Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to timing advance validation for transmission in preconfigured uplink resources in narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) are described. When in a first mode, an apparatus (e.g., a user equipment) receives a plurality of different values for a time alignment timer (TAT) from a network before entering a second mode from the first mode. When in the second mode, the apparatus selects one of the plurality of values to apply to the TAT and also starts the TAT to count. When there is data for uplink transmission while the apparatus is still in the second mode, the apparatus performs an early data transmission in an event that a timing advance (TA) value is valid and that the apparatus is in the same serving cell as it was before entering the second mode.

Abstract: Various solutions for timing advance (TA) reporting by a user equipment (UE) in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications are described. An apparatus (e.g., a UE), capable of auto-compensation of time delays in signaling, establishes a wireless connection with a network node of a wireless network. The apparatus then transmits a TA report to the network node. Based on the TA, the network can configure a UE-specific offset for UL scheduling.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to NB-IoT physical random access channel (PRACH) resource partitioning and multiple grants in random access response (RAR) for early data transmission (EDT are described. A network node schedules multiple grants for EDT during a random access (RA) procedure with a user equipment (UE). The network node transmits to the UE a message indicating the multiple grants mapped to a maximum broadcast transport block size (TBS) configured for each of one or more preamble resource of a plurality of preamble resources. The UE calculates a TBS that fits an uplink (UL) data packet of the UE. The UE selects one or more PRACH resources for EDT for the TBS based on a wireless communication coverage of the UE by the network node. The UE transmits to the network node in the RA procedure a first message (Msg1) indicating the selected one or more PRACH resources.

Abstract: Various solutions for timing and frequency synchronization in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications with respect to user equipment and network nodes are described. An apparatus may receive a reference time signaled by a network node. The apparatus may measure a received time of a downlink message from the network node. The apparatus may estimate a propagation delay according to the reference time and the received time. The apparatus may perform a timing pre-compensation according to the propagation delay.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to NB-IoT physical random access channel (PRACH) resource partitioning and multiple grants in random access response (RAR) for early data transmission (EDT are described. A network node schedules multiple grants for EDT during a random access (RA) procedure with a user equipment (UE). The network node transmits to the UE a message indicating the multiple grants mapped to a maximum broadcast transport block size (TBS) configured for each of one or more preamble resource of a plurality of preamble resources. The UE calculates a TBS that fits an uplink (UL) data packet of the UE. The UE selects one or more PRACH resources for EDT for the TBS based on a wireless communication coverage of the UE by the network node. The UE transmits to the network node in the RA procedure a first message (Msg1) indicating the selected one or more PRACH resources.

Abstract: Various solutions for random access channel (RACH) preamble design in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications with respect to user equipment and network apparatus are described. An apparatus may initiate a RACH procedure. The apparatus may determine a fractional frequency offset pattern or a cover code across groups of preamble sequences. The apparatus may generate a RACH preamble signal according to at least one of the fractional frequency offset pattern and the cover code. The apparatus may transmit the RACH preamble signal to a network node.

Abstract: Various solutions for slot aggregation design in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may receive a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) time bundling configuration. The apparatus may determine a duration interval of the DMRS time bundling configuration. The apparatus may perform channel estimation cross slots based on the duration interval.

Abstract: Various solutions for hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) design in non-terrestrial network (NTN) communications with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine a maximum number of HARQ processes that the apparatus can support. The apparatus may transmit a capability report to indicate the maximum number of HARQ processes. The apparatus may perform HARQ process transmissions based on the maximum number of HARQ processes.

Abstract: A method of high reliability and early data transmission (EDT) is proposed. EDT allows one uplink transmission (optionally) followed by one downlink data transmission during a random-access channel (RACH) procedure, which can reduce the signaling overhead and save UE power. To improve reliability, for uplink EDT, there would be different set of RACH reattempt parameters in the UE for different types of access. For downlink EDT, there would be an indication in the paging message to trigger whether the UE would use legacy RACH or not. Further, the configuration for PRACH resource for EDT can be independent to legacy PRACH resource configuration. Under certain conditions, UE can fallback to legacy RACH procedure for high reliability.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer program product comprise controlling cellular network based communication in a primary cell on a frequency band related to the cellular network and by using an uplink and downlink configuration specific to the primary cell; controlling communication in a secondary cell on a frequency band related to a television white space channel and by using an uplink and downlink configuration specific to the secondary cell; measuring radio interference on a temporarily set uplink related carrier on the secondary cell based on information on the temporarily set uplink related carrier received on a downlink related carrier on the primary cell; and reporting results of radio interference measurement via the primary cell.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to utilization of assistance information for compensation for Doppler shift in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are described. A user equipment (UE) receives assistance information via an access link from a network node of an NTN such as a satellite or an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platform. The UE then performs an operation with respect to communications with the network node based on the assistance information such as cell re-selection or beam switching.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to uplink (UL) transmission timing for non-terrestrial networking (NTN) are described. An apparatus receives, from a network, downlink control information (DCI) indicating an NTN offset for a scheduling delay.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to resource configuration for MsgA in a two-step random access channel (RACH) procedure in mobile communications are described. An apparatus determines a time-frequency resource for transmission of a first message in a RACH procedure with a wireless network by using a one-to-one mapping between a RACH preamble sequence number and a first message resource index with the first message resource index indicating the time-frequency resource. The apparatus then transmits the first message in the time-frequency resource to the wireless network.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to enhancement of sounding reference signal (SRS) in mobile communications are described. An apparatus determines to activate one from an SRS configuration set that includes an SRS configuration and at least one enhanced SRS configuration. The apparatus then transmits an SRS to a network node of a wireless network based on activated one from the SRS configuration set.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer-readable medium are provided for implementing a control channel on a backhaul link of a relay system. The method can include, for example, hybrid time division multiplexing and frequency division multiplexing a relay-physical downlink control channel and relay-physical downlink shared channel of a backhaul link for a relay node as a hybrid multiplexed set of symbols. The relay-physical downlink control channel can include a semi-statically configured searching space to be searched by the relay node. The method can also include transmitting the hybrid multiplexed set of symbols to the relay node.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to timing advance validation for transmission in preconfigured uplink resources in narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) are described. When in a first mode, an apparatus (e.g., a user equipment) receives a plurality of different values for a time alignment timer (TAT) from a network before entering a second mode from the first mode. When in the second mode, the apparatus selects one of the plurality of values to apply to the TAT and also starts the TAT to count. When there is data for uplink transmission while the apparatus is still in the second mode, the apparatus performs an early data transmission in an event that a timing advance (TA) value is valid and that the apparatus is in the same serving cell as it was before entering the second mode.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining machine-to-machine (M2M) semi-persistent scheduling (SPS) in wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) receives a control signal from a network node of a wireless network. The UE applies, based on the control signal, an SPS configuration such that the UE enters one of one or more low-power modes between two adjacent SPS occasions.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to narrowband reference signal (NRS) transmission on non-anchor carriers in narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) are described. A wireless network indicates a subset of one or more paging groups of user equipment (UEs) among a plurality of UEs in an NB-IoT cell. The wireless network then transmits one or more narrowband reference signals (NRSs) in one or more paging frames or one or more paging occasions associated with the subset of one or more paging groups.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to user equipment (UE) group wake-up signal (WUS) in narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) are described. A wireless network indicates to a plurality of user equipment (UEs) a paging configuration of a UE-group wake-up signal (WUS) for one or more groups of UEs among the plurality of UEs in an NB-IoT cell. The paging configuration may be related to a discontinuous reception (DRX) cycle and a value related to UE identification of each UE in the one or more groups of UEs. The wireless network also transmits the UE-group WUS to the one or more groups of UEs.

Abstract: Techniques, schemes, designs, systems and methods pertaining to HARQ and ARQ design for URLLC in mobile communications are described. A processor of a first apparatus of a mobile network performs a first transmission to a second apparatus of the mobile network in support of ultra-reliablelow-latency communications (URLLC) with a first amount of redundancy. The processor determines whether a predefined condition is met. Responsive to a determination that the predefined condition is met, the processor performs a second transmission to the second apparatus in support of the URLLC with a second amount of redundancy greater than the first amount of redundancy. The processor also multiplexes URLLC traffic and enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB) traffic in transmissions to the second apparatus.