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: Systems and methods are provided that allow a transmit receive point (TRP) that is a member of a group of TRPs to convey a characteristic of the group through the transmission of a synchronization sequence. A transmit receive point in a first group of TRPs transmits with a first synchronization sequence. A TRP in a second group of TRPs transmits with a second synchronization sequence, the first and second synchronization sequences being different from each other. The TRPs of the first group share a common first characteristic and the TRPs of the second group share a common second characteristic. The transmission of the first synchronization sequence conveys the first common characteristic, and the transmission of the second synchronization sequence conveys the second common characteristic.

Abstract: Systems and methods of assigning channel state information-reference symbol (CSI-RS) ports to user equipment are provided. In addition resource configurations for transmission of CSI-RS are provided, and methods of mapping CSI-RS sequences to such resources are provided.

Abstract: A system and method includes implementing, by a base station (BS), a reliable ultra-low latency transmission mechanism in a grant-free uplink transmission scheme having defined therein contention transmission unit (CTU) access regions and a plurality of CTUs. Implementing the reliable ultra-low latency transmission mechanism includes defining a reliable ultra-low latency CTU (RULL-CTU) access region from a portion of the CTU access regions of the grant-free transmission scheme, defining an RULL-CTU mapping scheme by mapping at least a portion of plurality of CTUs to the RULL-CTU access region to define a plurality of RULL-CTUs, defining a reliable ultra-low latency user equipment (RULL-UE) mapping scheme by defining rules for mapping a plurality of RULL-UEs to the plurality of RULL-CTUs in an initial pattern for initial transmissions in a first transmission time interval (TTI), and a regrouped pattern for redundant transmissions in a second TTI subsequent to the first TTI.

Abstract: Systems and methods of scheduling grant-based traffic and mapping resources for grant-free traffic are provided. Grant-based traffic is scheduled in a first frequency partition, and grant-free traffic is mapped in a second frequency partition. In a first option, grant-based traffic is also scheduled in part of the first partition, but in a limited manner that ensures a given device's transmission and retransmissions do not all experience interference with the grant-based traffic. In another option, some grant-free traffic is mapped to part of the second partition and is spread in frequency across the second partition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wireless device to receive data in an eco state is provided. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, upon determining that data is to be transmitted to the wireless device in the eco state, a network node operates to transmit a unicast notification message to the wireless device in order to inform the wireless device of the impending data transmission. According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in response to receiving the unicast notification message, the wireless device operates to receive the data in accordance with the unicast notification message. To this end, the wireless device might for example try to receive data for a time period following the unicast notification message. Meanwhile, the wireless device may remain in the eco state.

Abstract: A notification regarding a transition of a User Equipment (UE) from a standby operating mode to an active operating mode is exchanged between a UE and a network element in a communication network. The notification could be an uplink notification that is transmitted by the UE to the network element in response to an operating mode transition criterion for the UE being met at the UE, or a downlink notification that is transmitted by the network element to the UE in response to an operating mode transition criterion for the UE being met at the network element. The UE transitions from the standby operating mode to the active operating mode in response to the operating mode transition criterion being satisfied. The transmitter of the notification, which could be the UE or the network element, could also perform grant-free transmission of data without first receiving a response to the notification.

Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for communicating data in a wireless channel. In one example, a method includes adapting the transmission time interval (TTI) length of transport container for transmitting data in accordance with a criteria. The criteria may include (but is not limited to) a latency requirement of the data, a buffer size associated with the data, a mobility characteristic of a device that will receive the data. The TTI lengths may be manipulated for a variety of reasons, such as for reducing overhead, satisfy quality of service (QoS) requirements, maximize network throughput, etc. In some embodiments, TTIs having different TTI lengths may be carried in a common radio frame. In other embodiments, the wireless channel may partitioned into multiple bands each of which carrying (exclusively or otherwise) TTIs having a certain TTI length.

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a no-mobility status for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network. The UE may receive an indicator related to mobility of the UE, and determine, from the received indicator, that the UE has a no-mobility status. The UE may transmit an indication of its no-mobility status to the wireless network. The no-mobility status may be used by the network to select a UE to serve as a UE-to-UE relay (UUR).

Abstract: Methods and systems for determining a no-mobility status for a user equipment (UE) in a wireless network. The UE may receive an indicator related to mobility of the UE, and determine, from the received indicator, that the UE has a no-mobility status. The UE may transmit an indication of its no-mobility status to the wireless network. The no-mobility status may be used by the network to select a UE to serve as a UE-to-UE relay (UUR).

Abstract: A system and method includes implementing, by a base station (BS), a reliable ultra-low latency transmission mechanism in a grant-free uplink transmission scheme having defined therein contention transmission unit (CTU) access regions and a plurality of CTUs. Implementing the reliable ultra-low latency transmission mechanism includes defining a reliable ultra-low latency CTU (RULL-CTU) access region from a portion of the CTU access regions of the grant-free transmission scheme, defining an RULL-CTU mapping scheme by mapping at least a portion of plurality of CTUs to the RULL-CTU access region to define a plurality of RULL-CTUs, defining a reliable ultra-low latency user equipment (RULL-UE) mapping scheme by defining rules for mapping a plurality of RULL-UEs to the plurality of RULL-CTUs in an initial pattern for initial transmissions in a first transmission time interval (TTI), and a regrouped pattern for redundant transmissions in a second TTI subsequent to the first TTI.

Abstract: Systems and methods for flexible channelization are provided. Different TU sizes are used for transmissions by different UEs. The different UEs may use different access schemes, and may transmit using time frequency resources that at least partially overlap.

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: Methods and devices are provided for communicating data in a wireless channel. In one example, a method includes adapting the transmission time interval (TTI) length of transport container for transmitting data in accordance with a criteria. The criteria may include (but is not limited to) a latency requirement of the data, a buffer size associated with the data, a mobility characteristic of a device that will receive the data. The TTI lengths may be manipulated for a variety of reasons, such as for reducing overhead, satisfy quality of service (QoS) requirements, maximize network throughput, etc. In some embodiments, TTIs having different TTI lengths may be carried in a common radio frame. In other embodiments, the wireless channel may partitioned into multiple bands each of which carrying (exclusively or otherwise) TTIs having a certain TTI length.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for a wireless device to receive data in an eco state is provided. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, upon determining that data is to be transmitted to the wireless device in the eco state, a network node operates to transmit a unicast notification message to the wireless device in order to inform the wireless device of the impending data transmission. According to another embodiment of the disclosure, in response to receiving the unicast notification message, the wireless device operates to receive the data in accordance with the unicast notification message. To this end, the wireless device might for example try to receive data for a time period following the unicast notification message. Meanwhile, the wireless device may remain in the eco state.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to allow signals for multiple service slices using sub-bands that are part of a system bandwidth. In some cases the signals for a given service slice are self-contained within the sub-band in the sense that channels for initial access and ongoing communications are all located within the sub-band. A receiver that is only accessing the given service slice need only be capable of receiving the sub-band. The method may involve transmitting, in a first logical frequency resource, first data and first signaling information associated with the first data, the first signaling information including initial access information associated with the first data, and transmitting, in a second logical frequency resource, second signaling information associated with second data.

Abstract: A network for facilitating wireless radio communication. The network includes a first access area, wherein the access area includes one or more transmission/receive points. At least one transmission/receive point includes a base station that supports wireless communication between a network and user equipment (UE), such as, a mobile device. The network includes a dedicated connection signature (DCS) that is assigned to a UE. The DCS provides for and is used by the UE to maintain active, unified access to the wireless network. More particularly, the DCS provides for active, contention free, and fast access for the UE to the network through transmission/receive points within the first access area, which is of significance to present and future UE centric virtual radio access networks having high densities of mobile and non-mobile users and with high populations of different types of traffic patterns and applications.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus for assigning sub-bands to numerologies are provided. A system bandwidth is divided into bandwidth portions, and the bandwidth portions are used as the unit of assignment for assigning sub-bands to numerologies. Systems and methods are also provided for allocating resource blocks over a bandwidth such as a sub-band. The available bandwidth is divided into sub-band portions, and the bandwidth portions are used as the unit of allocation for allocating resource blocks to user equipment.

Abstract: Methods and Devices that provide mechanisms for an air interface capability exchange are disclosed. The air interface capability exchange enables a user equipment device to signal its air interface configuration capabilities to a network device to facilitate software configurable air interface (SoftAI) optimization. The air interface capability exchange involves a UE device signaling information regarding an air interface configuration capability type of the device's air interface. The air interface configuration capability type identifies whether the device supports multiple air interface configurations of the air interface. The UE device may also transmit information regarding air interface configuration options that it supports. The network device may determine a configuration for the UE device's air interface based at least in part on the information provided by the UE device.

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.