Abstract: This innovation describes methods for an NR-based, LEO Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) to improve handover process by sending broadcast or group-cast downlink handover (HO) Command message to all (or group of) UEs in the coverage area (cell or beam-spot) of the LEO satellite. Subsequently, on receiving the broadcast (or group-cast) HO Command message, all the UEs in the source cell transmit HO Complete message to the source cell of the LEO-NTN. In order to reduce or avoid heavy Random Access (RA), generating from all the UEs, the LEO-NTN can either send Contention Free Random Access (CFRA), or instruct the UE to perform a random backoff before sending the uplink HO Complete message. Moreover, improvements to configure Conditional Handover (CHO) and delaying the transmission of HO Complete message are also provided.

Abstract: A method includes receiving a measurement configuration from a serving cell of a user equipment (UE) in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) providing mobile communication service based on satellites. The satellites can be low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites, geostationary Earth orbiting (GEO) satellites, and the like. The measurement configuration indicates a first synchronization signal block (SSB) based measurement timing configuration (SMTC) and a second SMTC. The first SMTC specifies first SMTC windows aligning with SSB signals from the serving cell of the UE. The second SMTC specifies second SMTC windows aligning with SSB signals from a first neighbor cell of the UE. The serving cell is associated with a first flying object, and the first neighbor cell is associated with a second flying object. The UE performs a measurement based on the first SMTC corresponding to the serving cell and the second SMTC corresponding to the first neighbor cell.

Abstract: Various solutions for power consumption reduction with multi-link operation with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may establish a first link with a first network node. The apparatus may establish a second link with a second network node. The apparatus may receive a dormancy indication via a physical layer signaling from the first network node. The apparatus may transit a dormancy state of the second network node according to the dormancy indication.

Abstract: A method of providing UE-initiated PDCP status report to reduce packet latency under Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity (MR-DC) is proposed. UE initializes PDCP status report based on some predefined condition configured by the network. The PDCP status report indicates which PDCP SDU is still not received by the UE via one radio link control (RLC) entity, and the network can retransmit the missing PDCP SDU via another RLC entity quickly. The network can enable/disable the PDCP status report via PDCP control PDU or via radio resource control (RRC) signaling. The PDCP status can be used for re-transmission of PDCP SDU on another RLC entity. The PDCP status can also be used as an indication of issues on one RLC entity, resulting in duplication being activated thereafter. The PDCP status report should be sent to the RLC entity that does not suffer from the PDCP packet loss.

Abstract: Various solutions for Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC) Frame Based Equipment (FBE) user equipment (UE)-initiated channel occupancy time (COT) enhancement in mobile communications are described. An apparatus, implementable in a UE, receives a signal from a network and obtains a UE-initiated COT in an idle or connected mode responsive to receiving the signal. The apparatus then performs a transmission to the network in the UE-initiated COT.

Abstract: Various solutions for reducing power consumption with wake-up mechanism with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may receive a configuration to monitor a wake-up indication (WUI) on predetermined occasions. The apparatus may monitor the WUI according to the configuration. The apparatus may determine whether the WUI is received. The apparatus may monitor a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) in an event that the WUI is received.

Abstract: Various solutions for skipping uplink transmission with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine whether a padding buffer status report (BSR) is included in a protocol data unit (PDU). The apparatus may skip transmission of the PDU when the padding BSR is included in the PDU. The PDU may comprise a medium access control (MAC) PDU. The MAC PDU may comprise no MAC service data unit (SDU).

Abstract: Various solutions for retransmissions across different configured grant (CG) configurations with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may receive a first CG configuration and a second CG configuration. The apparatus may perform an initial transmission of a transport block (TB) on the first CG configuration. The apparatus may determine whether the TB is allowed to be retransmitted on the second CG configuration according to at least one restriction in addition to a condition of identical transport block size (TBS). The apparatus may perform a retransmission of the TB on the second CG configuration in an event that the TB is allowed to be retransmitted on the second CG configuration.

Abstract: Various solutions for handling packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) duplication with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine whether a PDCP entity is associated with two radio link control (RLC) entities. The apparatus may determine whether PDCP duplication is activated. The apparatus may select one of the two RLC entities to transmit a PDCP control protocol data unit (PDU) in an event that the PDCP entity is associated with the two RLC entities and the PDCP duplication is activated.

Abstract: Various solutions for handling packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) duplication with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine whether a PDCP entity is associated with two radio link control (RLC) entities. The apparatus may determine whether PDCP duplication is activated. The apparatus may select one of the two RLC entities to transmit a PDCP control protocol data unit (PDU) in an event that the PDCP entity is associated with the two RLC entities and the PDCP duplication is activated.

Abstract: A method of multiplexing logical channels (LCHs) in configured grants (CG) to enable faster transmission of high priority data in 5G New Radio-Unlicensed (NR-U) is proposed. Two options of imposing a CAPC-based restriction rule on multiplexing a low priority LCH with a high priority LCH are provided. In a first option, a threshold CAPC value is configured via RRC signaling. Data belonging to LCH having a priority lower than the CAPC threshold is not allowed to be multiplexed with data belonging to LCH having a priority higher than the CAPC threshold. In a second option, each CAPC has a flag indicating if the CPAC can have reduced priority via RRC signaling. If the flag is set for the CAPC, then data belonging to LCH assigned with the CAPC cannot be multiplexed with data belonging to lower priority LCHs.

Abstract: Various solutions for detecting consistent listen before talk (LBT) failure with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine whether an LBT failure is detected. The apparatus may start a first timer in an event that the LBT failure is detected. The apparatus may increase an LBT counter. The apparatus may determine whether the LBT counter reaches a threshold value. The apparatus may determine a consistent LBT failure event in an event that the LBT counter reaches the threshold value.

Abstract: Various solutions for power-efficient mechanism for multi-link operation with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may establish a first link and a second link with at least one of a plurality of network nodes. The apparatus may monitor the first link. The apparatus may stop monitoring the second link. The apparatus may determine whether a condition is triggered on the first link. The apparatus may activate the second link in response to the condition being triggered on the first link.

Abstract: Various solutions for autonomous retransmission on configured grant with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may start a first timer and a second timer when a transmission is performed on a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process configured for a configured grant. The apparatus may perform an autonomous retransmission using the configured grant when the second timer is expired. The apparatus may cancel restart of the first timer when the autonomous retransmission is performed. The apparatus may restart the second timer when the autonomous retransmission is performed. The apparatus may stop the second timer when the first timer expires. The apparatus may stop the second timer at the activation of a type 2 configured grant.

Abstract: An apparatus implemented in a user equipment (UE) transmits a first message (MsgA) in a two-step random access (RA) procedure to a wireless network. In response, the apparatus receives a second message (MsgB) in the two-step RA procedure from the wireless network. In an event that the MsgB comprises a backoff subheader, a content of the backoff subheader in the two-step RA procedure is identical to a content of a backoff subheader in a four-step RA procedure. MsgB comprises a FallbackRAR subPDU, the format of the FallbackRAR subPDU in the two-step RA procedure is identical to the format of a RAPID/RAR subheader and RAR payload in Msg2 in a four-step RA procedure. MsgB comprises a SuccessRAR subPDU, the format of the SuccessRAR subPDU in the two-step RA procedure uses the format of the SuccessRAR subPDU described herein.

Abstract: This innovation describes methods for an NR-based, LEO Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) to improve handover process by sending broadcast or group-cast downlink handover (HO) Command message to all (or group of) UEs in the coverage area (cell or beam-spot) of the LEO satellite. Subsequently, on receiving the broadcast (or group-cast) HO Command message, all the UEs in the source cell transmit HO Complete message to the source cell of the LEO-NTN. In order to reduce or avoid heavy Random Access (RA), generating from all the UEs, the LEO-NTN can either send Contention Free Random Access (CFRA), or instruct the UE to perform a random backoff before sending the uplink HO Complete message. Moreover, improvements to configure Conditional Handover (CHO) and delaying the transmission of HO Complete message are also provided.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to utilization of assistance information for compensation for Doppler shift in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) are described. A user equipment (UE) receives assistance information via an access link from a network node of an NTN such as a satellite or an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) platform. The UE then performs an operation with respect to communications with the network node based on the assistance information such as cell re-selection or beam switching.

Abstract: Various examples and schemes pertaining to simple Ethernet header compression are described. A first network node transmits a first packet with a full header to a second network node. The first network node determines whether a header compression context for the full header has been established by the second network node. In response to determining that the header compression context for the full header has been established by the second network node, the first network node transmits a second packet with a compressed header to the second network node. In response to determining that the header compression context for the full header has not been established by the second network node, the first network node transmits the second packet or a third packet with the full header to the second network node.

Abstract: Various solutions for power consumption reduction with multi-link operation with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may establish a first link with a first network node. The apparatus may establish a second link with a second network node. The apparatus may receive a dormancy indication via a physical layer signaling from the first network node. The apparatus may transit a dormancy state of the second network node according to the dormancy indication.

Abstract: Various solutions for skipping uplink transmission with respect to user equipment and network apparatus in mobile communications are described. An apparatus may determine whether a padding buffer status report (BSR) is included in a protocol data unit (PDU). The apparatus may skip transmission of the PDU when the padding BSR is included in the PDU. The PDU may comprise a medium access control (MAC) PDU. The MAC PDU may comprise no MAC service data unit (SDU).