Abstract: A method of a UE in a wireless communication system supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The UE comprises: receiving, from a BS over a first downlink channel, a SS/PBCH block; determining a transmission window in which the received SS/PBCH block is located; determining whether a CORESET for Type0-PDCCH CSS is present based on the received SS/PBCH block; determining a parameter for a QCL assumption of candidate SS/PBCH blocks within the transmission window; determining a group of QCLed candidate SS/PBCH blocks within the transmission window based on the determined parameter for the QCL assumption; determining a group of slots including the Type0-PDCCH CSS, wherein each slot of the group of slots corresponds to a candidate SS/PBCH block within the group of QCLed candidate SS/PBCH blocks; and receiving, over a second downlink channel, at least one Type0-PDCCH based on the determined groups of slots including the Type0-PDCCH CSS.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for multiple physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions in a wireless communication system. A method includes receiving a system information block (SIB) that indicates a first number of multiple PRACH transmissions, a first partition of PRACH occasions (ROs) associated with multiple PRACH transmissions, a second partition of ROs associated with one PRACH transmission, and one or more first sets of multiple ROs associated with the first number of multiple PRACH transmissions. The one or more first sets include ROs from the first partition of ROs but not from the second partition of ROs The method further includes determining a group of ROs from the one or more first sets of multiple ROs, determining a PRACH preamble for transmission in a first number of ROs of the group of ROs, and transmitting the PRACH preamble in the first number of ROs of the group of ROs.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for a user equipment (UE) channel occupancy sharing with a sidelink in a wireless communication system. A method of a UE includes performing a channel access procedure to initiate a channel occupancy on a channel with shared spectrum channel access and determining that the channel occupancy is to be shared with at least one other UE. The method further includes transmitting a first sidelink transmission within the channel occupancy and receiving, from the at least one other UE, a second sidelink transmission within the channel occupancy after transmitting the first sidelink transmission within the channel occupancy.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for wideband operation on an unlicensed sidelink (SL). A method performed by a user equipment (UE) includes determining a sidelink (SL) bandwidth part (BWP); determining a set of resource block sets (RB-sets) and a set of intra-cell guard bands between the set of RB-sets; and determining, based on the set of RB-sets, a resource pool. A lowest RB of the resource pool is aligned with a lowest RB of a first RB set, and a highest RB of the resource pool is aligned with a highest RB of a second RB set. The method further includes determining, based on the resource pool, a set of sub-channels, determining, based on the set of sub-channels, a transmission of a physical SL shared channel (PSSCH), performing a SL channel access procedure, and performing the transmission of the PSSCH after successfully performing the SL channel access procedure.

Abstract: A method of a user equipment (UE) for power saving is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a serving cell, a set of configurations, receiving a power saving signal (PoSS) from a first downlink channel based on the received set of configurations, acquiring a first part of information for power saving from the PoSS, receiving, based on the received set of configurations, a second downlink channel that is a control channel, and acquiring a second part of information for the power saving from the received second downlink channel.

Abstract: A method for a user equipment (UE) to provide hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK) information includes transmitting physical sidelink shared channels (PSSCHs), where each of the PSSCH transmissions provides a transport block (TB); receiving physical sidelink feedback channels (PSFCHs); and generating values for HARQ-ACK information bits from the PSFCH receptions. The PSFCH receptions correspond to the PSSCH transmissions and the values of the HARQ-ACK information bits correspond to the TBs in the PSSCH transmissions. The method further includes generating a HARQ-ACK codeword that includes the values of the HARQ-ACK information bits arranged in a predetermined order and transmitting the HARQ-ACK codeword in a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH).

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a wireless communication system is provided. The method and apparatus comprise: receiving an SS/PBCH block; determining a subcarrier spacing of the SS/PBCH block from a set of subcarrier spacings {SCS1, SCS2}; determining a subcarrier spacing of a Type0-PDCCH CSS set in a CORESET, the subcarrier spacing of the Type0-PDCCH CSS set is the same as the subcarrier spacing of the SS/PBCH block; determining a bandwidth and a number of symbols of the CORESET based on an MIB in the SS/PBCH block; determining a frequency offset from a set of frequency offsets {O1, O2}, the frequency offset is determined as being from a smallest RB index of the CORESET to a smallest RB index of the common RB overlapping with a first RB of the SS/PBCH block; determining a frequency location of the CORESET; and receiving a Type0-PDCCH.

Abstract: A method of a base station (BS) in a wireless communication system is provide.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for enhancement to standalone operation for higher frequency range in a wireless communication system. A method includes receiving a synchronization signals and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block and determining a set of configurations for a control resource set (CORESET #0) to receive a Type0 physical downlink control channel (Type0-PDCCH). The set of configurations includes a multiplexing pattern between the CORESET #0 and the SS/PBCH block; a number NRBCORESET #0 of resource blocks (RBs) for the CORESET #0; a number NsymbolCORESET #0 of symbols for the CORESET #0; and a frequency offset between the CORESET #0 and the SS/PBCH block. For a first multiplexing pattern between the CORESET #0 and the SS/PBCH block, the frequency offset between the CORESET #0 and the SS/PBCH block is determined as one of 0, NRBCORESET #0?NRBSSB, or (NRBCORESET #0?NRBSSB)/2.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for supporting or utilizing a structure of a discovery signal in a wireless communication system. A method of a user equipment (UE) includes receiving a set of configurations for a discovery signal; determining a frequency location of the discovery signal; determining a time domain information of the discovery signal; determining a subcarrier spacing of the discovery signal; and determining a quasi-co-location (QCL) assumption of the discovery signal. The discovery signal includes a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The method further includes receiving the discovery signal from a secondary cell (SCell) based on the frequency location, the time domain information, the subcarrier spacing, and the QCL assumption of the discovery signal.

Abstract: A UE in a wireless communication system is provided. The UE comprises at least one processor configured to identify a DTTC including at least one of a first periodicity, a duration of a first transmission window, or a first timing offset of the first transmission window, wherein the DTTC is identified for the DSCH or RLM in a serving cell, and identify a DMTC including at least one of a second periodicity, a duration of a second transmission window, or a second timing offset of the second transmission window, wherein the DMTC is identified for RRM measurement based on the DSCH. The UE further comprises a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to receive, from a BS, at least one DSCH from a set of DSCH over unlicensed downlink channels based on the identified DTTC, wherein the received at least one DSCH includes a SS/PBCH block.

Abstract: A method of a UE in a wireless communication system supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The UE comprises: receiving, from a BS over a first downlink channel, a SS/PBCH block; determining a transmission window in which the received SS/PBCH block is located; determining whether a CORESET for Type0-PDCCH CSS is present based on the received SS/PBCH block; determining a parameter for a QCL assumption of candidate SS/PBCH blocks within the transmission window; determining a group of QCLed candidate SS/PBCH blocks within the transmission window based on the determined parameter for the QCL assumption; determining a group of slots including the Type0-PDCCH CSS, wherein each slot of the group of slots corresponds to a candidate SS/PBCH block within the group of QCLed candidate SS/PBCH blocks; and receiving, over a second downlink channel, at least one Type0-PDCCH based on the determined groups of slots including the Type0-PDCCH CSS.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses of a BSs and UEs in a wireless communication system are provided. A method of operating the UE comprises: receiving, from a BS over a shared spectrum channel, a first DCI including a COT of the BS; determining a first portion of the COT for a downlink transmission from the BS and a second portion of the COT for an uplink transmission to the BS, wherein the COT includes a gap between the first and second portions of the COT; performing a channel access procedure based on a duration of the gap; receiving the downlink transmission in the first portion of the COT; and transmitting the uplink transmission in the second portion of the COT based on a sensing status of the shared spectrum channel that is sensed as an idle state during the channel access procedure in the duration of the gap.

Abstract: A UE includes a transceiver configured to receive an adaptation request (AR) via a DCI format in a PDCCH. The UE further includes a processor configured to configure the transceiver to operate in a first state associated with a reception of a first DCI format in a first search space set in response to an AR reception outcome, and to operate in a second state associated with a reception of a second DCI format in a second search space set. A BS includes a transceiver configured to transmit an AR via a DCI format in a PDCCH. The BS includes a processor configured to configure the transceiver to operate in a first state associated with a transmission of a first DCI format in a first search space set, and to operate in a second state associated with a transmission of a second DCI format in a second search space set.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system are provided. The method and apparatus comprise: receiving a set of higher layer parameters including configuration information for sidelink synchronization signals and physical sidelink broadcast channel (S-SS/PSBCH) block; determining, based on the configuration information for the S-SS/PSBCH block, a number of transmitted S-SS/PSBCH blocks (NSSB), an offset for transmitted S-SS/PSBCH blocks (OSSB), and an interval for transmitted S-SS/PSBCH blocks (DSSB); and determining a set of slots containing the transmitted S-SS/PSBCH blocks within a period for a transmission of the S-SS/PSBCH block, wherein an index of a slot in the set of slots is determined based on OSSB+ISSB*DSSB, where ISSB is an index of the S-SS/PSBCH block with 0?ISSB?NSSB?1.

Abstract: A UE in a wireless communication system supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The method comprises: determining a set of DSCH transmission windows based on a window periodicity, a window duration, and a window offset; determining a first set of SS/PBCH blocks within a DSCH transmission window of the set of DSCH transmission windows, wherein the first set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed; determining a second set of SS/PBCH blocks across at least two DSCH transmission windows being different DSCH windows of the set of DSCH transmission windows, wherein the second set of SS/PBCH blocks is QCLed; and receiving at least one SS/PBCH block that is located in the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks based on QCL information of the first set of SS/PBCH blocks or the second set of SS/PBCH blocks within the DSCH transmission window.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for adapting a channel sensing threshold in a wireless communication system operating with shared spectrum channel access. A method for operating a base station (BS) includes determining whether an antenna configuration for channel sensing is omni-directional or directional and determining a channel sensing threshold. The channel sensing threshold includes two parts: a first part of the channel sensing threshold being common for omni-directional and directional antenna configurations and a second part of the channel sensing threshold depending on the antenna configuration. The method further includes performing a channel sensing procedure based on the antenna configuration and the channel sensing threshold and transmitting downlink (DL) data over a channel based on the channel being sensed as idle in the channel sensing procedure.

Abstract: A method and apparatus in a wireless communication system supporting shared spectrum channel access is provided. The method and apparatus comprises: receiving a set of downlink channels supporting the shared spectrum channel access; identifying, a window for SS/PBCH block transmission, a bitmap for SS/PBCH blocks (ssb-PositionsInBurst), and a parameter for QCL assumption Q; determining, based on the identified window for the SS/PBCH block transmission, the identified bitmap for the ssb-PositionsInBurst, and the identified parameter for the QCL assumption Q, a SS/PBCH block as one of: a first set of SS/PBCH blocks assumed to be transmitted by the BS, or a second set of SS/PBCH blocks not transmitted by the BS; determining a set of resources that is not available for at least one PDSCH as overlapped with the first set of SS/PBCH blocks; and receiving the at least one PDSCH based on resource other than the determined set of resources.

Abstract: A method of a first UE comprises: determining a sidelink synchronization identity (SL-SID) and a set of resources; generating at least one sidelink synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (S-SSB) based on the SL-SID and the set of resources, wherein each S-SSB of the at least one S-SSB includes first two symbols for a sidelink primary synchronization signal (S-PSS) and second two symbols for a sidelink secondary synchronization signal (S-SSS); generating a first sequence corresponding to the S-PSS, wherein the first sequence is determined based on a binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated M-sequence with a 127 of sequence length and a low cross-correlation with a PSS; generating a second sequence corresponding to the S-SSS, wherein the second sequence is determined based on a BPSK modulated Gold-sequence with a 127 of sequence length; and transmitting, the at least one S-SSB over sidelink channels established with the second UE.

Abstract: A method of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system supporting a shared spectrum channel access is provided. The method comprises: receiving, from a base station (BS), a set of higher layer parameters including a subcarrier spacing of a physical random access channel (PRACH) preamble, a logical root index (ilog) for the PRACH preamble, and an index (zeroCorrelationZoneConfg); determining a sequence length (LRA) for the PRACH preamble based on the subcarrier spacing of the PRACH preamble; determining a physical root index (iphy) for the PRACH preamble based on the logical root index (ilog); determining a cyclic shift (NCS) for the PRACH preamble based on the index (zeroCorrelationZoneConfg); generating the PRACH preamble based on the determined sequence length LRA, the determined physical root index iphy, and the determined cyclic shift NCS; and transmitting, to the base station (BS) over the shared spectrum channel, the PRACH preamble.