Abstract: An effective SCELL activation procedure is proposed to reduce the SCELL activation time. For carrier aggregation, a secondary cell (SCELL) needs to be configured and then activated before a UE can perform normal operation. In a first embodiment, the UE performs measurements on a list of candidate SCELLs before SCELL configuration. In a second embodiment, the UE performs measurements on a configured SCELL with high priority after the SCELL is configured. In a third embodiment, the UE performs deactivated-state SCELL measurements with adaptive SCELL measurement interval based on a configured measurement cycle and a state machine. Small SCELL activation time allows energy saving and network scheduling gain.

Abstract: A method of control signaling in a beamforming system is proposed. A base station allocates a first sets of DL control resource blocks for DL transmission to a plurality of user equipments (UEs) in a beamforming network. Each set of DL control resource blocks is associated with a corresponding set of beamforming weights. The base station also allocates a second sets of UL control resource blocks for UL transmission from the UEs. Each set of UL control resource blocks is associated with the same corresponding set of beamforming weights. The base station transmits cell and beam identification information using a set of control beams. Each control beam comprises a set of DL control resource block, a set of UL control resource block, and the corresponding set of beamforming weights.

Abstract: A network control device. A wireless communications module receives a plurality of first signals each including information regarding a preferred transmitting beam in a first beam level determined by a communications apparatus. A controller selects a group of communications apparatuses to join a 1-to-many beam training according to the received first signals and selects one or more transmitting beams in a second beam level to be trained. The communications apparatuses in the group have the same preferred transmitting beam in the first beam level and the transmitting beam(s) in the second beam level associates with the preferred transmitting beam in the first beam level. The wireless communications module further uses the transmitting beam(s) in turn to transmit signals to perform the 1-to-many beam training for training the transmitting beam(s) in the second beam level among the group of communications apparatuses at the same time.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. An integrated circuit (IC) layout plan is obtained, The IC layout plan contains critical features and non-critical features. Locational information regarding a defect on a blank reticle is obtained. The blank reticle is a candidate reticle for being patterned with the IC layout plan. Based on the locational information regarding the defect and the IC layout plan, a determination is made that at some of the critical features will intersect with the defect if the blank reticle is patterned with the IC layout plan, regardless of whether the IC layout plan is globally manipulated or not before being patterned onto the blank reticle. In response to the determination, selected local portions of the IC layout plan are re-arranged such that none of the critical features will intersect with the defect if the blank reticle is patterned with the IC layout plan.

Abstract: A method of depositing a material on a surface is disclosed. The method includes focusing a radiation beam on the surface and introducing a precursor gas near the surface wherein the precursor gas forms the material on the surface upon radiation by the radiation beam. The method further includes introducing an assistant gas near the surface wherein the assistant gas produces nitric oxide radicals upon radiation by the radiation beam. The nitric oxide radicals facilitate the dissociation process of the precursor gas and reduce contaminants in the deposited material.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a method of transmitting a reference signal and related electronic devices using the same. In one of the exemplary embodiments, the method would include not limited to transmitting a reference signal by using a directional antenna emitting a first radiation pattern of one or more beams covering 360 N degrees per one of N time slots during a first phase of a full sweeping period, wherein N?2 and transmitting the reference signal, in response to transmitting the reference signal by using the directional antenna which has the first radiation pattern, by using the directional antenna emitting a second radiation pattern of multiple beams having different angles simultaneously covering a total of 360 M degrees of angles per one of M time slots during a second phase of the full sweeping period, wherein N>M?1.

Abstract: A method of beam misalignment detection for wireless communication system with beamforming is proposed. To identify a misaligned beam, a relative beam quality degradation is applied by comparing a dedicated beam quality with a reference beam quality. The reference beam favors similar transmission path as the dedicated beam, and has better mobility robustness. In one embodiment, the reference beam is an associated control beam of the dedicated beam. To detect beam misalignment, a first dedicated beam SINR is compared with a second associated control beam SINR.

Abstract: In a communications apparatus first radio module communicates with a first wireless network and provides wireless communication services in compliance with a first RAT. A second radio module communicates with a second wireless network and provides wireless communication services in compliance with a second RAT. At least two antennas are shared by the first radio module and the second radio module. When the first radio module operates in an idle mode and when the timing of the first radio module performing a first receiving activity coincides with the timing of the second radio module performing a second receiving activity, the second radio module uses the antennas to perform the second receiving activity when a DRX cycle duration of the first radio module in the idle mode is shorter than a DRX cycle duration of the second radio module.

Abstract: Inter-cell coordination and beam-aware scanning with end-to-end UE-BS signaling enhancements for robust HO trigger in a beamforming mmWave network is proposed. From the network and the base station perspective, inter-BS control beam coordination is performed, coupled with neighbor-cell information advertisement to facilitate UE-side beam-aware scanning. Inter-BS CB coordination enables a variety of network planning, pre-determined or random, enhanced with UE-reports and dynamic re-coordination to minimize inter-cell interference. From UE perspective, by utilizing the advertised CB information, UE can learn serving cell and neighbor cell CB pattern for beam-aware scanning. Beam-aware scanning enables power saving fast scanning at the UE with beam-aware HO measurement of neighboring and target cells, which reduces HO latency and avoids unnecessary HO.

Abstract: A method of providing spatial diversity for critical data delivery in a beamformed mmWave smallcell is proposed. The proposed spatial diversity scheme offers duplicate or incremental data/signal transmission and reception by using multiple different beams for the same source and destination. The proposed spatial diversity scheme can be combined with other diversity schemes in time, frequency, and code, etc. for the same purpose. In addition, the proposed spatial diversity scheme combines the physical-layer resources associated with the beams with other resources of the same or different protocol layers. By spatial signaling repetition to avoid Radio Link Failure (RLF) and Handover Failure (HOF), mobility robustness can be enhanced. Mission-critical and/or time-critical data delivery can also be achieved without relying on retransmission.

Abstract: A method of beam misalignment detection for wireless communication system with beamforming is proposed. To identify a misaligned beam, a relative beam quality degradation is applied by comparing a dedicated beam quality with a reference beam quality. The reference beam favors similar transmission path as the dedicated beam, and has better mobility robustness. In one embodiment, the reference beam is an associated control beam of the dedicated beam. To detect beam misalignment, a first dedicated beam SINR is compared with a second associated control beam SINR.

Abstract: Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. An integrated circuit (IC) layout plan is obtained. The IC layout plan contains critical features and non-critical features. Locational information regarding a defect on a blank reticle is obtained. The blank reticle is a candidate reticle for being patterned with the IC layout plan. Based on the locational information regarding the defect and the IC layout plan, a determination is made that at some of the critical features will intersect with the defect if the blank reticle is patterned with the IC layout plan, regardless of whether the IC layout plan is globally manipulated or not before being patterned onto the blank reticle. In response to the determination, selected local portions of the IC layout plan are re-arranged such that none of the critical features will intersect with the defect if the blank reticle is patterned with the IC layout plan.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) receives and decodes a first erroneous transport block (TB) from a base station in a mobile communication network. The UE allocates a first soft buffer having a first buffer size. The first soft buffer is associated with a first HARQ process for storing the first TB. The UE then receives and decodes a second erroneous TB from the base station. The UE allocates a second soft buffer having a second buffer size. The second soft buffer is associated with a second HARQ process for storing the second TB. The UE releases a portion of the first soft buffer to be allocated as part of the second soft buffer. The dynamic buffer allocation method reduces mismatch between rate matching and soft buffer storing when the total number of HARQ processes is small. In addition, more HARQ processes can be supported when the corresponding TB size is small.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. In one embodiment, The UE requests to switch the DL multicast traffic from the multicast MBMS bearer to the unicast EPS bearer upon detecting that the UE is approaching an MBMS coverage boundary. In another embodiment, the UE transmits an indication of preferred target cells to the network before performing a handover and thereby maintaining multicast service continuity of the group communication.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided to handle the intermittent disconnections in an mmW system. In one novel aspect, the beam tracking failure is determined upon detection of one or more tracking failure conditions. In one embodiment, the UE further considers potential recoveries to avoid frequent triggering of the beam-tracking failure condition. In another novel aspect, the UE performs one or more recovery procedures based on one or more recovery conditions. In one embodiment, the UE performs the initial alignment procedure to recover the connection. In another embodiment, the UE performs the beam-switching request procedure before triggers the initial alignment procedure. In one embodiment, timers are used to supervise the recovery procedures. In another embodiment, macro-assisted procedures are used for the beam-switching request procedure. In yet another novel aspect, the UE performs reestablishment of a new connection at the upper layer upon receiving the beam-tracking failure indicator.

Abstract: A communications apparatus. A first radio module communicates with a first wireless network and provides wireless communications services. A second radio module communicates with a second wireless network and provides wireless communications services. At least two antennas shared by the first radio module and the second radio module. When the first radio module operates in a connected mode and when the timing of the first radio module performing the first receiving activity coincides with the timing of the second radio module performing a second receiving activity, the first radio module reports a value of 1 for a Rank Indicator to the first wireless network at least once before the second radio module is to perform the second receiving activity, and then the second radio module uses one of the antennas to perform the second receiving activity.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. The multicast MBMS bearer is associated with a Temporary Mobile Group Identifier (TMGI), and wherein the TMGI is associated with the communication group ID. The UE later enters RRC_IDLE mode and releases a radio bearer of the unicast EPS bearer while keep monitoring the multicast MBMS bearer for the DL multicast traffic.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. The multicast MBMS bearer is associated with a Temporary Mobile Group Identifier (TMGI), and wherein the TMGI is associated with the communication group ID. In one embodiment, the access information comprises mapping information between the TMGI and the communication group ID.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. In one embodiment, The UE requests to switch the DL multicast traffic from the multicast MBMS bearer to the unicast EPS bearer upon detecting that the UE is approaching an MBMS coverage boundary. In another embodiment, the UE transmits an indication of preferred target cells to the network before performing a handover and thereby maintaining multicast service continuity of the group communication.

Abstract: A communications apparatus. The RF signal processing device is capable of supporting carrier aggregation and configured to process RF signals. The baseband signal processing device is configured to process baseband signals. The processor is configured to control operations of the RF signal processing device and the baseband signal processing device. The processor further receives a power control signal from a peer communications apparatus, obtains an assigned transmission power which is assigned by the peer communications apparatus for the communications apparatus to transmit a reference signal according to information carried in the power control signal, determines a spectral efficiency estimation value of the communications apparatus and directs the RF signal processing device to transmit the reference signal with a reduced transmission power which is smaller than the assigned transmission power when the spectral efficiency estimation value is smaller than a predetermined threshold.