Abstract: Techniques are described herein to improve a link budget of physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions used during a random access (RACH) procedure. The link budget of a PRACH transmission associated with the RACH procedure may be improved by transmitting multiple PRACH transmissions. The multiple PRACH transmissions may be combined to achieve some combining gain. Each retransmission of a PRACH transmission may be done at a higher power level than the previous PRACH transmission. If UE receives an indication that a target base station failed to successfully decode the PRACH transmission, the UE may retransmit the PRACH transmission but at a higher power level than the initial PRACH transmission. PRACH transmissions may be distributed across multiple slots. PRACH transmissions may be distributed across multiple frequency sub-bands in the same slot or across frequency sub-bands in the different slots.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for communication timing (e.g., random access channel (RACH) timing) in a wireless communication are described. A base station and a user equipment (UE) may perform a communication procedure (e.g., to establish a communication link between the base station the UE). The communication timing associated with the communication procedure may depend on the numerology used for the communication procedure and may be conveyed by the base station to the UE in a control message or via system information. In some cases, the numerology may indicate the communication timing.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for random access channel (RACH) timing in a wireless communication are described. A base station and a user equipment (UE) may perform a RACH procedure to establish a communication link between the base station the UE. The RACH timing associated with the RACH procedure may depend on the numerology used for the RACH procedure and may be conveyed by the base station to the UE in a control message or via system information. In some cases, the numerology may indicate the RACH timing, which may be used to determine a number of symbols or absolute time to be used for portions of the RACH procedure.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe determining an uplink channel raster for determining frequency location of an uplink channel over which to transmit uplink communications to a base station. Uplink communications can be transmitted to the base station over the uplink channel. The uplink channel raster can be shifted, in frequency, with respect to a legacy uplink channel raster of a legacy communication technology to facilitate coexistence, in an uplink carrier, of the uplink channel and one or more uplink channels of the legacy communication technology.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A device—such as a base station or user equipment (UE)—may transmit a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) including signaling information in addition to channel estimation information. To improve reception of the DMRS signaling information, the transmitting device may employ data protection techniques to the signaling information and modify a data payload transmitted in the physical data channel associated with the DMRS. In one aspect, the transmitting device may modify cyclic redundancy check (CRC) bits in the payload to include verification for the signaling information. In another aspect, the transmitting device may determine a scrambling code based on the signaling information, and may scramble the payload based on the scrambling code.

Abstract: Wireless communication devices are adapted to facilitate scalable synchronization channels in a wireless communications system. According to one example, a wireless communication device may identify a reference synchronization channel including a reference bandwidth and a reference numerology, where the reference numerology includes a reference subcarrier spacing and a reference cyclic prefix. The reference synchronization channel may be scaled according to a type of communication, resulting in a scaled synchronization channel including a scaled bandwidth and a scaled numerology compatible with the communication type. According to another example, a wireless communication device may determine a communication type employed by the device for wireless communications, and may search for a particular scaled synchronization channel based on the determined communication type. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoupling of a synchronization (“sync”) channel raster and a channel raster in a wireless communication system is disclosed. For example, the method and apparatus include determining, at a network entity, a synchronization channel raster corresponding to a set of frequencies, and transmitting, from the network entity, one or more synchronization signals and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) in any frequency of the set of frequencies of the synchronization channel raster to at least one UE. For example, the method and apparatus further include determining, at a network entity, a synchronization channel raster corresponding to a set of frequencies, and transmitting, from the network entity, one or more synchronization signals and a PBCH in a frequency of the set of frequencies of the synchronization channel raster closest to a center frequency of a bandwidth to at least one UE.

Abstract: Techniques are described herein to improve a link budget of physical random access channel (PRACH) transmissions used during a random access (RACH) procedure. The link budget of a PRACH transmission associated with the RACH procedure may be improved by transmitting multiple PRACH transmissions. The multiple PRACH transmissions may be combined to achieve some combining gain. Each retransmission of a PRACH transmission may be done at a higher power level than the previous PRACH transmission. If UE receives an indication that a target base station failed to successfully decode the PRACH transmission, the UE may retransmit the PRACH transmission but at a higher power level than the initial PRACH transmission. PRACH transmissions may be distributed across multiple slots. PRACH transmissions may be distributed across multiple frequency sub-bands in the same slot or across frequency sub-bands in the different slots.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for configurable synchronization signal transmissions that reduce complexity of cell synchronization in a new radio wireless communication system is disclosed. For example, the method and apparatus may include generating a first synchronization signal burst set having a first set of synchronization signal blocks, generating at least a second synchronization signal burst set having a second set of synchronization signal blocks, transmitting the first synchronization signal block over a first frequency, and transmitting the second synchronization signal block over a second frequency.

Abstract: Various aspects described herein relate to techniques for synchronization channel design and signaling in wireless communications systems (e.g., a 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) system). In an aspect, a method includes identifying a frequency band supported by a user equipment (UE), identifying one or more frequency locations based on the identified frequency band, and the one or more frequency locations are a subset of synchronization raster points used for synchronization signal transmission. The method further includes searching for at least one synchronization signal based on the one or more identified frequency locations.

Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for multiplexing new radio (NR) physical broadcast channels (NR-PBCHs) with NR synchronization signals. An exemplary method that may be performed by a wireless node includes determining a frequency offset to use in transmitting one or more synchronization signals and one or more physical broadcast channels (PBCHs) and transmitting the one or more synchronization signals, using a synchronization signal (SS) transmission band having an SS center frequency, and the one or more PBCHs, using a PBCH transmission band having a PBCH center frequency that differs from the SS center frequency by the determined frequency offset.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) may perform a random access procedure to synchronize with a network for uplink and/or downlink communication. The UE may transmit a first type of random access transmission that includes transmitting a preamble or a second type of random access transmission that includes transmitting a preamble and a random access message. The second type may result in reduced delay but may have lesser SNR tolerance than the first type. In some aspects, the UE may determine whether to transmit the first type or the second type, and may transmit the first type or the second type in a random access channel portion of a slot. The random access channel portion of the slot may be occupied by portions of either the first type of random access transmission or the second type of random access transmission, thereby enabling flexible utilization of multiple types of random access procedure.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for transmitting and processing synchronization signals (SS) for different purposes. In some cases, transmitting multiple SS blocks simultaneously using frequency division multiplexing (FDM), and possibly different beams, may allow a UE to reduce a measurement window.

Abstract: Wireless communication devices are adapted to facilitate multiple synchronization channels within a single carrier. In some examples, an apparatus for wireless communication may transmit a first synchronization channel at a first frequency in a carrier bandwidth, and at least one additional synchronization channel at a different respective frequency in the carrier bandwidth. In some examples, an apparatus for wireless communication may scan a carrier bandwidth for one of a plurality of synchronization channels conveyed at different respective frequencies in the carrier bandwidth, and discover a synchronization channel from among the plurality of synchronization channels. The apparatus may further receive information conveyed over the discovered synchronization channel and utilize the information to access the carrier. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also included.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe acquiring a synchronization signal transmitted at a frequency location. An ordered list of possible frequency locations within a frequency band at which the synchronization signal may be transmitted can be obtained. The synchronization signal can be searched for at one or more possible frequency locations in the ordered list of possible frequency locations, where the searching is performed according to an order indicated in the ordered list of possible frequency locations.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signaling information in physical broadcast channel (PBCH) demodulation reference signals (DMRS). In one example, a network entity may transmit the signaling information carried by a DMRS in one or more resource elements of physical broadcast channel (PBCH) symbols within a bandwidth of a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal of a synchronization signal block. In another example, a user equipment (UE) may receive the signaling information carried by the DMRS within one or more resource elements of PBCH symbols within a bandwidth of a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal of a synchronization signal block on a broadcast channel from the network entity.

Abstract: Various aspects described herein relate to techniques for synchronization channel design and signaling in wireless communications systems (e.g., a 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) system). In an aspect, a method includes identifying a frequency band supported by a user equipment (UE), identifying one or more frequency locations based on the identified frequency band, and the one or more frequency locations are a subset of synchronization raster points used for synchronization signal transmission. The method further includes searching for at least one synchronization signal based on the one or more identified frequency locations.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe determining an uplink channel raster for determining frequency location of an uplink channel over which to transmit uplink communications to a base station. Uplink communications can be transmitted to the base station over the uplink channel. The uplink channel raster can be shifted, in frequency, with respect to a legacy uplink channel raster of a legacy communication technology to facilitate coexistence, in an uplink carrier, of the uplink channel and one or more uplink channels of the legacy communication technology.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide various synchronization signal (SS) block designs that can facilitate channel estimation and demodulation in 5G New Radio (NR) networks. An exemplary SS block includes a set of time-frequency resources that are allocated to carry a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) that are time and/or frequency multiplexed within the SS block. In some examples, unused time-frequency resources of the SS block may be used or allocated for supplemental channels that can improve and/or extend wireless link coverage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to signaling information in physical broadcast channel (PBCH) demodulation reference signals (DMRS). In one example, a network entity may transmit the signaling information carried by a DMRS in one or more resource elements of physical broadcast channel (PBCH) symbols within a bandwidth of a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal of a synchronization signal block. In another example, a user equipment (UE) may receive the signaling information carried by the DMRS within one or more resource elements of PBCH symbols within a bandwidth of a primary synchronization signal and a secondary synchronization signal of a synchronization signal block on a broadcast channel from the network entity.