN 604. The UE 602 and AN 604 may be similar to, and substantially interchangeable with, like-named components described elsewhere herein.

The UE 602 may be communicatively coupled with the AN 604 via connection 606. The connection 606 is illustrated as an air interface to enable communicative coupling, and can be consistent with cellular communications protocols such as an LTE protocol or a 5G NR protocol operating at mmWave or sub-6GHz frequencies.

The UE 602 may include a host platform 608 coupled with a modem platform 610. The host platform 608 may include application processing circuitry 612, which may be coupled with protocol processing circuitry 614 of the modem platform 610. The application processing circuitry 612 may run various applications for the UE 602 that source/sink application data. The application processing circuitry 612 may further implement one or more layer operations to transmit/receive application data to/from a data network. These layer operations may include transport (for example UDP) and Internet (for example, IP) operations

The protocol processing circuitry 614 may implement one or more of layer operations to facilitate transmission or reception of data over the connection 606. The layer operations implemented by the protocol processing circuitry 614 may include, for example, MAC, RLC, PDCP, RRC and NAS operations. The modem platform 610 may further include digital baseband circuitry 616 that may implement one or more layer operations that are “below” layer operations performed by the protocol processing circuitry 614 in a network protocol stack. These operations may include, for example, PHY operations including one or more of HARQ-ACK functions, scrambling/descrambling, encoding/decoding, layer mapping/de-mapping, modulation symbol mapping, received symbol/bit metric determination, multi-antenna port precoding/decoding, which may include one or more of space-time, space-frequency or spatial coding, reference signal generation/detection, preamble sequence generation and/or decoding, synchronization sequence generation/detection, control channel signal blind decoding, and other related functions.

The modem platform 610 may further include transmit circuitry 618, receive circuitry 620, RF circuitry 622, and RF front end (RFFE) 624, which may include or connect to one or more antenna panels 626. Briefly, the transmit circuitry 618 may include a digital-to-analog converter, mixer, intermediate frequency (IF) components, etc.; the receive circuitry 620 may include an analog-to-digital converter, mixer, IF components, etc.; the RF circuitry 622 may include a low-noise amplifier, a power amplifier, power tracking components, etc.; RFFE 624 may include filters (for example, surface/bulk acoustic wave filters), switches, antenna tuners, beamforming components (for example, phase-array antenna components), etc. The selection and arrangement of the components of the transmit circuitry 618, receive circuitry 620, RF circuitry 622, RFFE 624, and antenna panels 626 (referred generically as “transmit/receive components”) may be specific to details of a specific implementation such as, for example, whether communication is TDM or FDM, in mmWave or sub-6 gHz frequencies, etc. In some embodiments, the transmit/receive components may be arranged in multiple parallel transmit/receive chains, may be disposed in the same or different chips/modules, etc.

In some embodiments, the protocol processing circuitry 614 may include one or more instances of control circuitry (not shown) to provide control functions for the transmit/receive components.

A UE reception may be established by and via the antenna panels 626, RFFE 624, RF circuitry 622, receive circuitry 620, digital baseband circuitry 616, and protocol processing circuitry 614. In some embodiments, the antenna panels 626 may receive a transmission from the AN 604 by receive-beamforming signals received by a plurality of antennas/antenna elements of the one or more antenna panels 626.

A UE transmission may be established by and via the protocol processing circuitry 614, digital baseband circuitry 616, transmit circuitry 618, RF circuitry 622, RFFE 624, and antenna panels 626. In some embodiments, the transmit components of the UE 604 may apply a spatial filter to the data to be transmitted to form a transmit beam emitted by the antenna elements of the antenna panels 626.

Similar to the UE 602, the AN 604 may include a host platform 628 coupled with a modem platform 630. The host platform 628 may include application processing circuitry 632 coupled with protocol processing circuitry 634 of the modem platform 630. The modem platform may further include digital baseband circuitry 636, transmit circuitry 638, receive circuitry 640, RF circuitry 642, RFFE circuitry 644, and antenna panels 646. The components of the AN 604 may be similar to and substantially interchangeable with like-named components of the UE 602. In addition to performing data transmission/reception as described above, the components of the AN 608 may perform various logical functions that include, for example, RNC functions such as radio bearer management, uplink and downlink dynamic radio resource management, and data packet scheduling.

Figure 7 is a block diagram illustrating components, according to some example embodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable or computer-readable medium (e.g., a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, Figure 7 shows a diagrammatic representation of hardware resources 700 including one or more processors (or processor cores) 710, one or more memory/storage devices 720, and one or more communication resources 730, each of which may be communicatively coupled via a bus 740 or other interface circuitry. For embodiments where node virtualization (e.g., NFV) is utilized, a hypervisor 702 may be executed to provide an execution environment for one or more network slices/sub- slices to utilize the hardware resources 700.

The processors 710 may include, for example, a processor 712 and a processor 714. The processors 710 may be, for example, a central processing unit (CPU), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a complex instruction set computing (CISC) processor, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a DSP such as a baseband processor, an ASIC, an FPGA, a radio-frequency integrated circuit (RFIC), another processor (including those discussed herein), or any suitable combination thereof.

The memory/storage devices 720 may include main memory, disk storage, or any suitable combination thereof. The memory/storage devices 720 may include, but are not limited to, any type of volatile, non-volatile, or semi-volatile memory such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), Flash memory, solid-state storage, etc.

The communication resources 730 may include interconnection or network interface controllers, components, or other suitable devices to communicate with one or more peripheral devices 704 or one or more databases 706 or other network elements via a network 708. For example, the communication resources 730 may include wired communication components (e.g., for coupling via USB, Ethernet, etc.), cellular communication components, NFC components, Bluetooth® (or Bluetooth® Low Energy) components, Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components.

Instructions 750 may comprise software, a program, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code for causing at least any of the processors 710 to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein. The instructions 750 may reside, completely or partially, within at least one of the processors 710 (e.g., within the processor’s cache memory), the memory/storage devices 720, or any suitable combination thereof. Furthermore, any portion of the instructions 750 may be transferred to the hardware resources 700 from any combination of the peripheral devices 704 or the databases 706. Accordingly, the memory of processors 710, the memory/storage devices 720, the peripheral devices 704, and the databases 706 are examples of computer-readable and machine-readable media.

EXAMPLE PROCEDURES

In some embodiments, the electronic device(s), network(s), system(s), chip(s) or component(s), or portions or implementations thereof, of Figures 5-7, or some other figure herein, may be configured to perform one or more processes, techniques, or methods as described herein, or portions thereof. One such process 800 is depicted in Figure 8. The process 800 may be performed by a UE or a portion thereof. At 802, the process 800 may include encoding multiple physical random access channels (PRACHs) for transmission in respective PRACH occasions of a set of PRACH occasions. At 804, the process 800 may further include determining a random access response (RAR) window associated with the multiple PRACHs, wherein the RAR window starts after a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions. At 806, the process 800 may further include monitoring for a RAR in the RAR window. In some embodiments, the last PRACH occasion may be the latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions, regardless of whether the corresponding PRACH is canceled or dropped. Alternatively, the last PRACH occasion may be the latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions in which the corresponding PRACH is actually transmitted.

Figure 9 illustrates another example process 900 in accordance with various embodiments. The process 900 may be performed by a gNB or a portion thereof. At 902, the process 900 may include receiving, from a user equipment (UE), multiple physical random access channels (PRACHs) in respective PRACH occasions of a set of PRACH occasions. At 904, the process 900 may further include determining a random access response (RAR) window that starts after a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions. At 906, the process 900 may further include encoding a RAR for transmission in the RAR window, wherein the RAR corresponds to the multiple PRACHs. In some embodiments, the last PRACH occasion may be the latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions, regardless of whether the corresponding PRACH is canceled or dropped. Alternatively, the last PRACH occasion may be the latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions in which the corresponding PRACH is actually transmitted.

Figure 10 illustrates another example process 1000 in accordance with various embodiments. The process 1000 may be performed by a UE or a portion thereof. At 1002, the process 1000 may include encoding multiple physical random access channels (PRACHs) for transmission in respective PRACH occasions of a set of PRACH occasions. At 1004, the process 1000 may further include determining a symbol index, a slot index, and a frequency resource index for calculating a random access (RA) - radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) in accordance with a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions. At 1006, the process 1000 may further include calculating the RA-RNTI based on the symbol index, the slot index, and the frequency resource index. In some embodiments, the RA-RNTI may be determined based on one or more (e.g., one, two, or all three) of the symbol index, the slot index, and the frequency resource index. At 1008, the process 1000 may further include monitoring for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled with the RA-RNTI, wherein the PDCCH corresponds to a random access response (RAR) for the multiple PRACHs.

For one or more embodiments, at least one of the components set forth in one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to perform one or more operations, techniques, processes, and/or methods as set forth in the example section below. For example, the baseband circuitry as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below. For another example, circuitry associated with a UE, base station, network element, etc. as described above in connection with one or more of the preceding figures may be configured to operate in accordance with one or more of the examples set forth below in the example section.

EXAMPLES

Some non-limiting examples of various embodiments are provided below.

Example Al may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media (NTCRM) having instructions, stored thereon, that when executed by one or more processors of a user equipment (UE), configure the UE to: encode multiple physical random access channels (PRACHs) for transmission in respective PRACH occasions of a set of PRACH occasions; determine a random access response (RAR) window associated with the multiple PRACHs, wherein the RAR window starts after a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions; and monitor for a RAR in the RAR window.

Example A2 may include the one or more NTCRM of example Al, wherein the RAR window starts at a first symbol of an earliest control resource set (CORESET) on which the UE is configured to receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that is at least one symbol after a last symbol of the last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions.

Example A3 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A2, wherein the UE is configured to receive the PDCCH on the CORESET for a Type 1-PDCCH common search space (CSS) set.

Example A4 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A3, wherein a symbol duration of the RAR window corresponds to a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the Type 1-PDCCH CSS set.

Example A5 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A2, wherein the last PRACH occasion is used to determine the start of the RAR window regardless of whether the corresponding PRACH transmission is canceled or dropped.

Example A6 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A2, wherein the last PRACH occasion corresponds to a latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions in which the corresponding PRACH is actually transmitted.

Example A7 may include the one or more NTCRM of any one of examples A1-A6, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the UE to: determine a symbol index, a slot index, and a frequency resource index for calculating a random access (RA) - radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) associated with the RAR in accordance with a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions; and calculate the RA-RNTI based on the symbol index, the slot index, and the frequency resource index.

Example A8 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A7, wherein to monitor for the RAR includes to monitor for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by the calculated RA-RNTI.

Example A9 may include an apparatus to be implemented in a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: a memory to store configuration information for a set of physical random access channel (PRACH) occasions; and processor circuitry coupled to the memory, the processor circuitry to: encode multiple PRACHs for transmission in respective PRACH occasions of the set of PRACH occasions; determine a symbol index, a slot index, and a frequency resource index for calculating a random access (RA) - radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) in accordance with a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions; calculate the RA-RNTI based on the symbol index, the slot index, and the frequency resource index; and monitor for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled with the RA-RNTI, wherein the PDCCH is to schedule a random access response (RAR) for the multiple PRACHs.

Example A10 may include the apparatus of example A9, wherein the last PRACH occasion is a latest PRACH occasion in the set of PRACH occasions regardless of whether the corresponding PRACH transmission is canceled or dropped.

Example All may include the apparatus of example A9, wherein the last PRACH occasion is a latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions in which the corresponding PRACH is actually transmitted.

Example A12 may include the apparatus of any one of examples A9-A11, wherein the processor circuitry is further to: determine a RAR window associated with the multiple PRACHs, wherein the RAR window starts after the set of PRACH occasions, wherein to monitor for the PDCCH is to monitor for the RAR in the RAR window.

Example A13 may include the apparatus of example A12, wherein the RAR window starts at a first symbol of an earliest control resource set (CORESET) on which the UE is configured to receive a PDCCH, for a Type 1-PDCCH common search space (CSS) set, that is at least one symbol after a last symbol of a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions.

Example A14 may include the apparatus of example A13, wherein a symbol duration of the RAR window corresponds to a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the Type 1-PDCCH CSS set.

Example A15 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media (NTCRM) having instructions, stored thereon, that when executed by one or more processors of a next generation Node B (gNB), configure the gNB to: receive, from a user equipment (UE), multiple physical random access channels (PRACHs) in respective PRACH occasions of a set of PRACH occasions; determine a random access response (RAR) window that starts after a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions; and encode a RAR for transmission in the RAR window, wherein the RAR corresponds to the multiple PRACHs.

Example A16 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A 16, wherein the RAR window starts at a first symbol of an earliest control resource set (CORESET) on which the UE is configured to receive a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH), for a Type 1-PDCCH common search space (CSS) set, that is at least one symbol after a last symbol of the last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions. Example A17 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A16, wherein a symbol duration of the RAR corresponds to a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the Type 1-PDCCH CSS set.

Example A18 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A15, wherein the last PRACH occasion is used to determine the start of the RAR window regardless of whether the corresponding PRACH transmission is canceled or dropped; or wherein the last PRACH occasion corresponds to a latest PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions in which the corresponding PRACH is actually transmitted.

Example A19 may include the one or more NTCRM of any one of examples A15-A18, wherein the instructions, when executed, further configure the gNB to: determine a symbol index, a slot index, or a frequency resource index for calculating a random access (RA) - radio network temporary identifier (RNTI) associated with the RAR in accordance with a last PRACH occasion of the set of PRACH occasions; and calculate the RA-RNTI based on the symbol index, the slot index, or the frequency resource index.

Example A20 may include the one or more NTCRM of example A19, wherein to encode the RAR includes to encode the RAR with a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by the calculated RA-RNTI.

Example Bl may include a method of wireless communication (e.g., for a fifth generation (5G) or new radio (NR) system), the method comprising: determining, by a UE, a random access response (RAR) window for multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions; and attempting, by the UE, to decode a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) scrambled by Random access - Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) within the determined RAR window.

Example B2 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions;

Example B3 may include the method of example B2 or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel -PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B4 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B5 may include the method of example B4 or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of the first PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B6 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts after the last symbol of the each PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions

Example B7 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B8 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with the first PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

Example B9 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with the last PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

Example BIO may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein for multiple PRACH transmissions, symbol index, slot index and frequency resource index in the equation for RA-RNTI calculation may be determined in accordance with each PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions

Example B 11 may include the method of example B 1 or some other example herein, wherein if a random access procedure is initiated by a PDCCH order, the UE, if requested by higher layers, transmits a PRACH in the selected PRACH occasion, for which a time between the last symbol of the PDCCH order reception and the first symbol of the first PRACH transmission is larger than or equal to N _{T 2} + msec

Example B 12 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein If the UE is provided K _C eii, offset by CellSpecific_Koffset, the first PRACH occasion is after slot n + ■ K _C ell, offset where n is the slot of the UL BWP for the PRACH transmission that overlaps with the end of the PDCCH order reception assuming T _TA = 0, and /z is the SCS configuration for the PRACH transmission.

Example B 13 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts after the last symbol of each of a subset of PRACH occasions for the corresponding multiple PRACH transmissions; wherein RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of each of the subset of PRACH occasions corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B 14 may include the method of example B13 or some other example herein, wherein the subset of PRACH occasions can be configured by higher layers via NR remaining minimum system information (RMS I), NR other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

Example B 15 may include the method of example B13 or some other example herein, wherein the subset of PRACH occasions may be determined in accordance with the number of repetitions for PRACH transmission;

Example B 16 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein RAR window starts after the last symbol of a PRACH occasion for one of the corresponding multiple PRACH transmissions; wherein RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol, after the last symbol of the PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B 17 may include the method of example B16 or some other example herein, wherein he PRACH occasion for the determination of RAR monitoring window can be configured by higher layers via RMSI, OSI, or RRC signalling.

Example B 18 may include the method of example B16 or some other example herein, wherein the PRACH occasion may be determined in accordance with the number of repetitions for PRACH transmission.

Example B 19 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the first PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped

Example B20 may include the method of example B 1 or some other example herein, wherein the first PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual first PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B21 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein the last PRACH occasion may correspond to the last PRACH occasion determined for multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission in multiple PRACH transmissions is cancelled or dropped

Example B22 may include the method of example Bl or some other example herein, wherein the last PRACH occasion may correspond to the actual last PRACH transmission for multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B23 may include a method of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: determining a random access response (RAR) window for multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions; and monitoring for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) with Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) scrambled by a Random access - Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) within the determined RAR window.

Example B24 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after a last symbol of a last PRACH occasion for multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B25 may include the method of example B24 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts at a first symbol of an earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for a Typel-PDCCH common search space (CSS) set, that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of the last PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, wherein a symbol duration corresponds to a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for the Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B26 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after a last symbol of a last PRACH occasion for the multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B27 may include the method of example B26 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts at a first symbol of an earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for a Typel-PDCCH CSS set that is at least one symbol after a last symbol of the first PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, wherein the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for the Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B28 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion for the multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B29 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for a Typel-PDCCH CSS set that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of each PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, wherein a symbol duration of the first symbol corresponds to the SCS for the Typel-PDCCH CSS set. Example B30 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, further comprising determining, for the multiple PRACH occasions, a symbol index, a slot index and a frequency resource index associated with a RA-RNTI calculation based on a first (e.g., earliest) PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

Example B31 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, further comprising determining, for the multiple PRACH occasions, a symbol index, a slot index and a frequency resource index associated with a RA-RNTI calculation based on a last PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

Example B32 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, further comprising determining, for the multiple PRACH occasions, a symbol index, a slot index and a frequency resource index associated with a RA-RNTI calculation based on each PRACH occasion among the multiple PRACH occasions.

Example B33 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein a random access procedure is initiated by a PDCCH order, and wherein the method further comprises transmitting a PRACH in a selected PRACH occasion for which a time between the last symbol of the PDCCH order reception and the first symbol of the first PRACH transmission is larger than or equal to N _{T 2} + + /'switch msec.

Example B34 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, further comprising receiving a request to transmit the PRACH in the selected PRACH occasion.

Example B35 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, further comprising receiving a value cell.offset (e.g., ^v ' ^a CellSpecific_Koffset), wherein a first (e.g., earliest) PRACH occasion of the multiple PRACH occasions is after slot n + 2^ ‘ ^cell.offset' wherein n is the a slot of a UL BWP for the PRACH transmission that overlaps with the end of the PDCCH order reception assuming T _TA = 0, and is the SCS configuration for the PRACH transmission.

Example B36 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after a last symbol of each of a subset of PRACH occasions for the corresponding multiple PRACH transmissions.

Example B37 may include the method of example B23, B36, or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts at a first symbol of an earliest CORESET in which the UE is configured to receive a PDCCH for Type 1 -PDCCH CSS set, and that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of each of the subset of PRACH occasions corresponding to the PRACH transmission, wherein a symbol duration corresponds to an SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B38 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, further comprising receiving configuration information to indicate a subset of PRACH occasions for the monitoring.

Example B39 may include the method of example B38 or some other example herein, wherein the configuration information is received via NR remaining minimum system information (RMSI), NR other system information (OSI) or dedicated radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

Example B40 may include the method of example B23, B38-B39 or some other example herein, further comprising determining a subset of PRACH occasions for the monitoring based on a number of repetitions for PRACH transmission.

Example B41 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after a last symbol of a PRACH occasion for a corresponding PRACH transmission of multiple PRACH transmissions, and wherein the RAR window starts at the first symbol of the earliest CORESET in which the UE is configured to receive PDCCH for Typel-PDCCH CSS set, that is at least one symbol after the last symbol of the PRACH occasion corresponding to the PRACH transmission, where the symbol duration corresponds to the SCS for Typel-PDCCH CSS set.

Example B42 may include the method of example B41 or some other example herein, wherein the PRACH occasion for the determination of the RAR window can be configured by higher layers (e.g., via RMSI, OSI, or RRC signalling).

Example B43 may include the method of example B41 or some other example herein, wherein the PRACH occasion is determined in accordance with a number of repetitions for PRACH transmission.

Example B44 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after a first PRACH occasion determined for the multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the first PRACH transmission is cancelled or dropped.

Example B45 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after a first PRACH occasion determined for the multiple PRACH transmissions in which a PRACH is actually transmitted.

Example B46 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after the last PRACH occasion determined for the multiple PRACH transmissions, regardless of whether the last PRACH transmission is cancelled or dropped.

Example B47 may include the method of example B23 or some other example herein, wherein the RAR window starts after the last PRACH occasion determined for the multiple PRACH transmissions in which a PRACH is actually transmitted.

Example B48 may include a method of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving a request associated with a random access procedure initiated by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; encoding a PRACH for transmission in a selected PRACH occasion for which a time between the last symbol of the PDCCH order reception and the first symbol of the first PRACH transmission is larger than or equal to N _{T 2} + msec.

Example B49 may include a method of a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving an indication of a value a value A _ce ]| _O f _fset associated with a random access procedure triggered by a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order; and encoding a PRACH for transmission in a PRACH occasion that is after slot n +

2 ‘ ^cell, offset, wherein n is the a slot of a UL BWP for the PRACH transmission that overlaps with the end of the PDCCH order reception assuming T _TA = 0, and i is the SCS configuration for the PRACH transmission.

Example Z01 may include an apparatus comprising means to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B1-B49, or any other method or process described herein.

Example Z02 may include one or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising instructions to cause an electronic device, upon execution of the instructions by one or more processors of the electronic device, to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B 1-B49, or any other method or process described herein.

Example Z03 may include an apparatus comprising logic, modules, or circuitry to perform one or more elements of a method described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B 1-B49, or any other method or process described herein.

Example Z04 may include a method, technique, or process as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B1-B49, or portions or parts thereof.

Example Z05 may include an apparatus comprising: one or more processors and one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B 1-B49, or portions thereof.

Example Z06 may include a signal as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B 1-B49, or portions or parts thereof.

Example Z07 may include a datagram, packet, frame, segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B1-B49, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

Example Z08 may include a signal encoded with data as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B1-B49, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

Example Z09 may include a signal encoded with a datagram, packet, frame, segment, protocol data unit (PDU), or message as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, Bl- B49, or portions or parts thereof, or otherwise described in the present disclosure.

Example Z10 may include an electromagnetic signal carrying computer-readable instructions, wherein execution of the computer-readable instructions by one or more processors is to cause the one or more processors to perform the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B1-B49, or portions thereof.

Example Z11 may include a computer program comprising instructions, wherein execution of the program by a processing element is to cause the processing element to carry out the method, techniques, or process as described in or related to any of examples A1-A20, B 1- B49, or portions thereof.

Example Z12 may include a signal in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

Example Z13 may include a method of communicating in a wireless network as shown and described herein.

Example Z14 may include a system for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.

Example Z15 may include a device for providing wireless communication as shown and described herein.

Any of the above-described examples may be combined with any other example (or combination of examples), unless explicitly stated otherwise. The foregoing description of one or more implementations provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the scope of embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of various embodiments.

Abbreviations

Unless used differently herein, terms, definitions, and abbreviations may be consistent with terms, definitions, and abbreviations defined in 3GPP TR 21.905 V16.0.0 (2019-06). For the purposes of the present document, the following abbreviations may apply to the examples and embodiments discussed herein. 3 GPP Third Generation Protocol, Antenna BSS Business

Partnership Port, Access Point Support System

Project API Application BS Base Station

4G Fourth Programming Interface BSR Buffer Status

Generation 40 APN Access Point 75 Report

5G Fifth Generation Name BW Bandwidth

5GC 5G Core ARP Allocation and BWP Bandwidth Part network Retention Priority C-RNTI Cell

AC ARQ Automatic Radio Network

Application 45 Repeat Request 80 Temporary

Client AS Access Stratum Identity

ACR Application ASP CA Carrier

Context Relocation Application Service Aggregation,

ACK Provider Certification

Acknowledgeme 50 85 Authority nt ASN.l Abstract Syntax CAPEX CAPital

ACID Notation One Expenditure

Application AUSF Authentication CBD Candidate Beam

Client Identific tion Server Function Detection

AF Application 55 AWGN Additive 90 CBRA Contention

Function White Gaussian Based Random

AM Acknowledged Noise Access

Mode BAP Backhaul CC Component

AMB R Aggregate Adaptation Protocol Carrier, Country

Maximum Bit Rate 60 BCH Broadcast 95 Code, Cryptographic

AMF Access and Channel Checksum

Mobility BER Bit Error Ratio CCA Clear Channel

Management BFD Beam Assessment

Function Failure Detection CCE Control Channel

AN Access Network 65 BLER Block Error Rate 100 Element

ANR Automatic BPSK Binary Phase CCCH Common

Neighbour Relation Shift Keying Control Channel

AOA Angle of BRAS Broadband CE Coverage

Arrival Remote Access Enhancement

AP Application 70 Server 105 CDM Content Delivery Network Multi-Point Indicator

CDMA Code- CORESET Control C-RNTI Cell Division Multiple Resource Set RNTI

Access COTS Commercial Off- CS Circuit Switched

CDR Charging Data 40 The-Shelf 75 CSCF call Request CP Control Plane, session control function

CDR Charging Data Cyclic Prefix, CSAR Cloud Service Response Connection Archive

CFRA Contention Free Point CSI Channel-State Random Access 45 CPD Connection 80 Information CG Cell Group Point Descriptor CSI-IM CSI CGF Charging CPE Customer Interference

Gateway Function Premise Measurement CHF Charging Equipment CSI-RS CSI

Function 50 CPICHCommon Pilot 85 Reference Signal

CI Cell Identity Channel CSI-RSRP CSI CID Cell-ID (e.g., CQI Channel Quality reference signal positioning method) Indicator received power CIM Common CPU CSI processing CSI-RSRQ CSI Information Model 55 unit, Central 90 reference signal CIR Carrier to Processing Unit received quality Interference Ratio C/R CSI-SINR CSI CK Cipher Key Command/Resp signal-to-noise and CM Connection onse field bit interference ratio Management, 60 CRAN Cloud Radio 95 CSMA Carrier Sense

Conditional Access Network, Multiple Access Mandatory Cloud RAN CSMA/CA CSMA CMAS Commercial CRB Common with collision Mobile Alert Service Resource Block avoidance CMD Command 65 CRC Cyclic 100 CSS Common Search CMS Cloud Redundancy Check Space, Cell- specific Management System CRI Channel-State Search Space CO Conditional Information Resource CTF Charging Optional Indicator, CSI-RS Trigger Function CoMP Coordinated 70 Resource 105 CTS Clear-to-Send CW Codeword Language. Digital Provider

CWS Contention Subscriber Line EDN Edge

Window Size DSLAM DSL Data Network

D2D Device-to- Access Multiplexer EEC Edge

Device 40 DwPTS 75 Enabler Client

DC Dual Downlink Pilot EECID Edge

Connectivity, Direct Time Slot Enabler Client

Current E-LAN Ethernet Identification

DCI Downlink Local Area Network EES Edge

Control 45 E2E End-to-End 80 Enabler Server

Information EAS Edge EESID Edge

DF Deployment Application Server Enabler Server

Flavour ECCA extended clear Identification

DL Downlink channel EHE Edge

DMTF Distributed 50 assessment, 85 Hosting Environment

Management Task extended CCA EGMF Exposure

Force ECCE Enhanced Governance

DPDK Data Plane Control Channel Management

Development Kit Element, Function

DM- RS, DMRS 55 Enhanced CCE 90 EGPRS

Demodulation ED Energy Enhanced GPRS

Reference Signal Detection EIR Equipment

DN Data network EDGE Enhanced Identity Register

DNN Data Network Datarates for GSM eLAA enhanced

Name 60 Evolution (GSM 95 Licensed Assisted

DNAI Data Network Evolution) Access,

Access Identifier EAS Edge enhanced LAA

Application Server EM Element

DRB Data Radio EASID Edge Manager

Bearer 65 Application Server 100 eMBB Enhanced

DRS Discovery Identification Mobile

Reference Signal ECS Edge Broadband

DRX Discontinuous Configuration Server EMS Element

Reception ECSP Edge Management System

DSL Domain Specific 70 Computing Service 105 eNB evolved NodeB, E-UTRAN Node B F1AP Fl Application FDMA Frequency EN-DC E- Protocol Division Multiple UTRA-NR Dual Fl-C Fl Control plane Access Connectivity interface FE Front End

EPC Evolved Packet 40 Fl-U Fl User plane 75 FEC Forward Error Core interface Correction

EPDCCH enhanced FACCH Fast FFS For Further

PDCCH, enhanced Associated Control Study Physical CHannel FFT Fast Fourier

Downlink Control 45 FACCH/F Fast 80 Transformation Cannel Associated Control feLAA further enhanced

EPRE Energy per Channel/Full Licensed Assisted resource element rate Access, further

EPS Evolved Packet FACCH/H Fast enhanced LAA System 50 Associated Control 85 FN Frame Number

EREG enhanced REG, Channel/Half FPGA Field- enhanced resource rate Programmable Gate element groups FACH Forward Access Array ETSI European Channel FR Frequency

Telecommunicat 55 FAUSCH Fast 90 Range ions Standards Uplink Signalling FQDN Fully Qualified Institute Channel Domain Name

ETWS Earthquake and FB Functional Block G-RNTI GERAN T sunami W arning FBI Feedback Radio Network System 60 Information 95 Temporary eUICC embedded FCC Federal Identity

UICC, embedded Communications GERAN

Universal Commission GSM EDGE

Integrated Circuit FCCH Frequency RAN, GSM EDGE Card 65 Correction CHannel 100 Radio Access

E-UTRA Evolved FDD Frequency Network

UTRA Division Duplex GGSN Gateway GPRS

E-UTRAN Evolved FDM Frequency Support Node

UTRAN Division GLONASS

EV2X Enhanced V2X 70 Multiplex 105 GLObal'naya NAvigatsionnay GTS Go To Sleep HTTP Hyper Text a Sputnikovaya Signal (related to Transfer Protocol Sistema (Engl.: WUS) HTTPS Hyper Global Navigation GUMMEI Globally Text Transfer Protocol

Satellite System) 40 Unique MME Identifier 75 Secure (https is gNB Next Generation GUTI Globally Unique http/ 1.1 over NodeB Temporary UE SSL, i.e. port 443) gNB-CU gNB- Identity I-Block centralized unit, Next HARQ Hybrid ARQ, Information

Generation 45 Hybrid 80 Block

NodeB Automatic ICCID Integrated centralized unit Repeat Request Circuit Card gNB -DU gNB- HANDO Handover Identification distributed unit, Next HFN HyperFrame IAB Integrated

Generation 50 Number 85 Access and Backhaul

NodeB HHO Hard Handover ICIC Inter-Cell distributed unit HLR Home Location Interference GNSS Global Register Coordination Navigation Satellite HN Home Network ID Identity,

System 55 HO Handover 90 identifier GPRS General Packet HPLMN Home IDFT Inverse Discrete Radio Service Public Land Mobile Fourier GPS I Generic Network Transform Public Subscription HSDPA High IE Information

Identifier 60 Speed Downlink 95 element

GSM Global System Packet Access IBE In-Band for Mobile HSN Hopping Emission

Communications Sequence Number IEEE Institute of , Groupe Special HSPA High Speed Electrical and Mobile 65 Packet Access 100 Electronics GTP GPRS Tunneling HSS Home Engineers

Protocol Subscriber Server IEI Information

GTP-UGPRS HSUPA High Element Identifier

Tunnelling Protocol Speed Uplink Packet IEIDL Information for User Plane 70 Access 105 Element Identifier Data Length Connectivity Access Ki Individual

IETF Internet Network subscriber

Engineering Task IP-M IP Multicast authentication

Force IPv4 Internet Protocol key

IF Infrastructure 40 Version 4 75 KPI Key

IIOT Industrial IPv6 Internet Protocol Performance Indicator

Internet of Things Version 6 KQI Key Quality

IM Interference IR Infrared Indicator

Measurement, IS In Sync KSI Key Set

Intermodulation, 45 IRP Integration 80 Identifier

IP Multimedia Reference Point ksps kilo-symbols per

IMC IMS Credentials ISDN Integrated second

IMEI International Services Digital KVM Kernel Virtual

Mobile Network Machine

Equipment 50 ISIM IM Services 85 LI Layer 1

Identity Identity Module (physical layer)

IMGI International ISO International Ll-RSRP Layer 1 mobile group identity Organisation for reference signal IMPI IP Multimedia Standardisation received power

Private Identity 55 ISP Internet Service 90 L2 Layer 2 (data

IMPU IP Multimedia Provider link layer)

PUblic identity IWF Interworking- L3 Layer 3

IMS IP Multimedia Function (network layer)

Subsystem I-WLAN LAA Licensed

IMS I International 60 Interworking 95 Assisted Access

Mobile WLAN LAN Local Area

Subscriber Constraint length Network

Identity of the convolutional LADN Local loT Internet of code, USIM Area Data Network

Things 65 Individual key 100 LBT Listen Before

IP Internet Protocol kB Kilobyte (1000 Talk

Ipsec IP Security, bytes) LCM LifeCycle

Internet Protocol kbps kilo-bits per Management

Security second LCR Low Chip Rate

IP-CAN IP- 70 Kc Ciphering key 105 LCS Location Services context) Function

LCID Logical MAC-A MAC MDAS Management

Channel ID used for Data Analytics

LI Layer Indicator authentication Service

LLC Logical Link 40 and key 75 MDT Minimization of

Control, Low Layer agreement (TSG Drive Tests Compatibility T WG3 context) ME Mobile

LMF Location MAC-IMAC used for Equipment

Management Function data integrity of MeNB master eNB

LOS Line of 45 signalling messages 80 MER Message Error

Sight (TSG T WG3 context) Ratio

LPLMN Local MANO MGL Measurement

PLMN Management and Gap Length

LPP LTE Positioning Orchestration MGRP Measurement Protocol 50 MBMS 85 Gap Repetition

LSB Least Significant Multimedia Period Bit Broadcast and Multicast MIB Master

LTE Long Term Service Information Block,

Evolution MBSFN Management

LWA LTE-WLAN 55 Multimedia 90 Information Base aggregation Broadcast multicast MIMO Multiple Input

LWIP LTE/WLAN service Single Multiple Output

Radio Level Frequency MLC Mobile Location

Integration with Network Centre

IPsec Tunnel 60 MCC Mobile Country 95 MM Mobility

LTE Long Term Code Management Evolution MCG Master Cell MME Mobility

M2M Machine-to- Group Management Entity

Machine MCOT Maximum MN Master Node

MAC Medium Access 65 Channel 100 MNO Mobile

Control (protocol Occupancy Time Network Operator layering context) MCS Modulation and MO Measurement MAC Message coding scheme Object, Mobile authentication code MD AF Management Originated

(security/encryption 70 Data Analytics 105 MPBCH MTC Physical Broadcast Terminated, Mobile NFPD Network

CHannel Termination Forwarding Path

MPDCCH MTC MTC Machine-Type Descriptor

Physical Downlink Communications NFV Network

Control CHannel 40 mMTCmassive MTC, 75 Functions

MPDSCH MTC massive Machine- Virtualization

Physical Downlink Type Communications NFVI NFV

Shared CHannel MU-MIMO Multi Infrastructure

MPRACH MTC User MIMO NFVO NFV

Physical Random 45 MWUS MTC 80 Orchestrator

Access CHannel wake-up signal, MTC NG Next Generation,

MPUSCH MTC WUS Next Gen

Physical Uplink Shared NACK Negative NGEN-DC NG-RAN

Channel Acknowledgement E-UTRA-NR Dual

MPLS MultiProtocol 50 NAI Network Access 85 Connectivity

Label Switching Identifier NM Network

MS Mobile Station NAS Non-Access Manager

MSB Most Significant Stratum, Non- Access NMS Network

Bit Stratum layer Management System

MSC Mobile 55 NCT Network 90 N-PoP Network Point

Switching Centre Connectivity Topology of Presence

MSI Minimum NC-IT NonNMIB, N-MIB

System coherent Joint Narrowband MIB

Information, Transmission NPBCH

MCH Scheduling 60 NEC Network 95 Narrowband

Information Capability Exposure Physical

MS ID Mobile Station NE-DC NR-E- Broadcast

Identifier UTRA Dual CHannel

MS IN Mobile Station Connectivity NPDCCH

Identification 65 NEF Network 100 Narrowband

Number Exposure Function Physical

MSISDN Mobile NF Network Downlink

Subscriber ISDN Function Control CHannel

Number NFP Network NPDSCH

MT Mobile 70 Forwarding Path 105 Narrowband Physical Information Broadcast Channel

Downlink S-NNSAI Single- PC Power Control,

Shared CHannel NSSAI Personal

NPRACH NSSF Network Slice Computer

Narrowband 40 Selection Function 75 PCC Primary

Physical Random NW Network Component Carrier,

Access CHannel NWUSNarrowband Primary CC

NPUSCH wake-up signal, P-CSCF Proxy

Narrowband Narrowband WUS CSCF

Physical Uplink 45 NZP Non-Zero Power 80 PCell Primary Cell

Shared CHannel O&M Operation and PCI Physical Cell ID,

NPSS Narrowband Maintenance Physical Cell

Primary ODU2 Optical channel Identity

Synchronization Data Unit - type 2 PCEF Policy and

Signal 50 OFDM Orthogonal 85 Charging

NSSS Narrowband Frequency Division Enforcement

Secondary Multiplexing Function

Synchronization OFDMA PCF Policy Control

Signal Orthogonal Function

NR New Radio, 55 Frequency Division 90 PCRF Policy Control

Neighbour Relation Multiple Access and Charging Rules

NRF NF Repository OOB Out-of-band Function

Function OOS Out of Sync PDCP Packet Data

NRS Narrowband OPEX OPerating Convergence Protocol,

Reference Signal 60 EXpense 95 Packet Data

NS Network Service OSI Other System Convergence

NSA Non-Standalone Information Protocol layer operation mode OSS Operations PDCCH Physical NSD Network Service Support System Downlink Control

Descriptor 65 OTA over-the-air 100 Channel

NSR Network Service PAPR Peak-to-Average PDCP Packet Data

Record Power Ratio Convergence Protocol

NSSAINetwork Slice PAR Peak to Average PDN Packet Data

Selection Ratio Network, Public

Assistance 70 PBCH Physical 105 Data Network PDSCH Physical PPP Point-to-Point Synchronization

Downlink Shared Protocol Signal

Channel PRACH Physical PSTN Public Switched

PDU Protocol Data RACH Telephone Network

Unit 40 PRB Physical 75 PT -RS Phase-tracking

PEI Permanent resource block reference signal

Equipment PRG Physical PTT Push-to-Talk

Identifiers resource block PUCCH Physical

PFD Packet Flow group Uplink Control

Description 45 ProSe Proximity 80 Channel

P-GW PDN Gateway Services, PUSCH Physical

PHICH Physical Proximity-Based Uplink Shared hybrid-ARQ indicator Service Channel channel PRS Positioning QAM Quadrature

PHY Physical layer 50 Reference Signal 85 Amplitude

PLMN Public Land PRR Packet Modulation

Mobile Network Reception Radio QCI QoS class of

PIN Personal PS Packet Services identifier

Identification Number PSBCH Physical QCL Quasi co-

PM Performance 55 Sidelink Broadcast 90 location

Measurement Channel QFI QoS Flow ID,

PMI Precoding PSDCH Physical QoS Flow Identifier

Matrix Indicator Sidelink Downlink QoS Quality of

PNF Physical Channel Service

Network Function 60 PSCCH Physical 95 QPSK Quadrature

PNFD Physical Sidelink Control (Quaternary) Phase

Network Function Channel Shift Keying

Descriptor PSSCH Physical QZSS Quasi-Zenith

PNFR Physical Sidelink Shared Satellite System

Network Function 65 Channel 100 RA-RNTI Random

Record PSFCH physical Access RNTI

POC PTT over sidelink feedback RAB Radio Access

Cellular channel Bearer, Random

PP, PTP Point-to- PSCell Primary SCell Access Burst

Point 70 PSS Primary 105 RACH Random Access Channel Unacknowledged Mode RSRQ Reference Signal

RADIUS Remote RLF Radio Link Received Quality

Authentication Dial In Failure RSSI Received Signal

User Service RLM Radio Link Strength Indicator

RAN Radio Access 40 Monitoring 75 RSU Road Side Unit

Network RLM-RS RSTD Reference Signal

RAND RANDom Reference Signal Time difference number (used for for RLM RTP Real Time authentication) RM Registration Protocol

RAR Random Access 45 Management 80 RTS Ready-To-Send

Response RMC Reference RTT Round Trip

RAT Radio Access Measurement Channel Time

Technology RMSI Remaining MSI, Rx Reception,

RAU Routing Area Remaining Receiving, Receiver

Update 50 Minimum 85 S1AP SI Application

RB Resource block, System Protocol

Radio Bearer Information SI -MME SI for

RBG Resource block RN Relay Node the control plane group RNC Radio Network S 1-U SI for the user

REG Resource 55 Controller 90 plane

Element Group RNL Radio Network S-CSCF serving

Rel Release Layer CSCF

REQ REQuest RNTI Radio Network S-GW Serving Gateway

RF Radio Frequency Temporary Identifier S-RNTI SRNC

RI Rank Indicator 60 ROHC RObust Header 95 Radio Network

RIV Resource Compression Temporary indicator value RRC Radio Resource Identity RL Radio Link Control, Radio S-TMSI SAE

RLC Radio Link Resource Control Temporary Mobile

Control, Radio 65 layer 100 Station Identifier

Link Control RRM Radio Resource SA Standalone layer Management operation mode

RLC AM RLC RS Reference Signal SAE System

Acknowledged Mode RSRP Reference Signal Architecture

RLC UM RLC 70 Received Power 105 Evolution SAP Service Access Function SIP Session Initiated

Point SDP Session Protocol

SAPD Service Access Description Protocol SiP System in

Point Descriptor SDSF Structured Data Package

SAPI Service Access 40 Storage Function 75 SL Sidelink

Point Identifier SDT Small Data SLA Service Level

SCC Secondary Transmission Agreement

Component Carrier, SDU Service Data SM Session

Secondary CC Unit Management

SCell Secondary Cell 45 SEAF Security Anchor 80 SMF Session

SCEF Service Function Management Function

Capability Exposure SeNB secondary eNB SMS Short Message

Function SEPP Security Edge Service

SC-FDMA Single Protection Proxy SMSF SMS Function

Carrier Frequency 50 SFI Slot format 85 SMTC SSB-based

Division indication Measurement Timing

Multiple Access SFTD Space- Configuration

SCG Secondary Cell Frequency Time SN Secondary Node,

Group Diversity, SFN Sequence Number

SCM Security Context 55 and frame timing 90 SoC System on Chip

Management difference SON Self-Organizing

SCS Subcarrier SFN System Frame Network

Spacing Number SpCell Special Cell

SCTP Stream Control SgNB Secondary gNB SP-CSI-RNTISemi-

Transmission 60 SGSN Serving GPRS 95 Persistent CS I RNTI

Protocol Support Node SPS Semi-Persistent

SDAP Service Data S-GW Serving Gateway Scheduling

Adaptation Protocol, SI System SQN Sequence

Service Data Information number

Adaptation 65 SI-RNTI System 100 SR Scheduling

Protocol layer Information RNTI Request

SDL Supplementary SIB System SRB Signalling Radio

Downlink Information Block Bearer

SDNF Structured Data SIM Subscriber SRS Sounding

Storage Network 70 Identity Module 105 Reference Signal SS Synchronization SSSIF Search Space Set Equipment

Signal Indicator TEID Tunnel End

SSB Synchronization SST Slice/Service Point Identifier

Signal Block Types TFT Traffic Flow

SSID Service Set 40 SU-MIMO Single 75 Template

Identifier User MIMO TMSI Temporary

SS/PBCH Block SUL Supplementary Mobile

SSBRI SS/PBCH Block Uplink Subscriber

Resource Indicator, TA Timing Identity

Synchronization 45 Advance, Tracking 80 TNL Transport

Signal Block Area Network Layer Resource Indicator TAC Tracking Area TPC Transmit Power

SSC Session and Code Control

Service TAG Timing Advance TPMI Transmitted

Continuity 50 Group 85 Precoding Matrix

SS-RSRP TAI Tracking Indicator

Synchronization Area Identity TR Technical Report Signal based TAU Tracking Area TRP, TRxP

Reference Signal Update Transmission

Received Power 55 TB Transport Block 90 Reception Point

SS-RSRQ TBS Transport Block TRS Tracking

Synchronization Size Reference Signal Signal based TBD To Be Defined TRx Transceiver

Reference Signal TCI Transmission TS Technical

Received Quality 60 Configuration Indicator 95 Specifications,

SS-SINR TCP Transmission Technical

Synchronization Communication Standard Signal based Signal to Protocol TTI Transmission Noise and Interference TDD Time Division Time Interval

Ratio 65 Duplex 100 Tx Transmission,

SSS Secondary TDM Time Division Transmitting,

Synchronization Multiplexing Transmitter

Signal TDM A Time Division U-RNTI UTRAN

SSSG Search Space Set Multiple Access Radio Network Group 70 TE Terminal 105 Temporary Identity URLLC UltraVNFFG VNF

UART Universal Reliable and Low Forwarding Graph

Asynchronous Latency VNFFGD VNF

Receiver and USB Universal Serial Forwarding Graph

Transmitter 40 Bus 75 Descriptor

UCI Uplink Control US IM Universal VNFM VNF Manager

Information Subscriber Identity VoIP Voice-over- IP,

UE User Equipment Module Voice-over- Internet

UDM Unified Data USS UE- specific Protocol

Management 45 search space 80 VPLMN Visited

UDP User Datagram UTRA UMTS Public Land Mobile

Protocol Terrestrial Radio Network

UDSF Unstructured Access VPN Virtual Private

Data Storage Network UTRAN Universal Network

Function 50 Terrestrial Radio 85 VRB Virtual Resource

UICC Universal Access Network Block

Integrated Circuit UwPTS Uplink WiMAX

Card Pilot Time Slot Worldwide

UL Uplink V2I Vehicle-to- Interoperability

UM 55 Infrastruction 90 for Microwave

Unacknowledge V2P Vehicle-to- Access d Mode Pedestrian WLANWireless Local

UML Unified V2V Vehicle-to- Area Network

Modelling Language Vehicle WMAN Wireless

UMTS Universal 60 V2X Vehicle-to- 95 Metropolitan Area

Mobile everything Network

Telecommunicat VIM Virtualized WPANWireless ions System Infrastructure Manager Personal Area Network

UP User Plane VL Virtual Link, X2-C X2-Control

UPF User Plane 65 VLAN Virtual LAN, 100 plane

Function Virtual Local Area X2-U X2-User plane

URI Uniform Network XML extensible

Resource Identifier VM Virtual Machine Markup

URL Uniform VNF Virtualized Language

Resource Locator 70 Network Function 105 XRES EXpected user RESponse

XOR exclusive OR

ZC Zadoff-Chu

ZP Zero Power

Terminology

For the purposes of the present document, the following terms and definitions are applicable to the examples and embodiments discussed herein.

The term “application” may refer to a complete and deployable package, environment to achieve a certain function in an operational environment. The term “A l/ML application” or the like may be an application that contains some AI/ML models and application-level descriptions.

The term “circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes hardware components such as an electronic circuit, a logic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory (shared, dedicated, or group), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a field-programmable device (FPD) (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a complex PLD (CPLD), a high-capacity PLD (HCPLD), a structured ASIC, or a programmable SoC), digital signal processors (DSPs), etc., that are configured to provide the described functionality. In some embodiments, the circuitry may execute one or more software or firmware programs to provide at least some of the described functionality. The term “circuitry” may also refer to a combination of one or more hardware elements (or a combination of circuits used in an electrical or electronic system) with the program code used to carry out the functionality of that program code. In these embodiments, the combination of hardware elements and program code may be referred to as a particular type of circuitry.

The term “processor circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry capable of sequentially and automatically carrying out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations, or recording, storing, and/or transferring digital data. Processing circuitry may include one or more processing cores to execute instructions and one or more memory structures to store program and data information. The term “processor circuitry” may refer to one or more application processors, one or more baseband processors, a physical central processing unit (CPU), a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, a triple-core processor, a quad-core processor, and/or any other device capable of executing or otherwise operating computerexecutable instructions, such as program code, software modules, and/or functional processes. Processing circuitry may include more hardware accelerators, which may be microprocessors, programmable processing devices, or the like. The one or more hardware accelerators may include, for example, computer vision (CV) and/or deep learning (DL) accelerators. The terms “application circuitry” and/or “baseband circuitry” may be considered synonymous to, and may be referred to as, “processor circuitry.”

The term “interface circuitry” as used herein refers to, is part of, or includes circuitry that enables the exchange of information between two or more components or devices. The term “interface circuitry” may refer to one or more hardware interfaces, for example, buses, I/O interfaces, peripheral component interfaces, network interface cards, and/or the like.

The term “user equipment” or “UE” as used herein refers to a device with radio communication capabilities and may describe a remote user of network resources in a communications network. The term “user equipment” or “UE” may be considered synonymous to, and may be referred to as, client, mobile, mobile device, mobile terminal, user terminal, mobile unit, mobile station, mobile user, subscriber, user, remote station, access agent, user agent, receiver, radio equipment, reconfigurable radio equipment, reconfigurable mobile device, etc. Furthermore, the term “user equipment” or “UE” may include any type of wireless/wired device or any computing device including a wireless communications interface.

The term “network element” as used herein refers to physical or virtualized equipment and/or infrastructure used to provide wired or wireless communication network services. The term “network element” may be considered synonymous to and/or referred to as a networked computer, networking hardware, network equipment, network node, router, switch, hub, bridge, radio network controller, RAN device, RAN node, gateway, server, virtualized VNF, NFVI, and/or the like.

The term “computer system” as used herein refers to any type interconnected electronic devices, computer devices, or components thereof. Additionally, the term “computer system” and/or “system” may refer to various components of a computer that are communicatively coupled with one another. Furthermore, the term “computer system” and/or “system” may refer to multiple computer devices and/or multiple computing systems that are communicatively coupled with one another and configured to share computing and/or networking resources.

The term “appliance,” “computer appliance,” or the like, as used herein refers to a computer device or computer system with program code (e.g., software or firmware) that is specifically designed to provide a specific computing resource. A “virtual appliance” is a virtual machine image to be implemented by a hypervisor-equipped device that virtualizes or emulates a computer appliance or otherwise is dedicated to provide a specific computing resource.

The term “resource” as used herein refers to a physical or virtual device, a physical or virtual component within a computing environment, and/or a physical or virtual component within a particular device, such as computer devices, mechanical devices, memory space, processor/CPU time, processor/CPU usage, processor and accelerator loads, hardware time or usage, electrical power, input/output operations, ports or network sockets, channel/link allocation, throughput, memory usage, storage, network, database and applications, workload units, and/or the like. A “hardware resource” may refer to compute, storage, and/or network resources provided by physical hardware element(s). A “virtualized resource” may refer to compute, storage, and/or network resources provided by virtualization infrastructure to an application, device, system, etc. The term “network resource” or “communication resource” may refer to resources that are accessible by computer devices/sy stems via a communications network. The term “system resources” may refer to any kind of shared entities to provide services, and may include computing and/or network resources. System resources may be considered as a set of coherent functions, network data objects or services, accessible through a server where such system resources reside on a single host or multiple hosts and are clearly identifiable.

The term “channel” as used herein refers to any transmission medium, either tangible or intangible, which is used to communicate data or a data stream. The term “channel” may be synonymous with and/or equivalent to “communications channel,” “data communications channel,” “transmission channel,” “data transmission channel,” “access channel,” “data access channel,” “link,” “data link,” “carrier,” “radiofrequency carrier,” and/or any other like term denoting a pathway or medium through which data is communicated. Additionally, the term “link” as used herein refers to a connection between two devices through a RAT for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information.

The terms “instantiate,” “instantiation,” and the like as used herein refers to the creation of an instance. An “instance” also refers to a concrete occurrence of an object, which may occur, for example, during execution of program code.

The terms “coupled,” “communicatively coupled,” along with derivatives thereof are used herein. The term “coupled” may mean two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with one another, may mean that two or more elements indirectly contact each other but still cooperate or interact with each other, and/or may mean that one or more other elements are coupled or connected between the elements that are said to be coupled with each other. The term “directly coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct contact with one another. The term “communicatively coupled” may mean that two or more elements may be in contact with one another by a means of communication including through a wire or other interconnect connection, through a wireless communication channel or link, and/or the like.

The term “information element” refers to a structural element containing one or more fields. The term “field” refers to individual contents of an information element, or a data element that contains content.

The term “SMTC” refers to an SSB-based measurement timing configuration configured by SSB-MeasurementTimingConfiguration.

The term “SSB” refers to an SS/PBCH block. The term “a “Primary Cell” refers to the MCG cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either performs the initial connection establishment procedure or initiates the connection re-establishment procedure.

The term “Primary SCG Cell” refers to the SCG cell in which the UE performs random access when performing the Reconfiguration with Sync procedure for DC operation.

The term “Secondary Cell” refers to a cell providing additional radio resources on top of a Special Cell for a UE configured with CA.

The term “Secondary Cell Group” refers to the subset of serving cells comprising the PSCell and zero or more secondary cells for a UE configured with DC.

The term “Serving Cell” refers to the primary cell for a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not configured with CA/DC there is only one serving cell comprising of the primary cell.

The term “serving cell” or “serving cells” refers to the set of cells comprising the Special Cell(s) and all secondary cells for a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with CA/.

The term “Special Cell” refers to the PCell of the MCG or the PSCell of the SCG for DC operation; otherwise, the term “Special Cell” refers to the Pcell.

The term “machine learning” or “ML” refers to the use of computer systems implementing algorithms and/or statistical models to perform specific task(s) without using explicit instructions, but instead relying on patterns and inferences. ML algorithms build or estimate mathematical model(s) (referred to as “ML models” or the like) based on sample data (referred to as “training data,” “model training information,” or the like) in order to make predictions or decisions without being explicitly programmed to perform such tasks. Generally, an ML algorithm is a computer program that learns from experience with respect to some task and some performance measure, and an ML model may be any object or data structure created after an ML algorithm is trained with one or more training datasets. After training, an ML model may be used to make predictions on new datasets. Although the term “ML algorithm” refers to different concepts than the term “ML model,” these terms as discussed herein may be used interchangeably for the purposes of the present disclosure.

The term “machine learning model,” “ML model,” or the like may also refer to ML methods and concepts used by an ML-assisted solution. An “ML-assisted solution” is a solution that addresses a specific use case using ML algorithms during operation. ML models include supervised learning (e.g., linear regression, k-nearest neighbor (KNN), descision tree algorithms, support machine vectors, Bayesian algorithm, ensemble algorithms, etc.) unsupervised learning (e.g., K-means clustering, principle component analysis (PCA), etc.), reinforcement learning (e.g., Q-learning, multi-armed bandit learning, deep RL, etc.), neural networks, and the like. Depending on the implementation a specific ML model could have many sub-models as components and the ML model may train all sub-models together. Separately trained ML models can also be chained together in an ML pipeline during inference. An “ML pipeline” is a set of functionalities, functions, or functional entities specific for an ML-assisted solution; an ML pipeline may include one or several data sources in a data pipeline, a model training pipeline, a model evaluation pipeline, and an actor. The “actor” is an entity that hosts an ML assisted solution using the output of the ML model inference). The term “ML training host” refers to an entity, such as a network function, that hosts the training of the model. The term “ML inference host” refers to an entity, such as a network function, that hosts model during inference mode (which includes both the model execution as well as any online learning if applicable). The ML-host informs the actor about the output of the ML algorithm, and the actor takes a decision for an action (an “action” is performed by an actor as a result of the output of an ML assisted solution). The term “model inference information” refers to information used as an input to the ML model for determining inference(s); the data used to train an ML model and the data used to determine inferences may overlap, however, “training data” and “inference data” refer to different concepts.