Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of UE for performing random access procedures in NTN. A method of a UE comprises: identifying configuration information including a first and second set of resources for a RACH operation; determining whether current location information of the UE is valid for the RACH operation; selecting the first set of resources based on a determination that the current location information of the UE is valid; selecting the second set of resources based on a determination that the current location information of the UE is invalid; transmitting a RACH preamble on the selected first or second set of resources; and receiving, in response to transmitting the RACH preamble, a RAR MAC PDU. The RAR MAC PDU includes a MAC subPDU comprising a first format of MAC subPDU associated with the first set of resources and a second format of MAC subPDU associated with the second set of resources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of UE for an efficient neighbor cell search in a wireless communication network. A method of a UE comprises: receiving system information including time instance information for performing measurements on neighboring cells; identifying a time instance included in the time instance information; determining, based on a comparison between a current absolute time and the time instance, whether to perform the measurements on the neighboring cells; and skipping performing the measurements on the neighboring cells based on a determination that the current absolute time is before the time instance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of UE for measurement of TAI updates in an NTN. A method of a UE comprises: receiving, from a BS, an SIB including multiple TAIs and an indication of whether to include a UE location in an NAS registration/tracking area update operation; determining whether to include the UE location based on the indication; identifying information for the UE location; generating a radio resource control (RRC) message including the information for the UE location, wherein the RRC message encapsulates a NAS message; and transmitting, to the BS, the RRC message including the information for the UE location.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for signaling and trigger mechanisms for handover in a wireless communication system. A method for operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving system information and information corresponding to different classes for handover signaling; transmitting a capability information including information indicating support of enhanced signaling mechanisms; receiving configuration information including measurement information and handover information based on the capability information; determining completion of handover based on the configuration information; and transmitting a completion of handover indication using a non-Radio Resource Control mechanism based on the completion of handover determination.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) includes generating an indicator indicating that the UE is capable of supporting adjusted quality of service (QoS), wherein the adjusted QoS corresponds to scaling of QoS parameters associated with an existing QoS indicator. The method also includes generating a capability message comprising the indicator. The method also includes transmitting, to a base station (BS), the capability message including the indicator. The method further includes receiving, from the BS, a message comprising an adjusted QoS value based on the scaling of QoS parameters associated with the existing QoS indicator.

Abstract: A method for operating a user equipment (UE) comprises receiving system information including: information corresponding to location coordinates for a non-terrestrial network (NTN) gateway; information corresponding to a processing delay between the UE and a base station (BS); and information corresponding to a reference point location; determining a timing advance based on a timing difference between the reference point location and the BS; and transmitting a timing advance report based on the determined timing advance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a channel access in a wireless communication systems. A method of a UE in a wireless communication system, the method comprising: determining whether, for a first time duration, a channel is sensed as an idle state for a channel access procedure; occupying the channel for a second time duration based on a determination that the channel is sensed as the idle state; and transmitting, for at least a portion of the second time duration, a signal on the channel, wherein the first time duration and the second time duration are based on a SL PPPP for a SL communication.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for area management in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a UE comprises: receiving a first neighboring cell list and a second neighboring cell list; determining a priority between an NTN and a TN; and prioritizing the first neighboring cell list or the second neighboring cell list in a cell selection or reselection operation based on the priority. The first neighboring cell list includes one or more NTN cells and the second neighboring cell list includes one or more TN cells.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reporting UE location information in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a UE comprises: receiving, from a base station (BS) in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), a message requesting to report the UE location information; generating, based on a positioning operation, first UE location information; generating second UE location information that is derived from the first UE location information; and transmitting, to the BS, the second UE location information as the UE location information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for an enhanced UE reporting operation in a wireless communication system. A method of the UE comprises: performing a random access (RA) procedure in a cell of a master cell group (MCG) or a secondary cell group (SCG); generating and storing RA information for the RA procedure and information indicating whether the RA information is used for a primary cell (PCell) or a primary secondary cell (PSCell); generating a radio resource control (RRC) message including the RA information and the information indicating whether the RA information is used for the PCell or the PSCell; and transmitting, to a master node base station (MN-BS), the RRC message using a signaling radio bearer 1 (SRB1).

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for random access (RA) operation in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a first user equipment (UE) comprises: receiving, from a base station (BS), configuration information for a first RA procedure; storing part of the configuration information; generating and storing information indicating that a fallback operation is triggered, during the RA operation, to a second RA procedure from the first RA procedure per RA attempt; and transmitting, to the BS, RA information including the stored part of the configuration information and the stored information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of UE for measurement of TAI updates in an NTN. A method of a UE comprises: receiving, from a BS, an SIB including multiple TAIs and an indication of whether to include a UE location in an NAS registration/tracking area update operation; determining whether to include the UE location based on the indication; identifying information for the UE location; generating a radio resource control (RRC) message including the information for the UE location, wherein the RRC message encapsulates a NAS message; and transmitting, to the BS, the RRC message including the information for the UE location.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of UE for an efficient neighbor cell search in a wireless communication network. A method of a UE comprises: receiving system information including time instance information for performing measurements on neighboring cells; identifying a time instance included in the time instance information; determining, based on a comparison between a current absolute time and the time instance, whether to perform the measurements on the neighboring cells; and skipping performing the measurements on the neighboring cells based on a determination that the current absolute time is before the time instance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of UE for performing random access procedures in NTN. A method of a UE comprises: identifying configuration information including a first and second set of resources for a RACH operation; determining whether current location information of the UE is valid for the RACH operation; selecting the first set of resources based on a determination that the current location information of the UE is valid; selecting the second set of resources based on a determination that the current location information of the UE is invalid; transmitting a RACH preamble on the selected first or second set of resources; and receiving, in response to transmitting the RACH preamble, a RAR MAC PDU. The RAR MAC PDU includes a MAC subPDU comprising a first format of MAC subPDU associated with the first set of resources and a second format of MAC subPDU associated with the second set of resources.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses in a wireless communication system. A method of a UE comprises: receiving, from a base station (BS) in a non-terrestrial network (NTN), a system information block (SIB); determining that the SIB includes first neighboring cell information and first timing information associated therewith; determining that a first neighboring cell is not a candidate cell for a cell selection or re-selection operation when a current time is before or equal to a time indicated by the first timing information; and determining that the first neighboring cell is a candidate cell for the cell selection or re-selection operation when the current time is after the time indicated by the first timing information.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses in a wireless communication system for a user equipment (UE) to perform a power management method. The method includes receiving, by the UE, one or more power parameters for a non-terrestrial network (NTN). The method also includes selecting a power management method from one of: a predictive transmit power method based on time and the distance between the UE and an NTN entity or a non-predictive transmit power method. The method also includes determining a power based on the power management method and the power management parameters. The method further includes transmitting a signal to the reception point using the power.

Abstract: A method for operating a user equipment (UE) comprises receiving system information including: information corresponding to location coordinates for a non-terrestrial network (NTN) gateway; information corresponding to a processing delay between the UE and a base station (BS); and information corresponding to a reference point location; determining a timing advance based on a timing difference between the reference point location and the BS; and transmitting a timing advance report based on the determined timing advance.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses in a wireless communication system. A method of operating a user equipment (UE) includes generating an indicator indicating that the UE is capable of supporting adjusted quality of service (QoS), wherein the adjusted QoS corresponds to scaling of QoS parameters associated with an existing QoS indicator. The method also includes generating a capability message comprising the indicator. The method also includes transmitting, to a base station (BS), the capability message including the indicator. The method further includes receiving, from the BS, a message comprising an adjusted QoS value based on the scaling of QoS parameters associated with the existing QoS indicator.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for signaling and trigger mechanisms for handover in a wireless communication system. A method for operating a user equipment (UE) includes receiving system information and information corresponding to different classes for handover signaling; transmitting a capability information including information indicating support of enhanced signaling mechanisms; receiving configuration information including measurement information and handover information based on the capability information; determining completion of handover based on the configuration information; and transmitting a completion of handover indication using a non-Radio Resource Control mechanism based on the completion of handover determination.