Abstract: An example technique may include determining, by a user device, downlink control channel timing information for each of a plurality of access points including for a serving access point that serves the user device and one or more standby access points; sending, by the user device to a cluster set manager via the serving access point, the downlink control channel timing information for each of the plurality of access points; receiving, by the user device from the cluster set manager via the serving access point, downlink control channel allocations including information identifying a downlink control channel allocated to the user device for each of a plurality of the access points; and receiving, by the user device, information from at least one of a plurality of the access points via a downlink control channel allocated to the user device for the at least one of the plurality of access points.

Abstract: A method including transmitting an uplink access request message by a user device (UD) for an access point (AP) in an access point cluster set of the UD; and monitoring a downlink control channel by the user device (UD) to determine, based at least partially upon the transmitted uplink access request message, if a subsequent uplink communication is to be transmitted by the user device (UD) to a serving access point and/or a stand-by access point of the access point cluster set.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for backhaul scheduling in a multi-hop network are provided. One method includes providing, in the multi-hop network, an uplink control portion and a downlink control portion and a data portion in a slot. The method may further include scheduling, by an access point in the multi-hop network, at least one of a backhaul transmission for the slot or at least one following slot or an access transmission for the slot.

Abstract: A group of data symbols for a current block of data symbols in multiple blocks received over a communication channel is equalized, based on a pilot block, to generate a group of equalized symbols. The group of equalized symbols is de-rotated as a function of a current phase estimate to determine initial de-rotated equalized symbols. The phase estimate is an estimate of phase caused by noise for blocks previous to the current block. Additionally, a phase metric is calculated from real and imaginary parts of the initial de-rotated equalized symbols, wherein the phase metric estimates phase caused by noise for the current block. The current phase estimate is updated with the phase metric. The initial de-rotated equalized symbols are de-rotated by the phase metric to determine final equalized and de-rotated symbol estimates. The final equalized and de-rotated symbol estimates are output. Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed.

Abstract: Communication systems may employ transmission of feedback information and responses thereto, on a wireless connection such as a millimeter wave connection. The feedback information itself may be used to influence the beamforming or beam direction used for the transmission of the feedback information. A method can comprise determining a feedback indicator regarding reception of a transmitted waveform. The method can also comprise tailoring, for example beamforming, a signal for transmitting the feedback indicator based on a content of the feedback indicator.

Abstract: Various communication systems may benefit from rerouting considerations. For example, fifth generation (5G) systems dealing with radio link failure detection and data rerouting, particularly mmWave 5G systems, may benefit from rapid rerouting methods and systems. A method can include transmitting, from an access point, a downlink control message to a user equipment. The method can also include attempting to detect a Fast-ACK transmission signal from the user equipment in response to the transmitted downlink control message. The method can further include transmitting a rerouting request for the user equipment when the Fast-ACK transmission signal is not detected.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may determine a plurality of access points. The plurality of access points belong to a cluster set of a user device. The method may also include allocating a plurality of uplink access channels to the plurality of access points. The plurality of uplink access channels may include uplink polling channels. The plurality of uplink access channels are allocated such that the plurality of access channels are staggered in time within a frame structure used by the plurality of access points and the user device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus may determine a plurality of access points. The plurality of access points belong to a cluster set of a user device. The method may also include allocating a plurality of random-access-channel slots to the plurality of access points such that the plurality of random-access-channel slots are staggered in time over a random-access-channel period within a frame structure used by the user device.

Abstract: Cluster set management may benefit various communication systems. For example, a millimeter wave fifth generation (5G) system may benefit from cluster set management. A method can include receiving accessibility information to one or more access points from a user equipment. The method can also include determining a cluster set for the user equipment based on the received accessibility information. The method can further include communicating an identification of the cluster set to the user equipment.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for random access channel (RACH) with a grid of beams for communication systems are provided. One method includes transmitting, by a base station, a beacon signal in one time slot with multiple switched beams, wherein the beams cover an intended coverage area with a grid-of-beams in both horizontal and vertical directions. The method may also comprise switching receiving beams in the grid-of-beams at a network reserved random access channel (RACH) slot by following an identical or directly related beam switching pattern in a downlink (DL) beacon channel. Another method includes detecting, by a user equipment, a beam ID in the downlink beacon channel, selecting the RACH slot using the detected beam ID, and transmitting, by the user equipment, a random access channel (RACH) signature in one or multiple beam blocks within a random access channel (RACH) slot.

Abstract: A method and apparatus can be configured to receive a first scheduling request. The first scheduling request corresponds to a request for a first access point to process data. The method can also include transmitting a second scheduling request. The second scheduling request corresponds to a request to transmit data to a second access point. The transmitting the second scheduling request comprises transmitting the second scheduling request before the data is processed at the first access point.

Abstract: A group of data symbols for a current block of data symbols in multiple blocks received over a communication channel is equalized, based on a pilot block, to generate a group of equalized symbols. The group of equalized symbols is de-rotated as a function of a current phase estimate to determine initial de-rotated equalized symbols. The phase estimate is an estimate of phase caused by noise for blocks previous to the current block. Additionally, a phase metric is calculated from real and imaginary parts of the initial de-rotated equalized symbols, wherein the phase metric estimates phase caused by noise for the current block. The current phase estimate is updated with the phase metric. The initial de-rotated equalized symbols are de-rotated by the phase metric to determine final equalized and de-rotated symbol estimates. The final equalized and de-rotated symbol estimates are output. Apparatus, methods, and computer program products are disclosed.

Abstract: Communication systems may employ transmission of feedback information and responses thereto, on a wireless connection such as a millimeter wave connection. The feedback information itself may be used to influence the beamforming or beam direction used for the transmission of the feedback information. A method can comprise determining a feedback indicator regarding reception of a transmitted waveform. The method can also comprise tailoring, for example beamforming, a signal for transmitting the feedback indicator based on a content of the feedback indicator.

Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method and an apparatus to determine a beacon signal for a network node, where the network node is configured to connect with a cluster of access points in a wireless communication network, and where the beacon signal identifies the cluster; and send the beacon signal towards the wireless communication network. Further, the exemplary embodiments of the invention provide at least a method and an apparatus to determine a dominant access point of a cluster of access points based on signaling from at least one access point associated with the cluster of access points; and in response to the determining, direct communications towards the dominant access point of the cluster of access points.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for an interleaved multi-beam acquisition waveform providing concurrent beam selection, automatic gain control (AGC) and automatic frequency correction (AFC) are provided. The access point (AP) may send an acquisition waveform on multiple beams, then return and retransmit an AFC on the multiple beams thus interleaving beam switching with the acquisition and frequency correction waveforms. AGC correction can be deferred until the end, relying on the fact that the transmitter may be detected at close range using a one of the multi-beams that is attenuated.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for an interleaved multi-beam acquisition waveform providing concurrent beam selection, automatic gain control (AGC) and automatic frequency correction (AFC) are provided. The access point (AP) may send an acquisition waveform on multiple beams, then return and retransmit an AFC on the multiple beams thus interleaving beam switching with the acquisition and frequency correction waveforms. AGC correction can be deferred until the end, relying on the fact that the transmitter may be detected at close range using a one of the multi-beams that is attenuated.

Abstract: Communications sourced by a remote unit (14) that is already within reception range of a base site (10) can nevertheless be further facilitated through allocation of one or more relay resources (15, 16). Such relay resources, properly employed, then serve to effectively increase the quality of service for the facilitated communication. This, in turn, can permit the use of, for example, increased data rates for communications from a relatively low power remote unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a group application for group formation and management, in particular in a wireless environment. The present invention provides a group application in which a membership list of a group is kept updated automatically by communications between the group applications of the group. The group application handles all the complexity involved in setting up a group and maintaining a membership list for the group, without user intervention. Advantageously, the group application is implemented as a software agent. The invention also relates to an electronic device having a group application or software agent of the invention loaded therein.

Abstract: A method in a wireless communication network (100) wherein information is communicated in a frame structure wherein each frame includes multiple sub-frames, including grouping at least two wireless communication terminals in a group, assigning the group to less than all sub-frames constituting a communication frame, and assigning a radio resource assignment control channel of one or more assigned sub-frames to the group. The control channel is used to assign radio resources to one or more terminals of the group.

Abstract: A method for assigning resources to FS and FNS users, for example, in an OFDM wireless communication system, including assigning a first frequency resource to at least one FS user during a time interval, wherein the first frequency resource includes at least two near contiguous sub-carriers, and assigning a second frequency resource to at least one FNS user during the same time interval, the second frequency resource includes for each FNS user at least two non-contiguous sub-carriers, wherein the first and second frequency resources are part of a common frequency channel.