Abstract: A method for UE capability signaling to support enhancements of a random access operation for NR-U is proposed. A UE transfers UE capability information to a mobile communication network, and the UE capability information includes information indicating the UE's capability on random access operation in unlicensed spectrum. The UE receives configuration of an unlicensed cell from the mobile communication network. The UE performs a random access operation on the unlicensed cell according to the configuration.

Abstract: A method for UE capability signaling to support NR-U is proposed. A UE transfers UE capability information to a mobile communication network, and the UE capability information includes information regarding whether the UE supports system information acquisition on an unlicensed cell. The UE receives configuration from a serving cell of the mobile communication network, and the configuration includes information for system information acquisition of one or more unlicensed cells on a frequency. The UE acquires system information of the one or more unlicensed cells on the frequency and reports the acquired system information to the serving cell, or stores the acquired system information in the UE.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure further provide an apparatus and a method for wireless communication. The apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives, from a base station (BS), a downlink (DL) grant scheduling an uplink (UL) transmission to the BS. The DL grant indicates a first type of channel access procedure for the UL transmission. The processing circuitry further receives channel occupancy information for a channel occupancy that is initiated by the BS. The processing circuitry switches, from the first type of channel access procedure, to a second type of channel access procedure for the UL transmission according to the first type of channel access procedure and the channel occupancy information.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of design for initial access in New Radio (NR) unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) are described. An apparatus receives from a base station of a wireless network which transmits one or multiple synchronization signal and PBCH blocks (SS/PBCH blocks) whose indices are indicated in a cyclic-wrapped order subject to a result of listen-before-talk (LBT) in NR-U. The apparatus also transmits a random access request on random access channel (RACH) resources allocated by the base station.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure further provide an apparatus and a method for wireless communication. The apparatus includes processing circuitry that receives, from a base station (BS), a downlink (DL) grant scheduling an uplink (UL) transmission to the BS. The DL grant indicates a first type of channel access procedure for the UL transmission. The processing circuitry performs a channel access procedure for the UL transmission according to the first type of channel access procedure indicated by the DL grant.

Abstract: A method for a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) retransmission, executed by a UE wirelessly transmitting and receiving to and from a cellular station, operates by performing a first PRACH transmission or retransmission using a first spatial domain transmission filter on first PRACH resources which are associated with a first downlink reference signal. After the first PRACH transmission or retransmission, the method performs a second PRACH retransmission using a second spatial domain transmission filter on second PRACH resources which are associated with a second downlink reference signal. Finally, method operates without incrementing a power ramping counter in response to the UE selecting the second spatial domain transmission filter different from the first spatial domain transmission filter, or incrementing the power ramping counter in response to the UE selecting the second downlink reference signal different from the first downlink reference signal.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide apparatuses and methods for wireless communications. One apparatus includes processing circuitry that selects one or more first available radio link monitoring reference signal (RLM-RS) samples from a plurality of received RLM-RS samples based on signal qualities of the one or more first available RLM-RS samples. The one or more first available RLM-RS samples are received within a first evaluation period. The processing circuitry determines whether a total number of the one or more first available RLM-RS samples is less than a target number. When the total number of the one or more first available RLM-RS samples is determined to be less than the target number, the processing circuitry determines a second evaluation period that is greater than the first evaluation period, and performs an RLM procedure in an unlicensed band within the second evaluation period.

Abstract: Various novel concepts and schemes pertaining to non-orthogonal multiple access for wireless communications are described. A group orthogonal coded access (GOCA) scheme is introduced to reduce multi-user interference (MUI) and improve performance. A repetition division multiple access (RDMA) scheme is introduced to differentiate user equipment (UEs) by different repetition patterns. A low-density spreading (LDS) scheme is introduced to reduce MUI and improve performance.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE determines to transmit a preamble sequence to a base station at a random access occasion in a random access procedure when the UE is in a connected state. The UE determines that the random access occasion is in a same predetermined time period as an uplink channel or a sounding reference signal that is scheduled to be transmitted to the base station. The UE refrains from transmitting the preamble sequence or refraining from transmitting the uplink channel or the sounding reference signal.

Abstract: Various novel concepts and schemes pertaining to non-orthogonal multiple access for wireless communications are described. A group orthogonal coded access (GOCA) scheme is introduced to reduce multi-user interference (MUI) and improve performance. A repetition division multiple access (RDMA) scheme is introduced to differentiate user equipment (UEs) by different repetition patterns. A low-density spreading (LDS) scheme is introduced to reduce MUI and improve performance.

Abstract: Various solutions for Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) Frame Based Equipment (FBE) user equipment (UE)-initiated channel occupancy time (COT) enhancement in mobile communications are described. An apparatus, implementable in a UE, receives a signal from a network and obtains a UE-initiated COT in an idle or connected mode responsive to receiving the signal. The apparatus then performs a transmission to the network in the UE-initiated COT.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE determines to transmit a preamble sequence to a base station at a random access occasion in a random access procedure when the UE is in a connected state. The UE determines that the random access occasion is in a same predetermined time period as an uplink channel or a sounding reference signal that is scheduled to be transmitted to the base station. The UE refrains from transmitting the preamble sequence or refraining from transmitting the uplink channel or the sounding reference signal.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE), and associated method, including a wireless transceiver, configured to perform wireless transmission and reception to and from a cellular station. A controller is configured to use a first preamble to perform a synchronous transmission on a PRACH to the cellular station via the wireless transceiver, and use a second preamble to perform either of at least two different types of transmission, the two different types of transmission comprising an asynchronous transmission and a synchronous transmission to the cellular station via the wireless transceiver; wherein the controller is further configured to receive a random access response to the synchronous transmission from the cellular station via the wireless transceiver, and wherein a Timing Advance (TA) estimation is not required for the synchronous transmission.

Abstract: A UE receives a request from a base station to initiate a random access procedure in a connected state. When a first bandwidth part does not contain any random access resource that is available, the UE: switches to a second bandwidth part that contains one or more random access resources that are available and transmits a preamble sequence at a first random access resource selected from the one or more random access resources that are available. When the first bandwidth part contains the one or more random access resources that are available, the UE transmits the preamble sequence at a second random access resource selected from the one or more random access resources that are available. The second random access resource is at least a second time duration subsequent to the request. The second time duration is shorter than the first time duration.

Abstract: A method for UE capability signaling for supporting reference signal based measurements in NR-U is proposed. A UE transfers its UE capability information to a mobile communication network, wherein the UE capability information includes information regarding whether the UE supports measurements of a CSI-RS on an unlicensed cell. The UE receives configuration from the mobile communication network, wherein the configuration includes information regarding radio resources of the CSI-RS on the unlicensed cell. The UE measures the CSI-RS on the unlicensed cell based on the configuration.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of efficient detection of a transmission session in New Radio unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) are described. An apparatus (e.g., user equipment (UE)) detects presence of an indication from a base station of a wireless network in an NR-U. The apparatus determines that a transmission opportunity (TXOP) follows the indication responsive to the detecting. The apparatus then receives a downlink (DL) transmission in the NR-U from the base station during the TXOP.

Abstract: A method for UE capability signaling to support NR-U is proposed. A UE transfers UE capability information to a mobile communication network, and the UE capability information includes information regarding whether the UE supports system information acquisition on an unlicensed cell. The UE receives configuration from a serving cell of the mobile communication network, and the configuration includes information for system information acquisition of one or more unlicensed cells on a frequency. The UE acquires system information of the one or more unlicensed cells on the frequency and reports the acquired system information to the serving cell, or stores the acquired system information in the UE.

Abstract: In an aspect of the disclosure, a method, a computer-readable medium, and an apparatus are provided. The apparatus may be a UE. The UE receives, from a base station, one or more downlink reference signals on an unlicensed carrier. The UE determines that the base station occupies the unlicensed carrier for a predetermined first channel occupancy time based on the one or more downlink reference signals. The UE receives, on the unlicensed carrier and in the predetermined first channel occupancy time, a control burst including a plurality of down link control channels. The UE attempts to decode a first down link control channel directed to the UE from the control burst.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of efficient detection of a transmission session in New Radio unlicensed spectrum (NR-U) are described. An apparatus (e.g., user equipment (UE)) detects presence of an indication from a base station of a wireless network in an NR-U. The apparatus determines that a transmission opportunity (TXOP) follows the indication responsive to the detecting. The apparatus then receives a downlink (DL) transmission in the NR-U from the base station during the TXOP.

Abstract: A UE determines (a) resources of a PDCCH indicating a PDSCH that contains a random access message or indicating an uplink grant for transmitting a random access message and (b) resources of a second PDCCH. The UE further determines, in a time domain, (a) that the first PDCCH overlaps with the second PDCCH, (b) that the first PDCCH overlaps with a second PDSCH that contains system data or user data and indicated by the second PDCCH, (c) that the first PDSCH overlaps with the second PDCCH, or (d) that the first PDSCH overlaps with the second PDSCH. The UE then determines that monitoring the second PDCCH is an unexpected operation.