Abstract: A method deactivates secondary Component Carrier (CC) measurement in a communications apparatus providing wireless communications services via a first CC in a wireless network, wherein the communications apparatus includes a first signal processing component chain comprising a plurality of signal processing components and is configured for processing the RF signals for the first CC and a second signal processing component chain comprising a plurality of signal processing components. The method includes operations of determining a switch timing for turning on at least one of the signal processing components in the second signal processing component chain for performing a deactivated secondary CC measurement; performing the deactivated secondary CC measurement via the second signal processing component chain, wherein the secondary CC is not able to perform data transmission or reception during a deactivated state, and wherein the switch timing is determined according to a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) cycle.

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 network control device includes a controller and a wireless communications module. The controller provides a plurality of signaling entities each belonging to one of a plurality of signaling levels to form multi-level signaling entities and configures one or more signaling entities of the multi-level signaling entities to a communications apparatus to communicate with the communications apparatus based on the one or more configured signaling entities. The wireless communications module transmits a plurality of radio frequency signals via the one or more configured signaling entities.

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: Any defects in the reflective multilayer coating or absorber layer of an EUV mask are problematic in transferring a pattern of the EUV mask to a wafer since they produce errors in integrated circuit patterns on the wafer. In this regard, a method of manufacturing an EUV mask is provided according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. To repair the defect, a columnar reflector, which acts as a Bragg reflector, is deposited according to various embodiments so as to locally compensate and repair the defect. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the reflective loss due to the defect can be compensated and recover the phase different due to the defect from, so as to form a desirable wafer printed image.

Abstract: A method for deactivated secondary Component Carrier (CC) measurement in a communications apparatus providing wireless communications services via a first CC in a wireless network includes: determining a switch timing to perform bandwidth extension or frequency adjustment required for performing a deactivated secondary CC measurement; extending an operation bandwidth or adjusting a center frequency of at least one signal processing component included in the communications apparatus at the switch timing, wherein an operation band defined by the operation bandwidth and the center frequency of the signal processing component covers at least a bandwidth of the secondary CC; and performing the deactivated secondary CC measurement after extending the operation bandwidth or adjusting the center frequency. The secondary CC is not able to perform data transmission or reception during a deactivated state.

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 de-multiplexes DL traffic received either from the multicast MBMS bearer or from the unicast EPS bearer into a single group communication application.

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: An incremental scheduling scheme is proposed in a wireless communication system with beamforming. In an initial stage (stage-1), coarse scheduling plan is granted via control beam transmission. In a second stage (stage-2), fine scheduling plan is granted via dedicated beam transmission. Such incremental scheduling scheme provides load balancing for overhead channels on control/dedicated beams via stage-2 scheduling. It utilizes dedicated beam transmission that is more resource efficient and more UE-specific. Furthermore, it provides UE natural power-saving opportunities via stage-1 scheduling.

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 method of control signaling in a beamforming system is proposed. A user equipment (UE) receives control beam transmission from a base station using a set of control beams in a beamforming network. Each control beam comprises a set of DL control resource blocks, a set of UL control resource blocks, and an associated set of beamforming weights. The UE selects a control beam for establishing a connection with the base station. The UE then performs random access with the base station using the selected control beam.

Abstract: A method of providing channel station information in a beamforming system is proposed. Reference Signal (RS) is used for channel state estimation. For fine-resolution dedicated beam with smaller spatial coverage, additional channel monitoring of coarse-resolution beams for beam fallback is applied. The joint coverage of monitored fallback beams covers a desired service area. For beam administration, fallback beams need to be evaluated and the most preferable beam is selected for use in case the currently used dedicated beam is no longer suitable. For link adaptation, at least the channel state of the selected fallback beam is evaluated and provided to a scheduler (e.g., a BS) for adapting the transmission of the selected fallback beam.

Abstract: A method of maximum output power configuration with UE preference in carrier aggregation is provided. A UE configures multiple component carriers (CCs) with carrier aggregation for communicating with a serving base station in a mobile communication network. The UE determines channel condition of multiple serving cells over the corresponding multiple CCs. The UE then determines maximum output power for each CC based at least in part on the corresponding channel condition of each CC. Finally, the UE transmits power headroom report (PHR) for each CC to the serving base station, wherein the PHR is calculated based on the determined maximum output power. As a result, the reported PH information is channel condition dependent, which can be used by eNB for facilitating better transmission scheduling.

Abstract: A network control device includes a wireless communications module and a controller. The wireless communications module uses a preferred transmitting beam to communicate with a communications apparatus in one or more downlink opportunities corresponding to the preferred transmitting beam. The controller schedules signal or data to be transmitted in at least one downlink opportunity corresponding to the preferred transmitting beam. When scheduling signal or data to be transmitted, the controller further provides at least one training gap, in which the controller does not schedule any dedicated data to the communications apparatus, in the downlink opportunity corresponding to the preferred transmitting beam.

Abstract: Any defects in the reflective multilayer coating or absorber layer of an EUV mask are problematic in transferring a pattern of the EUV mask to a wafer since they produce errors in integrated circuit patterns on the wafer. In this regard, a method of manufacturing an EUV mask is provided according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. To repair the defect, a columnar reflector, which acts as a Bragg reflector, is deposited according to various embodiments so as to locally compensate and repair the defect. According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the reflective loss due to the defect can be compensated and recover the phase different due to the defect from, so as to form a desirable wafer printed image.

Abstract: A communications apparatus includes a wireless communications module and a controller. The wireless communications module uses a preferred receiving beam determined in a beam training procedure to communicate with a network control device and further monitors one or more candidate receiving beam(s) by using the one or more candidate receiving beam(s) to receive signals from the network control device. The controller calculates a detection metric for the preferred receiving beam and the preferred control beam and a detection metric for each combination of the one or more candidate receiving beam(s) and the preferred control beam, and determines whether to change the preferred receiving beam according to the detection metrics for the preferred receiving beam and the preferred control beam and for each combination of the one or more candidate receiving beam(s) and the preferred control beam.

Abstract: A communications apparatus includes a controller and a wireless communications module. The controller selects a first subset of receiving beam(s) from receiving beams supported by a wireless communications module. The wireless communications module uses the receiving beam(s) in the first subset in turns to receive signals transmitted by a network control device for a first stage of beam training. The network control device uses control beams in turns to transmit the signals. The controller further calculates a detection metric for each combination of the receiving beam(s) in the first subset and the control beams, and determines a preferred control beam and a preferred receiving beam according to the detection metrics for the first stage of beam training.

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: 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.

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.