Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for robust front end selection control. In one novel aspect, multi-stage head selection is provided. In one embodiment, the UE monitors one or more head-selection triggers, performs a UE Rx wide beam measurement to select at least one deactivated head as at least one standby head based on one or more coarse-beam selection criteria upon detecting at least one head-selection trigger, performs a UE Rx fine beam selection on the active head and the selected standby head, and switches the standby head as the active head based on a result of the fine Rx beam selection and head selection criteria. One or more operations are used for the multi-stage head selection, including multi-head operation, multi-CC measurement, and joint RRM and head selection operation.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes an antenna module, a radio transceiver and a processor. The radio transceiver transmits or receives wireless radio frequency signals to or from an air interface via the one or more antennas of the antenna module. The processor is configured to determine an actual communication capability of the communication apparatus, determine a reduced communication capability of the communication apparatus according to the actual communication capability, and report the reduced communication capability instead of the actual communication capability as a communication capability of the communication apparatus to a network device. A corresponding value of the reduced communication capability is smaller than a corresponding value of the actual communication capability.

Abstract: A method of narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH) monitoring with early decoding and reduced monitoring is proposed. Instead of blind decoding the NPDCCH at the end of each decoding instance, the UE tries to decode the NPDCCH at early decoding instances as well. The early decoding instances are determined based on the SNR of a received radio signal. Once NPDCCH is successfully decoded, UE stops the RF module. Furthermore, the UE skips some subframes for NPDCCH monitoring within each blind decoding interval, and turns on the RF only for synchronization and channel estimation purpose outside an NPDCCH monitoring length. The NPDCCH monitoring length is also determined based on the SNR of the received radio signal. By applying early decoding and reduced monitoring, UE power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of flexible signaling of capability of use equipment (UE) processing time in wireless communications are described. Accordingly, a UE establishes wireless communication with a network node of a wireless network. The UE also determines whether the UE is capable of operating in a second mode in addition to a first mode. The UE then transmits to the network node a report indicating capability of the UE to operate in the second mode and a condition with respect to a throughput associated with operating in the second mode. The UE performs a task in less time in the second mode than in the first mode.

Abstract: Methods are proposed to derive measurement results for User Equipment (UE) antenna selection, beam selection, cell selection, handover, and radio resource management (RRM). First, UE determines its mobility state by using at least two of the following metrics: 1) Doppler information (e.g., from mobility detection gear, MD); 2) beam ping-pong rate, beam change rate, beam change per time period; and 3) moving speed and moving direction from an accelerometer sensor, rotation speed from a gyroscope, ambient magnetic field from a magnetic field sensor, and at least one active antenna set. Next, UE uses an averaging number that is adapted based on its mobility state to derive an average measurement result including at least one of RSRP, RSRQ, RSSI, IL, SNR, and SINR. Finally, UE performs antenna selection, beam selection, cell selection, or RRM based on the average measurement result and joint consideration.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus that includes a receiving circuit and a processing circuit. The receiving circuit is configured to receive signals transmitted from a second apparatus to the apparatus and generate digital samples in response to the received signals. The signals have a plurality of resource elements. The processing circuit is configured to receive the digital samples, process the digital samples to generate symbols carried by the resource elements, detect control channel assistance information at a predetermined position of the resource elements and detect control information based on the detection of the control channel assistance information.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes an antenna module, a radio transceiver and a processor. The radio transceiver transmits or receives wireless radio frequency signals to or from an air interface via the one or more antennas of the antenna module. The processor is configured to determine an actual communication capability of the communication apparatus, determine a reduced communication capability of the communication apparatus according to the actual communication capability, and report the reduced communication capability instead of the actual communication capability as a communication capability of the communication apparatus to a network device. A corresponding value of the reduced communication capability is smaller than a corresponding value of the actual communication capability.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and device for low power synchronization in wireless communication. The method waking an electronic device that communicates with a network from a low power mode to a working mode. The method may include transitioning from the low power mode to a pre-sync mode that includes a first phase having a first phase duration and a sleep phase having a sleep phase duration. A quality of synchronization signals transmitted on a first network carrier of the network during the first phase of the pre-sync mode can be detected, and the sleep phase duration of the sleep phase can be set based on at least the detected quality of the synchronization signals. During the pre-sync mode, the operation mode can transition from the first phase to the sleep phase when the sleep phase duration is greater than a sleep threshold.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) including a wireless transceiver and a controller is provided. The wireless transceiver performs wireless transmission and reception to and from a service network. The controller receives a measurement configuration and a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration from the service network via the wireless transceiver, extends a measurement period indicated by the measurement configuration, and performs a cell measurement via the wireless transceiver in the extended measurement period.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of flexible signaling of capability of use equipment (UE) processing time in wireless communications are described. Accordingly, a UE establishes wireless communication with a network node of a wireless network. The UE also determines whether the UE is capable of operating in a second mode in addition to a first mode. The UE then transmits to the network node a report indicating capability of the UE to operate in the second mode and a condition with respect to a throughput associated with operating in the second mode. The UE performs a task in less time in the second mode than in the first mode.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide methods and device for low power synchronization in wireless communication. The method waking an electronic device that communicates with a network from a low power mode to a working mode. The method may include transitioning from the low power mode to a pre-sync mode that includes a first phase having a first phase duration and a sleep phase having a sleep phase duration. A quality of synchronization signals transmitted on a first network carrier of the network during the first phase of the pre-sync mode can be detected, and the sleep phase duration of the sleep phase can be set based on at least the detected quality of the synchronization signals. During the pre-sync mode, the operation mode can transition from the first phase to the sleep phase when the sleep phase duration is greater than a sleep threshold.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of flexible signaling of capability of use equipment (UE) processing time in wireless communications are described. Accordingly, a UE establishes wireless communication with a network node of a wireless network. The UE also determines whether the UE is capable of operating in a second mode in addition to a first mode. The UE then transmits to the network node a report indicating capability of the UE to operate in the second mode and a condition with respect to a throughput associated with operating in the second mode. The UE performs a task in less time in the second mode than in the first mode.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide an apparatus that includes a receiving circuit and a processing circuit. The receiving circuit is configured to receive signals transmitted from a second apparatus to the apparatus and generate digital samples in response to the received signals. The signals have a plurality of resource elements. The processing circuit is configured to receive the digital samples, process the digital samples to generate symbols carried by the resource elements, detect control channel assistance information at a predetermined position of the resource elements and detect control information based on the detection of the control channel assistance information.

Abstract: A method of narrowband physical downlink control channel (NPDCCH) monitoring with early decoding and reduced monitoring is proposed. Instead of blind decoding the NPDCCH at the end of each decoding instance, the UE tries to decode the NPDCCH at early decoding instances as well. The early decoding instances are determined based on the SNR of a received radio signal. Once NPDCCH is successfully decoded, UE stops the RF module. Furthermore, the UE skips some subframes for NPDCCH monitoring within each blind decoding interval, and turns on the RF only for synchronization and channel estimation purpose outside an NPDCCH monitoring length. The NPDCCH monitoring length is also determined based on the SNR of the received radio signal. By applying early decoding and reduced monitoring, UE power consumption can be reduced.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses pertaining to uplink power consumption reduction for a Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) apparatus. The NB-IoT apparatus may transmit uplink data to a network apparatus via an uplink channel. The network apparatus may decode the uplink data. The network apparatus may further transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) indicator to the NB-IoT apparatus before receiving all the uplink data if the uplink data is decoded successfully. The NB-IoT apparatus may monitor whether an ACK indicator is received from the network apparatus during a transmission gap of the uplink channel. The NB-IoT apparatus may further terminate uplink data transmission if the ACK indicator is received.

Abstract: A User Equipment (UE) including a wireless transceiver and a controller is provided. The wireless transceiver performs wireless transmission and reception to and from a service network. The controller receives a measurement configuration and a Discontinuous Reception (DRX) configuration from the service network via the wireless transceiver, extends a measurement period indicated by the measurement configuration, and performs a cell measurement via the wireless transceiver in the extended measurement period.

Abstract: Techniques and examples of flexible signaling of capability of use equipment (UE) processing time in wireless communications are described. Accordingly, a UE establishes wireless communication with a network node of a wireless network. The UE also determines whether the UE is capable of operating in a second mode in addition to a first mode. The UE then transmits to the network node a report indicating capability of the UE to operate in the second mode and a condition with respect to a throughput associated with operating in the second mode. The UE performs a task in less time in the second mode than in the first mode.

Abstract: A method for performing traffic steering between a first access network and a second access network in a communications apparatus includes: monitoring a current status of the communications apparatus; determining whether the current status meets a predetermined condition; performing traffic steering between the first access network and the second access network according to network configurations when the current status meets the predetermined condition; and performing traffic steering between the first access network and the second access network according to the current status of the communications apparatus when the current status does not meet the predetermined condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for reducing Wi-Fi authentication process time in interworking of Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Wi-Fi. The method comprises: activating a Wi-Fi authentication process; monitoring a Wi-Fi signal quality; determining whether to stop the Wi-Fi authentication process according to the Wi-Fi signal quality; and stopping the Wi-Fi authentication process when the Wi-Fi signal quality does not satisfy a first specific condition. The UE comprises: a processing circuit, having functions of: activating a Wi-Fi authentication process; monitoring a Wi-Fi signal quality; determining whether to stop the Wi-Fi authentication process according to the Wi-Fi signal quality; and stopping the Wi-Fi authentication process when the Wi-Fi signal quality does not satisfy a first specific condition.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses pertaining to uplink power consumption reduction for a Narrow Band-Internet of Things (NB-IoT) apparatus. The NB-IoT apparatus may transmit uplink data to a network apparatus via an uplink channel. The network apparatus may decode the uplink data. The network apparatus may further transmit an acknowledgement (ACK) indicator to the NB-IoT apparatus before receiving all the uplink data if the uplink data is decoded successfully. The NB-IoT apparatus may monitor whether an ACK indicator is received from the network apparatus during a transmission gap of the uplink channel. The NB-IoT apparatus may further terminate uplink data transmission if the ACK indicator is received.