Abstract: Aspect of the present disclosure provide a device that includes an array of subarrays (AoSA) comprising a plurality of subarrays, each subarray including a plurality of antenna elements and a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) that includes a plurality of configurable elements. The AoSA and the RIS are spaced apart from one another such that each subarray and a corresponding subset of the plurality of configurable elements are in each other's near field. Some embodiments described in the disclosure allow large spacing between antenna elements of the AoSA, thereby enabling lower complexity in circuit implementation for power amplification and phase shifting that may be associated with each antenna element, especially as high frequencies where spacing between antenna elements decreases and in some embodiments, reduces the number of antennas that are used.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to configurable modulation in wireless communications. Constellation set signaling and constellation selection signaling are communicated in a wireless communication network. The constellation set signaling is associated with modulation of data using each constellation in a constellation set that includes multiple constellations. The constellation selection signaling is indicative of one of the multiple constellations of the constellation set that is to be used in modulation of data for transmission in the wireless communication network. Data that is modulated using the one of the multiple constellations is also communicated in the wireless communication network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure take advantage of a prism-like effect that occurs in a Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS), where the RIS reflects incident signals of different frequencies in different directions. for determining characteristics of a channel between a transmitter and a receiver wherein the channel includes the RIS. In particular, this may include estimating an angle of arrival (AoA) to the RIS in uplink transmission or the angle of departure (AoD) from the RIS in downlink transmission. Aspects of the present disclosure also provide solutions to compensate the prism effect for wideband transmission, especially at high frequencies (e.g. mmWave and THz).

Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure provide a deep-learning-based framework for designing components of a downlink precoding system. The components of such a system include downlink training pilots and channel estimation based on receipt of the downlink training pilots. Another component involves channel measurement and feedback strategy at the user equipment. The components include a precoding scheme designed at the base station based on the feedback from the user equipment.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present application pertain to control information for scheduling a transmission resource for downlink and uplink communications between one or more TRP and one or more UE. One Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) for DL control information transmission is assumed to carry at least one assignment or scheduling information block for at least one Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) for DL data transmission or for at least one Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) for UL data transmission. Embodiments of the present application provide methods of providing configuration information that can be used by a user equipment (UE) to determine transmission mode for the PDSCH and PUSCH as well as information to determine where to monitor for the PDSCH, PUSCH and PUCCH information.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a novel solution to enhance network service to devices with limited or no connectivity. Embodiments include network-aware nodes deployed by an end-user or operator which are configured by a network to achieve enhanced coverage, enhanced throughput, enhanced battery life, and mitigation of cell boundary experiences, etc. Embodiments provide these benefits to a specified or non-specified set of user equipment (e.g., neighboring user equipment). The service expansion terminal can be an available user equipment that is idle and that has been volunteered, assigned, or is a dedicated node with limited user interface and designed for carrying out enhanced coverage, enhanced throughput, enhanced battery life, and the mitigation of cell boundary experiences, etc.

Abstract: A method for user equipment (UE) identification in a wireless network comprising selecting, at the UE, a sequence from a stored pool of possible sequences based on a stored secret value; and transmitting the selected sequence to the wireless network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to integration of sensing and wireless communications. Wireless communication networks can configure and implement both sensing signals and communication signals. Sensing signals, or sensing reference signals, can be used to determine properties of the environment, and do not carry any information or data for the purpose of communications. Communication signals, on the other hand, are signals that carry information or data between network entities. Sensing agents can be used for both passive and active sensing. Sensing agents may be dedicated devices capable of performing passive sensing, active sensing, or both. Sensing agents can also be existing networks device such as user equipment or transmit receive points. Methodologies described here may be particularly beneficial for half-duplex systems, but could also be implemented in full duplex systems.

Abstract: User Equipment (UE) mobility in Ultra Dense Networks (UDNs) is based on communication signal layers, which could include respective data streams in an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) domain, a code domain using respective codebooks, and/or a spatial domain, for example. A UE uses candidate layer decoding parameters in applying layer-based decoding to communication signals that it received from network nodes. Layers could be allocated to UEs and transition between network nodes as UEs move between different network service areas. Layers could instead be allocated to network nodes. Layer-based decoding provides for UE mobility without requiring explicit handover processing every time a UE moves between different service areas.

Abstract: A base station may transmit downlink control information (DCI) scheduling communications between the base station and a UE. The DCI is in a fallback DCI format. Based on whether or not the DCI is in a UE specific search space with cyclic redundancy check (CRC) scrambled by a UE ID of the UE, data transmitted by the base station or by the UE according to the DCI may be scrambled by a sequence that is initialized with a configurable parameter, or initialized with a cell ID.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a user equipment (UE) wherein a first set of radio access procedures are supported when the UE is in a first operating state, and a second set of radio access procedures are supported when the UE is in a second operating state.

Abstract: Antenna beam sweeping according to the present disclosure involves different communication devices that are within an interference range of each other transmitting beam sweeping signals using different communication resources. This allows a receiver to distinguish between beam sweeping signals that are received from different transmitters, and may facilitate antenna beam alignment in multi-connection scenarios. Beam indices could be used to identify antenna beams for antenna beam management, in control signaling between base stations and User Equipment (UE), for example. Beam tracking and other aspects of antenna beam management are also disclosed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided that may simplify and enhance the location of nodes in a network, including ED and mobile TPs, even if all or many of the nodes are mobile. The methods may be used to enable single TP positioning, and may be used to reduce synchronization error. The provided methods make use of smart reflectors having known location. By processing a combination of signals, which may include an original transmitted signal, and/or one or more reflected signals, the location of a receiving node can be determined. Media tagging may be employed to allow a receiver to detect the identity of the nearby reflectors (with known locations) and based on the identity determine the locations of the reflectors. Using this information, the receiving node can detect its location regardless of knowing the transmission source and/or location.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for integrated communication and sensing. For example, an electronic device may transmit a radio frequency (RF) pulse signal in the active phase of a periodic sensing cycle, and sense in the passive phase of the sensing cycle, a reflection of the RF pulse signal reflected from an object. The RF pulse signal is defined by a waveform for carrying communication data between electronic devices. The sensed RF pulse signal is at least a portion of the transmitted or reflected RF pulse signal, wherein the portion is equal to or greater than a threshold value for the object being within a sensing range of the first electronic device. The electronic device may also receive a communication signal from another electronic device during the passive phase.

Abstract: System and method embodiments are provided to achieve efficient Direct Mobile Communications (DMC) and device-to-device (D2D) communications for terminal based groups with improved spectrum efficiency, reduced interference, and virtual full duplex operation mode. The embodiments include a distributed mechanism for D2D communications that enables one or more cooperating UEs (CUEs) to help one or more target UEs (TUEs) with limited additional signaling overhead and relatively simple implementation. The mechanism comprises a grantless multi-dimensional multiplexing scheme that uses low density spreading (LDS) over time, frequency, and/or space domains to enable data forwarding between multiple half-duplex terminals or UEs while allowing the UEs to operate in virtual full-duplex mode.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes implementing, by a base station (BS), a grant-free uplink transmission scheme. The grant-free uplink transmission scheme defines a first contention transmission unit (CTU) access region in a time-frequency domain, defines a plurality of CTUs, defines a default CTU mapping scheme by mapping at least some of the plurality of CTUs to the first CTU access region, and defines a default user equipment (UE) mapping scheme by defining rules for mapping a plurality of UEs to the plurality of CTUs.

Abstract: Network equipment receives, from User Equipment (UE), information indicative of each of multiple UE locations in a wireless communication network. For each location, a respective antenna beam direction for communications between the network equipment and a UE at each location is determined. A Machine Learning (ML) module is trained using each location as an ML module input and the respective antenna beam direction for each location as an ML module output. The trained ML module is then used to provide beam predictions based on UE location. Based on the current location of a UE, one or more antenna beam directions for communications between the network equipment and the UE at the current location are obtained from the ML module. The UE location is input to the ML module, and the antenna beam direction(s) are then obtained from the ML module output(s).

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a novel solution to enhance network service to devices with limited or no connectivity. Embodiments include network-aware nodes deployed by an end-user or operator which are configured by a network to achieve enhanced coverage, enhanced throughput, enhanced battery life, and mitigation of cell boundary experiences, etc. Embodiments provide these benefits to a specified or non-specified set of user equipment (e.g., neighboring user equipment). The service expansion terminal can be an available user equipment that is idle and that has been volunteered, assigned, or is a dedicated node with limited user interface and designed for carrying out enhanced coverage, enhanced throughput, enhanced battery life, and the mitigation of cell boundary experiences, etc. Embodiments may therefore provide low-cost, flexible deployment, and mobility thereby enabling boundaryless service.

Abstract: A method of path loss estimation at a user equipment (UE) comprises receiving a downlink cell-specific signal block comprising a synchronization channel and a broadcasting channel demodulation reference signal; receiving control information indicative of a signal transmission power of the downlink cell-specific signal block; and determining an estimated path loss for the UE based at least in part on the signal transmission power of the downlink cell-specific signal block and a received power of the downlink cell-specific signal block filtered using a layer 3 filtering coefficient.

Abstract: A method and system for operating a user equipment (UE) wherein a first set of radio access procedures are supported when the UE is in a first operating state, and a second set of radio access procedures are supported when the UE is in a second operating state.