Abstract: Switching between Orthogonal Multiple Access (OMA) and Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) modes of a user equipment (UE) can be determined and indicated by a gNB to a UE at an RRC connected state using one or more of the following schemes: at an RRC (Radio Resource Control) layer with an RRC configuration message, at a MAC (Medium Access Control) layer with MAC CE (MAC control element) signaling, at a PHY (Physical) layer with DCI (Downlink Control Information) signaling, jointly with RRC configuration and DCI signaling, and/or jointly with RRC configuration and MAC CE signaling. The OMA or NOMA mode that the UE operates after the transition may be requested by the UE, indicated by the gNB, and/or may be based on one or more rules for OMA-NOMA switching.

Abstract: Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) transmissions are described herein in which sequence collision is mitigated or eliminated by exploiting the randomness nature of user specific reference bits and data bits. Further, methods, systems, and devices that use NOMA for small data transmissions are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus designed to support flexible carrier bandwidths in new radio. Multiple carrier bands may be combined into a single composite carrier depending on channel availability in the carrier bands. A composite carrier indicator (CCI) indicates to network devices, the available carrier bands within the channel occupancy time. In addition, bandwidth part inactivity time is suspended when channel access is not available.

Abstract: A Channel Access Indicator (CAI) may be employed in New Radio Unlicensed (NR-U) to indicate channel occupation by a node to nodes outside its cell, indicate channel occupation by a node to nodes within its cell to aid spectral reuse, and to trigger a handshake between nodes within a cell to ensure that receiver has clear channel to transmit and receive.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for supporting a two-stage device-to-device (D2D) discovery using a D2D interworking function (IWF). A D2D IWF component may be configured to perform mapping between an application running on an application server and a third generation partnership project (3GPP) network, and provide a set of application programming interfaces (APIs) to allow discovery to be provided as a service to D2D applications. An application identifier may be mapped to a 3GPP identifier. Further, a method and apparatus are described for performing client-server discovery. A first wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) may be configured for a listen-only operation, and a second WTRU may be configured to transmit beacons. The first and second WTRUs may perform a radio access network (RAN) discovery procedure at an access stratum (AS) layer. A method and apparatus for performing charging for D2D service using a D2D IWF are also described.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described herein for prioritizing sidelink communication transmissions. In accordance with one example embodiment, a WTRU may include a processor, configured to receive vehicle-to-x communication (V2X) configuration parameters from a V2X network node. The V2X communication parameters may be associate with sidelink communications for a V2X service. The WTRU may send a user equipment (UE) information message to a gNB. The UE information message may include quality of service (QOS) information associated with the V2X service. The WTRU may further receive a radio resource control (RRC) configuration message from the gNB. The RRC configuration message may include an indication of a logical channel to be used for communication sidelink data associated with the V2X service, and one or more logical channel configuration parameters for the logical channel to be used for communication of the sidelink data associated with the V2X service.

Abstract: A user equipment (UE) determines sidelink resources for use in vehicle wireless communications. Initial beam establishment uses a Sidelink Synchronization Signal (SLSS), a Sidelink Channel State Information Reference Signal (SL-CSI-RS), or a Sidelink Demodulation Reference Signal (SL-DMRS). Beam refinement may then be conducted either by UEs in communication with each other, or by just one of the UEs. A base station such as a gNB may assign resources for a dedicated sidelink carrier or a shared licensed sidelink carrier, e.g., dynamically, as pre-configured by RRC, or based on activation and deactivation. In such cases, initial beam establishment and refinement may include gNB controlled beam forming at a connectionless stage, gNB controlled beam forming at connection stage with scheduling DCI transmitted to Tx UE only, or gNB controlled beam forming at connection stage with scheduling DCI transmitted to both Tx UE and Rx UE.

Abstract: Layer 2 structures and procedures may be used for beam management in new radio networks. In a first example, a new radio layer 2 structure may be used to facilitate beam management at the medium access control sublayer. In a second example, new radio feedback mechanisms may be signaled between peer medium access control entities and used to assist with beam management. In a third example, new radio beam management procedures may include new radio beam training, new radio beam alignment, new radio beam tracking, or new radio beam configuration. In a fourth example, new radio connection control procedure may include new radio initial access or new radio mobility management.

Abstract: Access category management objects may be configured for use in support of access category configurations of a user equipment (UE). Various methods for a UE configuration with access categories are disclosed. Signaling methods by a radio access network of access barring parameters such as a signaling method for a partial list of access barring parameters with explicit signaling of access category indexes and a signaling method for a full list of access barring parameters where access categories are signaled using a bitmap are disclosed. Access control parameters and an access control architecture in terms of access control function distribution within the UE protocol sublayers, solutions that address the impact of access control in a connected mode on a buffer status report, logical channel prioritization and flow control between the UE AS and UE NAS, and details regarding access barring checks are also disclosed.

Abstract: A first apparatus in a wireless communication system, the first apparatus including circuitry configured to trigger a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure; select a two-step RACH procedure from among a plurality of RACH procedures as a RACH type to be performed; select a MsgA transmission resource; transmit a MsgA; and monitor for a network response from a second apparatus.

Abstract: A discoverer user equipment sends a discovery announcement to a discoveree user equipment via a sidelink service. The announcement includes criteria for a service sought by discoverer. The discoveree assesses the announcement and may respond to the discoverer. The discovery announcement may be a target search discovery announcement or a self-advertisement discovery announcement, and may be unicast, groupcast, or broadcast. The discoverer and discoveree may perform synchronization in support of V2X sidelink communication and may collect driving information pertaining to vehicles associated with the discoverer and discoveree, respectively, such as driving intention, positioning, and environment information. The discoverer may request an authorization for the discovery announcement, and the request may include the driving information.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices may assist in broadcast, multicast, or unicast on sidelink for 5G eV2X. The following mechanisms for broadcast, multicast, or unicast on sidelink for Vehicle to everything (V2X). Broadcast on sidelink may include methods, systems, or devices for broadcast occasions or monitoring window. Multicast on sidelink may include methods, systems, or devices for multicast occasions or group ID. Unicast on sidelink may include methods, systems, or devices for unicast occasions, UE ID, transmitter initiated transmission, or receiver initiated. Methods, systems, or devices may use communication occasions for platooning.

Abstract: Hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) processes may be transmitted via configured grants as well as scheduled grants. The configured grants may include time and frequency resources, and transmissions may occur across contiguous transmissions. HARQ process information, such as HARQ IDs and redundancy versions, may be communicated via a control channel, and the control channel may be multiplexed with the transmission resources of the configured grants. Retransmission timers may be used for HARQ processes conveyed via configured grants, and the transmitting apparatus may signal to a receiver when to send an acknowledgement. An acknowledgement may take the form of bitmaps for code block groups of a HARQ. A configured grant may be selected from among multiple configured grants based upon low latency, for example. A group of configured grants may be activated or deactivated via a single command.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus designed to support flexible carrier bandwidths in new radio. Multiple carrier bands may be combined into a single composite carrier depending on channel availability in the carrier bands. A composite carrier indicator (CCI) indicates to network devices, the available carrier bands within the channel occupancy time. In addition, bandwidth part inactivity time is suspended when channel access is not available.

Abstract: User equipment (UE) in beam-centric telecommunications cell may use a variety of listen-before-talk (LBT) procedures and hybrid channel access procedures for uplink transmissions are on different beams and configured or scheduled in contiguous or non-contiguous mode. UE behavior may be based on the LBT result across the different beams. A gNB may indicate LBT occasions to UEs. The UL numerology may be adjusted without LBT while near the end of a gNB's maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT). A gNB may use LBT procedures, before down link transmissions, using data, control, and reference signals, etc., across different beams.

Abstract: Access category management objects may be configured for use in support of access category configurations of a user equipment (UE). Various methods for a UE configuration with access categories are disclosed. Signaling methods by a radio access network of access barring parameters such as a signaling method for a partial list of access barring parameters with explicit signaling of access category indexes and a signaling method for a full list of access barring parameters where access categories are signaled using a bitmap are disclosed. Access control parameters and an access control architecture in terms of access control function distribution within the UE protocol sublayers, solutions that address the impact of access control in a connected mode on a buffer status report, logical channel prioritization and flow control between the UE AS and UE NAS, and details regarding access barring checks are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electronic device including circuitry configured to send a request to a core network, wherein the request informs the core network that the electronic device is capable of aggregating data and relaying data from other electronic devices; receive one or more aggregation policies from the core network, wherein the one or more aggregation policies provide parameters that instruct how the electronic device is to aggregate and relay data; receive data from the other electronic devices; aggregate the data from the other electronic devices based on the parameters; and send the aggregated data to the core network.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are described herein for prioritizing sidelink communication transmissions. In accordance with one example embodiment, a WTRU may include a processor, configured to receive vehicle-to-x communication (V2X) configuration parameters from a V2X network node. The V2X communication parameters may be associate with sidelink communications for a V2X service. The WTRU may send a user equipment (UE) information message to a gNB. The UE information message may include quality of service (QoS) information associated with the V2X service. The WTRU may further receive a radio resource control (RRC) configuration message from the gNB. The RRC configuration message may include an indication of a logical channel to be used for communication sidelink data associated with the V2X service, and one or more logical channel configuration parameters for the logical channel to be used for communication of the sidelink data associated with the V2X service.

Abstract: Layer 2 structures and procedures may be used for beam management in new radio networks. In a first example, a new radio layer 2 structure may be used to facilitate beam management at the medium access control sublayer. In a second example, new radio feedback mechanisms may be signaled between peer medium access control entities and used to assist with beam management. In a third example, new radio beam management procedures may include new radio beam training, new radio beam alignment, new radio beam tracking, or new radio beam configuration. In a fourth example, new radio connection control procedure may include new radio initial access or new radio mobility management.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described herein for beamforming based initial access, beam management, and beam based mobility designs for NR systems. Issues are identified and addressed related to one or more of initial access, control channel design, eMBB and URLLC mixing, and beam training. The methods, systems and apparatus may include a receiving scheduling information and a preemption indication via a DCI. In addition, there may be a detecting and decoding of the preemption indication, a determining of a HARQ feedback associated, and a sending, to a network node, of the HARQ feedback.