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: Provisioning and communicating physical signals and channels in NR networks having a first subset of transmit and receive points that use a first cell ID and a second subset of transmit and receive points that use a second cell ID. Operations include transmitting from, and receiving from, a first transmit and receive point a first signal or channel wherein the first signal or channel is based on a first user equipment (UE) specific parameter assigned via the first subset of transmit and receive points and transmitting from, and receiving from, the first transmit and receive point the plurality of transmit and receive points a second signal or channel wherein the second signal or channel is based on a second UE specific parameter assigned via the second subset of transmit and receive points. A transmit and receive point and a UE for implementing the operations are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for establishing a device-to-device (D2D) group amongst a plurality of user equipments (UEs). In one embodiment a target UE transmits, using D2D communication, a request message inviting at least one other UE to be part of a D2D group with the target UE. A neighbour UE receives the request message and transmits a report message indicating that the neighbour UE will be part of the D2D group with the target UE. A base station receives the report message and transmits to the target UE and to the neighbour UE a confirmation message indicating that the neighbour UE is in the D2D group with the target UE.

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 user equipment (UE) receives a message that indicates a sidelink (SL) communication resource configuration to be used by the UE for communicating SL control information and SL data between the UE and another UE. The UE transmits SL control information according to the SL communication resource configuration, and transmits SL data according to the SL communication resource configuration. The SL control information and the SL data are transmitted by the UE without the UE receiving, in a downlink control information (DCI), a grant of communication resources.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed that enable a user equipment (UE) to receive cell specific, UE specific and, in some embodiments, Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) specific parameters from a network side component, such as a transmit/receive point, and use that information to set at least one PUSCH transmit power when transmitting to the network side.

Abstract: A sidelink (SL) configuration for SL communications directly between a communication terminal and another communication terminal is separate from a communication network link configuration for communications with network equipment in some embodiments. An SL configuration, which could be an SL reconfiguration or an SL preconfiguration for use by the communication terminal after the terminal transitions from in coverage to out of coverage, could be transmitted through network/terminal signaling, and detailed examples of such signaling are disclosed herein. An SL configuration could be or include an SL bandwidth part (BWP) configuration and an SL communication resource configuration, such as one or more resource pools, within the SL BWP. An SL configuration that is determined and transmitted by network equipment to one or more terminals could also or instead involve a common or initial SL configuration to be used for SL communications by multiple communication terminals.

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: Provisioning and communicating physical signals and channels in NR networks having a first subset of transmit and receive points that use a first cell ID and a second subset of transmit and receive points that use a second cell ID. Operations include transmitting from, and receiving from, a first transmit and receive point a first signal or channel wherein the first signal or channel is based on a first user equipment (UE) specific parameter assigned via the first subset of transmit and receive points and transmitting from, and receiving from, the first transmit and receive point the plurality of transmit and receive points a second signal or channel wherein the second signal or channel is based on a second UE specific parameter assigned via the second subset of transmit and receive points. A transmit and receive point and a UE for implementing the operations are also disclosed.

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 user equipment (UE) receives a message that indicates a sidelink (SL) communication resource configuration to be used by the UE for communicating SL control information and SL data between the UE and another UE. The UE transmits SL control information according to the SL communication resource configuration, and transmits SL data according to the SL communication resource configuration. The SL control information and the SL data are transmitted by the UE without the UE receiving, in a downlink control information (DCI), a grant of communication resources.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving, by a network device, a cooperation candidate set (CCS) and determining a cooperation active set (CAS). The CCS includes a plurality of potential cooperating user equipment (CUEs) for selection to the CAS, and the plurality of potential CUEs is selected from a plurality of user equipment (UEs) in the network. The CAS is a set of CUEs selected from the CCS. A target user equipment (TUE) and the set of CUEs form a virtual multipoint transceiver.

Abstract: A method and a device for adaptive channel access are disclosed. In an embodiment includes adaptively adjusting, by a small base station (SBS), access parameters for small cells to ensure quality of service (QoS) to cellular users while minimizing collision probability for WiFi users.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided that facilitate sidelink (SL) retransmission scheduled by the network if a SL transmission of a transport block (TB) is unsuccessful. Signalling is used by the network to send a configured grant of transmission resources available for SL transmissions by the UE that repeat on a periodic basis within each of period. The UE makes SL transmissions during one of the periods by transmitting one or more SL transmissions of at least one transport block using the configured resources. The network can schedule a retransmission by transmitting a downlink control information (DCI) to schedule a SL retransmission of one of the transmitted TB. The UE transmits a SL transmission containing a retransmission of the transport block using resources specified in the DCI. The UE transmits a sidelink control information associated with each SL transmission, containing a HARQ process ID for the SL transmission.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) may determine that a transmission resource includes a first orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol that is configured as a downlink symbol or as flexible, where the transmission resource is allocated for uplink (UL) transmissions during a time duration, and includes K transmission occasions (TOs). The UE may transmit a first UL transmission in the transmission resource omitting the first OFDM symbol. The first UL transmission includes K repetitions to be transmitted in the respective K TOs, and the K repetitions includes an initial transmission and at least one retransmission of the initial transmission.

Abstract: In accordance with embodiments, methods for data communications are disclosed. A device obtains a forward error correction (FEC) encoded bit stream. The device maps the FEC encoded bit stream to produce a set of symbols according to a bit-to-symbol mapping rule. The bit-to-symbol mapping rule comprises a first mapper bit position associated with a first mapper error protection level and a second mapper bit position associated with a second mapper error protection level. The first mapper error protection level is greater than the second mapper error protection level. The device then transmits the set of symbols in the communications system.

Abstract: A first user equipment (UE) is configured to receive from a base station a signaling comprising indication of one or more time-frequency resources and an indicator indicating a time gap, and transmit a transport block (TB) to a second UE using the one or more time-frequency resources. For each of the time-frequency resources, the first UE monitors a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) feedback from the second UE, using a physical sidelink feedback channel (PSFCH) resource; and transmits to the base station a HARQ feedback report signal based on the HARQ feedback or absence thereof, in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), using a single PUCCH resource determined based on the time gap from a last one of the PSFCH resources.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided to enable a cluster of user equipments (UEs) to receive a multicast signal over a first spectrum band and access a second spectrum band as a single virtual entity for device-to-device (D2D) mutual broadcast within the cluster. In an embodiment, a first UE in a cluster receives a multicast signal from a wireless network over the first spectrum band, the multicast signal including downlink information targeted to a second UE in the cluster. The first UE performs in a contention procedure for a transmission opportunity (TXOP) in the second spectrum band in accordance with group listen-before-talk (LBT) parameters configured for the cluster. If the contention procedure has acquired a TXOP in the second spectrum band for the cluster, the first UE sends at least a portion of the downlink information to the second UE over the second spectrum band during the TXOP.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a signal measurement method, a network side device, and user equipment. The method includes the following steps: receiving, by user equipment, a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS); receiving, by the user equipment, a synchronization signal; and sending, by user equipment, a first measurement result and a second measurement result, wherein the first measurement result is obtained by measured the CSI-RS, and the second measurement result is obtained by measured the synchronization signal.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate multiple switching points within a slot. A slot format indication is conveyed to a user equipment which indicates which symbols within a slot are uplink, downlink or unknown. Some formats feature half-slot switching meaning that a switch from uplink to downlink transmission takes place twice within a slot. Switching on a more frequent basis can deliver improved latency.