Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting use of multiple bandwidth parts, some of which are in a dormant state from the perspective of a User Equipment device (UE) are described. In various embodiments a multi-cell grant is supported in which a UE can be, and sometimes is, granted resources corresponding of an active bandwidth part (BWP) corresponding to a cell which is active from the UE's perspective and a BWP of a dormant cell with the multi-cell grant being transmitted to the UE on the active BWP of the active cell. Various features relate to timing determination operations used to determine downlink and/or uplink timing to be used for bandwidth portions corresponding to a dormant cell. In some embodiments a UE PRACH signal transmission on a bandwidth part of a dormant cell can be triggered by a control signal sent on a bandwidth part of an active cell.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to HARQ feedback, e.g. delayed HARQ ACK/NACK, and uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing, in unlicensed spectrum are described. A base station transmits an UCI request to a UE, including: a request for ACK/NACK feedback corresponding to a set of HARQ identified processes, a request for channel state information report, and/or a scheduling request. The UCI request includes information which is used, by the UE, in determining the time and air link resources on which to send the UCI. The HARQ processes are communicated in a first Channel Occupancy Time (COT), while the ACK/NACK feedback is communicated in a later COT.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a system includes a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes monitor hardware operative monitor for presence of a repetitive pattern present in received wireless communications present in a network environment. Depending on a magnitude of wireless energy of a portion of received wireless communications including the repetitive pattern, communication management hardware of the wireless station controls transmission of wireless communications from the wireless station. Thus, depending on a detected energy level of the monitored wireless signals having a particular signature (such as the repetitive pattern), the mobile communication device controls subsequent transmission of wireless communications from the mobile communication device in the network environment.

Abstract: A method in a wireless device for performing an uplink transmission to a base station in a wireless access system, wherein the wireless access system comprises one or more mini-slot configurations, the method comprising performing a clear channel assessment for identifying a transmission opportunity and determining the start of a mini-slots. The wireless device performing an uplink transmission within the determined mini-slot wherein the transmission is performed according to a predetermined configuration for mini-slot communication between the base station and the wireless device, such that the base station can identify the start of the uplink transmission.

Abstract: Methods and systems for multiplexing of different traffic types in a telecommunications network are provided. According to one aspect, a method of operation of a network node comprises: determining that data is available for a Downlink (DL) transmission of a first traffic type to a User Equipment (UE); identifying a DL transmission of a second traffic type to be punctured; transmitting the DL transmission of the first traffic type by puncturing the identified DL transmission of the second traffic type; receiving a Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) Negative Acknowledgement (NACK) associated with the punctured DL transmission of the second traffic type; and excluding the HARQ NACK associated with the punctured DL transmission of the second traffic type from a DL Contention Window Size (CWS) adjustment operation of the network node.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for supporting wireless medium sharing in wireless communications systems, e.g., various 802.11 wireless communications systems, are described. A novel shared transmission type of trigger frame is implemented, which allows a wireless station, acting as a host station, to make available transmission resources, which have been acquired by the wireless station, to one or more guest stations. A shared transmission type of trigger frame, generated and transmitted by the host station communicates information identifying the attributes of a corresponding trigger based (TB) frame, information identifying resources of the TB frame to be used by the host station and information identifying one or more set of shared resources which may be used by guest station(s). The trigger based (TB) frame, corresponding to the transmitted shared transmission type trigger frame, is used by the host station and one or more guest stations to transmit data to an access point.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus used to facilitate preparation of one or more target base stations for possible UE handoffs, e.g., conditional handoffs, which may or may not occur depending on whether or not various handoff conditions are satisfied are described. A handoff message, e.g., a conditional handoff message, including a validity time is generated and sent to each selected target base stations to which a UE may be handed off. The validity time indicates to the target base station a time window, e.g., a time duration for which the handoff target message is to be considered valid. In response to the handoff message, the target base station, receiving the handoff message, allocates resources to the UE and starts a countdown validity timer based on the indicated length of the validity time. When the validity timer expires without handoff to the target base station, the target base station releases the allocated resources.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a system includes a mobile communication device in communication with a wireless base station. During operation, the mobile communication device detects one or more conditions associated with the wireless network environment. Based on the one or more detected conditions, the mobile communication device selects amongst multiple channel access procedures to communicate with the wireless base station and establish a wireless communication link. The mobile communication device can be configured to include supplemental data in a message to the wireless base station to indicate a reason for the mobile communication device selecting a particular channel access procedure of the multiple channel access procedures.

Abstract: Systems and methods related to switched carrier Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) transmission in unlicensed spectrum are disclosed. In some embodiments, a method of operation of a User Equipment device (UE) in a wireless system comprises performing uplink Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) on one or more candidate carriers for switched carrier SRS transmission and performing a switched carrier SRS transmission on at least one candidate carrier of the one or more candidate carriers that is determined to be available as a result of performing the uplink LBT on the one or more candidate carriers. In some embodiments, the one or more candidate carriers are carriers other than carriers configured for the UE and on which the UE is scheduled to transmit.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a system includes a mobile communication device operated in a network environment. The mobile communication device can be one of multiple mobile communication devices in the network environment. To request establishing a wireless link, the mobile communication device receives a notification of an allocation of wireless channel resources. Via the allocated wireless channel resources, over a shared access channel, the first mobile communication device communicates a wireless connection request to a wireless base station. In one example configuration, the wireless request communicated over the allocated wireless channels includes: i) a first wireless communication including a preamble (such as PRACH message), and ii) a second wireless communication (such as a PUSCH message) including information for establishing a wireless communication link.

Abstract: There is disclosed a User Equipment for a MulteFire wireless communication network. The User Equipment comprises processing circuitry and a transmitter, the User Equipment being adapted for utilizing the processing circuitry and the transmitter for performing a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure for one or more transmission bandwidths; transmitting Physical Uplink Shared CHannel (PUSCH) signaling in a PUSCH subframe on one or more interlaces within the one or more transmission bandwidths; and transmitting Sounding Reference Signaling on the one or more interlaces in the PUSCH subframe.

Abstract: A network node (14) communicates with a wireless device (12) to provide Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) feedback for autonomous uplink transmissions in an unlicensed spectrum. The network node receives a plurality of autonomous uplink transmissions from the wireless device in the unlicensed spectrum, and transmits HARQ feedback for the plurality of autonomous uplink transmissions to the wireless device, the HARQ feedback comprising a bit map of some or all HARQ processes configured for at least one cell (16) and a corresponding bit acknowledgement mapped to each HARQ process.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method for use in a frequency-hopping wireless transmitter for transmitting in unlicensed spectrum comprises: obtaining a configuration for a plurality of frequency channels in unlicensed spectrum; and transmitting a data transmission according to a frequency-hopping pattern across the plurality of frequency channels. The configuration for the plurality of frequency channels comprises a first subset of frequency channels for downlink transmission and a second subset of frequency channels for uplink transmission. The frequency channels in the first and second subsets are mutually exclusive. In some embodiments the first and second subset of frequency channels each comprise 160 frequency channels in the 2.4 GHz band, or 50 frequency channels in the 915 MHz band.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for operating multiple link premises devices in a wireless network. In one embodiment, premises devices such as a wireless gateway, Access Point (AP) or user devices use Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) technology for the transmission of data on multiple links operating on different frequencies. The disclosed apparatus and methods provide a solution to share channel statistic or similar data across the different links, such as for link performance improvement via more optimal MIMO operation. In one implementation, large-scale channel statistics are shared via the pre-amble or mid-amble of a frame across multiple links between an AP and a user device to enhance receiver performance. In another embodiment, the channel statistics are shared between multiple AP devices which can coordinate with each other, and/or are made specific to individual client devices, in order to enhance receiver performance.

Abstract: A radio device (10) controls a first uplink radio transmission on a first carrier (33) from an unlicensed frequency spectrum on the basis of a first access scheme. Further, the radio device (10) controls a second uplink radio transmission on a second carrier (34) from the unlicensed frequency spectrum. The latter is accomplished on the basis of a second access scheme which is different from the first access scheme. Further, the radio device (10) coordinates the first uplink radio transmission and the second uplink radio transmission.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for physical cell identification within one or more wireless networks. In one embodiment, conflicts in PCI values which may exist within two or more mobile networks (e.g., PLMNs) of respective different operators when unlicensed spectrum is utilized (e.g., according to 3GPP 5G NR-U technology) are resolved. In one implementation, this functionality is provided by specifying one or more mobility-related parameters associated with various UE, such that serving gNBs can determine whether a given UE requires a mobility context, and as such whether it should conduct subsequent RF measurement reporting to report back potential conflicts in PCI it may encounter to the gNB. In one variant, the measurement reporting is configured to comply with 5G NR-U required “listen-before-talk” or LBT protocols; i.e., to measure parameters consistent with the LBT protocols to detect any such PCI-based conflicts.

Abstract: A wireless communication device (WCD) may receive resource utilization values indicating an amount of available resources of server devices that are capable of sharing resources to support a session of an application. The WCD may generate performance scores for base station-server device groupings that are candidates for being selected as a target base station and a target server device. The WCD may select the target base station and the target server device based on the set of performance scores. The WCD may cause the session to be established in a manner that allows resources of the target server device to support the session of the application.

Abstract: According to one configuration, a system includes a mobile communication device in communication with a wireless base station. During operation, the mobile communication device detects one or more conditions associated with the wireless network environment. Based on the one or more detected conditions, the mobile communication device selects amongst multiple channel access procedures to communicate with the wireless base station and establish a wireless communication link. The mobile communication device can be configured to include supplemental data in a message to the wireless base station to indicate a reason for the mobile communication device selecting a particular channel access procedure of the multiple channel access procedures.

Abstract: Channel state determination is performed at a user equipment (UE) of a mobile network. The UE determines one or a plurality of time intervals that may be used for channel measurements, performs a plurality of signal power measurements associated each to one of the time intervals to be used for channel measurement and generates a channel state information as a function of the plurality of the signal power measurements. Information comprising an indication of a plurality of time intervals that may be used for received signal power measurements is generated and sent from an access node (eNB) to the UE. The eNB evaluates a measurement report, received from the UE, that comprises received signal power measurements associated each to one of the time intervals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to HARQ feedback, e.g. delayed HARQ ACK/NACK, and uplink control information (UCI) multiplexing, in unlicensed spectrum are described. A base station transmits an UCI request to a UE, including: a request for ACK/NACK feedback corresponding to a set of HARQ identified processes, a request for channel state information report, and/or a scheduling request. The UCI request includes information which is used, by the UE, in determining the time and air link resources on which to send the UCI. The HARQ processes are communicated in a first Channel Occupancy Time (COT), while the ACK/NACK feedback is communicated in a later COT.