Abstract: A device includes a wireless transceiver and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a set of resources to be used for a set of multiplexed non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) transmissions to or from a set of wireless devices; select, per individual wireless device of the set of wireless devices, a forward error correction (FEC) coding scheme to be used for a respective NOMA transmission, of the set of multiplexed NOMA transmissions, to or from an individual wireless device; select, from a codebook, a joint modulation scheme to be used for the set of multiplexed NOMA transmissions; and transmit, via the wireless transceiver and to a wireless device of the set of wireless devices, a first indication of the FEC coding scheme for a respective NOMA transmission to or from the wireless device, and a second indication of the joint modulation scheme.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) device may communicate with a base station using signals reflected off a network-independent intelligent reflecting surface (IRS). The UE device and the IRS may form part of a virtual UE device, the components of which communicate with each other and with other virtual UE devices over a channel control plane (CCP) separate from the control and data plane of the base station. The CCP may be used to perform control functions for the virtual UE device such as channel estimation, synchronization, scheduling, sensing, and beamforming. The IRS may be controlled by the UE device, a service controller, or itself. Grouping the UE device and IRS into a virtual UE device may keep the structure the presence of the IRS transparent to the network while allowing the UE device to have more beneficial channel propagation properties relative to when the IRS is registered to the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods for air interface entity-to-air interface entity interfaces in cell-free networks are discussed herein. An initiator air interface entity of a cell-free network using dynamic associations of air interface entities and cloud entities receives, from a cloud entity, an instruction to transition a state of an eXn interface between the initiator air interface entity and a responder air interface entity from a starting state to an active state; transitions, in response to the instruction, the eXn interface to the active state; and performs cross-air-interface-entity communication with the responder air interface entity over the eXn interface after the eXn interface is transitioned to the active state. Mechanisms of transitioning eXn interfaces to an inactive state or a standby state are also discussed. Corresponding behaviors for responder air interface entities are discussed. Corresponding behaviors for cloud entities are also discussed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for adaptive packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity management in wireless communication system implementing a cell-free network are discussed herein. A network identifies a PDCP network level change trigger for a first radio bearer of a UE served by a cluster of base stations, determines, in response to identifying the PDCP network level change trigger for the first radio bearer, to deactivate a first PDCP entity for the first radio bearer that is at a first network level and to activate a second PDCP entity for the first radio bearer at a second network level, instructs the first PDCP entity at the first network level to enter a sleep state, and instructs the second PDCP entity at the second network level to enter an active state. Details about and conditions for the establishment and/or use of PDCP entities at various network levels are discussed.

Abstract: A communication system may include a transmitting (TX) device, a receiving (RX) device, and a one or more reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS's). The TX device may transmit a wireless signal received by the RX device over multiple propagation paths including paths that reflect off the RIS(s) and paths that include other reflections. The RX device may receive location information from each RIS. The RX device or a control device may control each RIS to modulate the wireless signal with a different respective identifier upon reflection of the wireless signal by the RIS. The RX device may distinguish the wireless signal as reflected off the RIS(s) from reflections off other objects based on the RIS identifiers modulated onto the wireless signals by the RIS(s). The RX device may use a multilateration technique to detect its position based on the received location information and the wireless signals as reflected off the RIS(s).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for PDCP retransmission. A Tx PDCP entity generates a Tx request message including an ID of the Tx request message, Tx request configuration information, and one or more groups of PDUs. In response, a Tx UM RLC function determines one or more delivered PDUs and one or more non-delivered PDUs within a TTL period configured by the Tx request configuration information. The Tx UM RLC function generates a delivery Tx report based on the one or more delivered PDUs and the one or more non-delivered PDUs. The delivery Tx report is associated with the ID of the Tx request message. After expiration of a TTR period configured by the Tx request configuration information, the delivery Tx report is sent to the Tx PDCP entity. In response to the delivery Tx report, the Tx PDCP entity determines to retransmit the one or more non-delivered PDUs.

Abstract: A communication system may include a base station (BS), a user equipment (UE) device, a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) having a local controller, and a remote controller. Antenna elements on the RIS may reflect signals between the BS and UE while exhibiting reflection coefficients. The remote controller may transmit a control model and the UE may transmit local information to the local controller, which generates the reflection coefficients based on the local information and control model. Alternatively, the remote controller may transmit the control model to the UE and a codebook to the RIS. The UE may transmit an identifier to the RIS based on local information and the control model. The local controller may implement reflection coefficients of a codebook entry identified by the identifier. Splitting control of the RIS in these ways may minimize communication overhead, provide coverage extension for the UE, and optimize privacy.

Abstract: The subject technology provides for opportunistic shared access to a reconfigurable intelligent surface. An apparatus may determine whether opportunistic shared access to a reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS) device is available. The apparatus also may provide control information for transmission to a controller associated with the RIS device based on a determination that opportunistic shared access to the RIS device is available. By providing electronic devices with opportunistic and fair access to a reconfigurable intelligent surface, the performance and reliability of reconfigurable intelligent surface systems is increased.

Abstract: Embodiments herein provide methods, systems, and apparatuses for layer 2 (L2) functionality split for a cell-free architecture. In some embodiments a central unit may receive segments of an uplink packet data unit (PDU) via multiple edge L2 nodes. The segments may be sent by a user equipment (UE). The central unit may perform assembly of the segments of the uplink PDU from the multiple edge L2 nodes. Upon successful assembly, the central unit may send the multiple edge L2 nodes an assembly success report to inform MAC schedulers at the multiple edge L2 nodes about the successful assembly.

Abstract: A device includes a wireless transceiver and a processor. The processor is configured to determine a direction of transmission for a non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) transmission; determine a set of resources to be used for the NOMA transmission; determine a forward error correction (FEC) coding scheme to be used for the NOMA transmission; determine, using a codebook, a joint modulation scheme to be used for the NOMA transmission; and transmit or receive the NOMA transmission on the set of resources, in accord with the direction of transmission, the FEC coding scheme, and the joint modulation scheme.

Abstract: Methods and systems for semantic encoding by a user equipment (UE) are configured for determining an expected power consumption for encoding video data that includes semantic features, the semantic features representing a meaning of information represented in video frames of the video data; encoding one or more video frames of the video data using a selected a semantic representation of one or more video frames of the video data, the semantic representation being selected based on the expected power consumption that is determined; and transmitting the encoded video data including the semantic representation.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to process, based on signals received from a base station, a data unit comprising one or more representations, each of the representations comprising one or more data blocks, wherein each data block comprises a weight and wherein each of the data blocks is assigned to one of a plurality of code block groups (CBGs) based on the weight of the corresponding data block, determine a total weight of the data blocks that are successfully decoded and compare the total weight to a total weight threshold for the data unit.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to generate a set of representations for a data flow, wherein each representation comprises one or more blocks, wherein each block of the set of blocks has an assigned weight, generate a set of protocol data units (PDUs) corresponding to the set of representations, wherein each PDU comprises a weight based on the assigned weight of blocks in each PDU, determine a weighted packet error rate for the set of PDUs and select a number of PDUs of the set of PDUs to discard, wherein a combined weight of the number of PDUs is less than the weighted packet error rate.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to map a data unit to one or more representations, map each of the representations to one or more data blocks, wherein each of the data blocks comprises a weight and encode the one or more data blocks of each of the representations into one or more packets.

Abstract: A communication system may include an access point (AP), user equipment (UE) device, and reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS). The UE may control the RIS by transmitting control signals that configure antenna elements on the RIS. The RIS may reflect wireless signals between the UE and the AP. The RIS may be known to the network. The UE may transmit a report to the AP that includes information about the RIS. The UE may receive assistance information from the AP. The UE may control the RIS based at least in part on the assistance information. The UE may transmit measurement reports to the AP. The AP may update its signal beams based on the information about the RIS and the measurement reports. Providing the network with awareness of the RIS may serve to optimize the wireless performance of the UE device and/or the network.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to receive input data, process, by a semantic encoder, the input data to generate a semantic representation of the input data, wherein the semantic representation comprises multiple semantic sub-flows, wherein each semantic sub-flow comprises a semantic weight corresponding to a relevance of the semantic data, process, by a communication encoder, each of the semantic sub-flows to generate semantic transmissions corresponding to the semantic sub-flows, wherein characteristics of the semantic transmissions are based on the semantic weight of the corresponding semantic sub-flow and prepare, for transmission to the receiver, the semantic transmissions.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to process, based on signaling received from a network, a message comprising an indication of one or more semantic communication modes supported by the network, execute an application, wherein the application supports one or more semantic communication modes also supported by a user equipment (UE), determine a first communication mode supported by the network and the application, wherein the first communication mode is a classic communication mode or a semantic communication mode and select the first communication mode to communicate with the network.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to receive data inputs corresponding to a plurality of data objects that are to be transmitted, process the data inputs to generate a semantic representation of each of the data objects, wherein the semantic representation comprises a semantic distance for each of the data objects, wherein the semantic distance relates each of the data objects to each other and prepare, for transmission, the semantic representations of the data objects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for radio protocol architectures in cell-free networks are disclosed herein. One or more base stations make up a cell-free cluster that serves a user equipment (UE). A clustering control function (CCF) may establish, for a radio bearer that communicates data between the cluster and the UE, one or more sub-clusters of the one or more base stations. Each sub-cluster corresponds to a unique RLC entity within the protocol stack for the radio bearer in question. The CCF communicates with the base stations of the cluster and the UE to establish this sub-clustering arrangement. Details of this messaging are described herein. Data of the radio bearer is then transmitted between the cluster and the UE according to the established sub-clusters/RLC entities. For example, the network may transport either the same data of the radio bearer and/or unique data of the radio bearer through any/each of the sub-clusters/RLC entities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for clustering in cell-free networks are described herein. A cluster of one or more base stations provides radio access network (RAN) functionality to a user equipment (UE) within the wireless communication system in a cell-free manner (e.g., without using a base-station-centric cell context, as in prior wireless communication systems). A cluster that is serving a UE comprises one or more connected base stations (cBSs) that actively serve the UE. A clustering control function (CCF) of the network establishes and maintains the cluster that is serving one or more UEs. Herein, messaging systems and messaging types used by the CCF, base station(s), and UE(s) within this cell-free context are discussed. Initial clustering methods used by a CCF to form a cluster for a UE are discussed. Further, clustering update methods used by a CCF to maintain/modify a cluster for a UE are discussed.