Abstract: A system and method are provided for processing symbols for transmission. A set of 2K outputs is produced that includes K real components and K imaginary components from K complex symbols. A Fourier transform operation on the 2K outputs produces 2K Fourier transform outputs. Transmit pulse shaping is applied to the 2K Fourier transform outputs. The transmit pulse shape may be Nyquist or non-Nyquist. An inverse Fourier transform operation on the J pulse shaped outputs produces an inverse Fourier transform output. In the receiver, equalization is performed to remove the effect of both the channel and the transmit pulse shape. Nyquist pulse shaping is performed by applying a Nyquist pulse shape prior to converting back to time domain. The approach avoids self-interference, even in situations where the transmit pulse shape is non-Nyquist. The transmitter is free to select a pulse shape to optimize PAPR without being concerned with interference.

Abstract: A time division duplex (TDD) scheduling interval communicating transmissions in a first direction may include one or more regions for communicating in a second direction, where the first direction is a transmit direction and the second direction is a receive direction, or vice versa. A radio frame may include TDD scheduling intervals with such regions and/or TDD scheduling intervals without such regions for wireless communication, and these TDD scheduling intervals may further be configured in accordance with different frame structure configurations, such as different scheduling interval lengths, subcarrier spacings or symbol durations.

Abstract: A channel descriptor management message is transmitted on a broadcast connection to a mobile terminal. The channel descriptor management message provides a format for a frame. The frame includes a resource space. The channel descriptor management message defines a plurality of channels within the resource space and allocates at least one of the channels to a plurality of users. Subsequent resource allocation messages may refer to a location within a channel rather than a location within the entire resource space.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a method of operating a base station configured to communicate with at least one user device includes transmitting a reference signal to the at least one user device, receiving channel quality information from the at least one user device, and forming a beam based on the channel quality information received from the at least one user device.

Abstract: A grant-free transmission mode may be used to communicate small traffic transmissions to reduce overhead and latency. The grant-free transmission mode may be used in downlink and uplink data channels of a wireless network. In the downlink channel, a base station transmits packets to a group of UEs in a search space without communicating any transmission code assignments to the UEs. The UEs receive the downlink packets using blind detection. In the uplink channel, UEs transmit packets in an access space using assigned access codes which are either independently derived by the UEs or otherwise communicated by the base station using a slow-signaling channel. Hence, the grant-free transmission mode allows mobile devices to make small traffic transmissions without waiting for uplink grant requests.

Abstract: A grant-free transmission mode may be used to communicate small traffic transmissions to reduce overhead and latency. The grant-free transmission mode may be used in downlink and uplink data channels of a wireless network. In the downlink channel, a base station transmits packets to a group of UEs in a search space without communicating any transmission code assignments to the UEs. The UEs receive the downlink packets using blind detection. In the uplink channel, UEs transmit packets in an access space using assigned access codes which are either independently derived by the UEs or otherwise communicated by the base station using a slow-signaling channel. Hence, the grant-free transmission mode allows mobile devices to make small traffic transmissions without waiting for uplink grant requests.

Abstract: Methods of bandwidth utilization are provided. Within a scheduling bandwidth, which may be an entire carrier bandwidth or a sub-band, scheduling is used to reserve a guard zone at the edge of the scheduled bandwidth. This can be based on the frequency localization capabilities of a transmitter that is to be scheduled. The guard zone may be defined to a resolution that is the same as the scheduling resolution in which case the guard zone is defined entirely through scheduling. Alternatively, the guard zone may be defined to a resolution smaller than the scheduling resolution in which case scheduling and further signaling may be employed to define the guard zone.

Abstract: Sparse reference signal-related signaling, for a wireless channel that is associated with multiple antenna ports, is communicated with a User Equipment (UE). The sparse reference signal-related signaling is consistent with a sparse signaling pattern. In an embodiment, the sparse signaling pattern includes reference signal-related signaling associated with each of the antenna ports, and has been determined based on previous reference signal-related signaling previously communicated with the UE or another UE. In another embodiment, the sparse reference signal-related signaling is consistent with a varying sparse signaling pattern that is based on previous reference signal-related signaling previously communicated with the UE or another UE.

Abstract: Methods and devices for performing role change are described. Dynamic signaling is used. Example formats for uplink and downlink signaling is also described. In some examples, an electronic device (ED) receives, via dynamic signaling, from a first serving cell, with which the ED initially has a primary connection, a role change trigger. The role change trigger causes the ED to use a connection with a second serving cell, with which the ED initially has a secondary connection, as the primary connection instead of the first serving cell.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for adaptive transmission time intervals (TTIs) includes transmitting, by a communications controller to a user equipment (UE), a segment of a first TDD TTI configuration of a first TDD interval and a second TDD TTI configuration of the first TDD interval, where the first TDD TTI configuration has a first pattern, where the second TDD TTI configuration has a second pattern, where the first pattern is different than the second pattern, where the first TDD TTI configuration has a first uplink TTI segment and a first downlink TTI segment. The method also includes transmitting a first plurality of data on a first TTI in the first downlink TTI segment of the first TDD TTI configurations of the first TDD interval and receiving a second plurality of data on the first uplink segment of the first TDD TTI configuration of the first TDD interval.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided that facilitate multiple switching points within a slot. A slot format indication is conveyed to a user equipment which indicates which symbols within a slot are uplink, downlink or unknown. Some formats feature half-slot switching meaning that a switch from uplink to downlink transmission takes place twice within a slot. Switching on a more frequent basis can deliver improved latency.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for encoding and transmitting data sequences for low data rate applications. An encoded data sequence is transformed and used to shape a multi-carrier pulse to create a narrow-band signal for transmission. Time domain tails of the narrow-band signal may be removed to decrease overhead. The data may be first encoded to create a sparse modulated data sequence. Multi-carrier pulse shaping may be carried out using frequency division multiplexing (FDM) or filter bank multi-carrier (FBMC) techniques. Alternatively, single carrier pulse shaping may be used to create the narrow-band signal.

Abstract: Methods and devices utilizing sidelink transmission between user equipment (UEs) for HARQ retransmission are provided. The sidelink HARQ retransmissions include data from the initial transmission or an outer coded version thereof. HARQ feedback from the targeted receiver of the initial transmission may identify code block groups and/or individual code blocks the target receiver did not successfully decode. A UE that has not successfully decoded an entire transport block, may still cooperate in HARQ retransmission for the targeted receiver of the transport block by retransmitting at least a subset of the code block groups that it was able to successfully decode for the transport block.

Abstract: A method embodiment includes receiving, by a network device, a cooperation candidate set (CCS) and determining a cooperation active set (CAS). The CCS includes a plurality of potential cooperating user equipment (CUEs) for selection to the CAS, and the plurality of potential CUEs is selected from a plurality of user equipment (UEs) in the network. The CAS is a set of CUEs selected from the CCS. A target user equipment (TUE) and the set of CUEs form a virtual multipoint transceiver.

Abstract: A method that includes sensing, by a first user equipment (UE), a signal transmitted by a second UE indicating a resource reservation for a shared channel for a sidelink (SL) transmission by the second UE and a priority associated with the SL transmission; determining, by the first UE, a threshold based on a type of the SL transmission and the priority; and selecting, by the first UE, a resource in the shared channel to use for a SL transmission by the first UE based on the threshold.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data over a SL data channel wherein a transmit UE and a receive UE are each semi-statically provided with a CG configuration such that a CG configuration indication does not have to be transmitted in association with each individual data transmission during a duration that the CG configuration is applied.

Abstract: Methods and devices that support multiple user equipment (UE) state configurations in a wireless network are provided. A state configuration is selected for a UE from among a plurality of candidate state configurations. Each candidate state configuration is associated with a respective set of one or more predefined operating states from among a plurality of predefined operating states. Information regarding the selected state configuration is then transmitted to the UE.

Abstract: An embodiment method includes receiving, by a first user equipment (UE), a message, for a second UE, transmitted over a plurality of resource blocks (RBs) on behalf of a communications controller and determining a plurality of log-likelihood ratios (LLRs) in accordance with the received plurality of RBs. The method also includes transmitting, a subset of the determined LLRs to the second UE.

Abstract: When a user equipment (UE) is wirelessly communicating with a network, the wireless channel conditions may sometimes result in a low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). The low SNR may be a result of the UE having poor geometry, e.g. the UE is at a cell edge. It is desired to increase the reliability of wireless communications in low SNR conditions. In some embodiments, less information may be dynamically signaled in the downlink control information (DCI), thereby allowing for a possibly lower effective coding rate.

Abstract: A New Radio (NR) control signal that indicates one or more Long Term Evolution (LTE) network parameters may be transmitted to NR UEs to enable the NR UEs to identify which resources carry LTE signal(s). The NR UEs may then receive one or more NR downlink signals over remaining resources in a set of resources without processing those resources that carry LTE signal(s). The NR downlink signals may have a zero power level, or otherwise be blanked, over resources that carry the LTE signal(s).