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 cell. The controller receives first barring information and second barring information from the cell via the wireless transceiver, and ignores the first barring information in response to the UE supporting network-based Cell-specific Reference Signal (CRS) interference mitigation. Also, the controller allows the UE to access the cell in response to the UE supporting network-based CRS interference mitigation and the second barring information indicating that the cell is not barred.

Abstract: A method can include receiving measurement configurations for measuring serving/neighboring cells at a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system. The measurement configurations can indicate multiple measurement objects (MOs) each with a SSB measurement timing configuration (SMTC) specifying a sequence of SMTC window durations (i.e. SMTC occasions), and a sequence of gap occasions. The MOs can be measured within the SMTC occasions that overlap the gap occasions. The method can further include determining a carrier-specific scaling factor for a target MO in the multiple MOs based on candidate MOs to be measured in each of the gap occasions.

Abstract: A first network node receives downlink signaling from a second network node in a first occasion, received on a first carrier in a first time slot, and a second occasion, which is received either on the first carrier in a second time slot after the first time slot or on a second carrier in the first time slot or the second time slot. A MAC control element (CE) in the downlink signaling received in the first and second occasions contain a first timing padding value and a second timing padding value, respectively. A predetermined time slot is equally indicated by the first time slot plus the first timing padding value as well as by the second time slot plus the second timing padding value. The first network node effects one or more configurations in the predetermined time slot responsive to receiving the downlink signaling in the first and second occasions.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for control overhead reduction. The UE configures one or more short transmission time interval regions over a normal TTI region shared by the UE and one or more other, each UE includes a self-contained control information sPDCCH occupying a control information region. The UE detects a cover signal, which indicates one or more resource elements in the sPDCCH control-information region that can be used for data transmission. The UE obtains data transmission from the REs in the SPDCCH control information region based on the detected cover signal. In one embodiment, the cover signal is a dedicated signal. In another embodiment, the cover signal is a common signal. In yet another embodiment, the cover signal is encoded in a downlink control information (DCI) intended for the UE. In one embodiment, the cover signal indicates one or more CCE REs to be excluded for data transmission.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for transmission preemption and its indication. In one novel aspect, the UE receives a downlink resource assignment and determines whether an ultra-low latency (ULL) alert signal exists, wherein the ULL alert signal indicates a set of soft bits are overridden. The UE discards the set of soft bits from the overridden resources upon determining the ULL alert signal exists. In one embodiment, the ULL alert signal resides in the assignment subframe, and the overridden soft bits are in the assignment subframe. The alert timing for the ULL alert signal is preconfigured. In another embodiment, the ULL alert signal resides in a subframe that is right after the assignment subframe. The alert signal is enabled through an enabling of an enhanced mobile broadband and ULL service. The alter signal indicates a superset of the overridden soft bits or part of the overridden soft bits.

Abstract: A physical random access channel (PRACH) waveform design to satisfy the requirements on the occupied channel bandwidth in eLAA wireless communications network is provided. In one alternative, PRACH comprises multiple segments in the time/frequency domain in one subframe. In another alternative, PRACH comprises multiple segments in the time/frequency domain across two or more subframes by using inter-subframe hopping. In one advantageous aspect, PDCCH triggers the dynamic allocation of the PRACH resource to facilitate the listen-before-talk (LBT) channel access procedure in unlicensed carriers. The aperiodic and dynamic allocation of PRACH resource improves efficiency and PRACH success rate.

Abstract: A method of two-layer (Rank=2) demodulation reference signal (DMRS) based transmission scheme is proposed. The precoding matrix on a data RE can be represented as A×B. The precoding matrix on the UE-specific reference signal DMRS is A. Matrix B is the co-phasing cycling matrix. By applying the proposed co-phasing cycling matrix B for Rank=2 DMRS-based transmission scheme, the ratio of PDSCH EPRE to DMRS EPRE is equal to 0 dB, as required by the LTE specification. Further, when the DMRS power follows the precoding matrix A, UE channel estimation performance is improved.

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: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method of data transmission that includes determining a transmission time interval for transmission of a transport block and setting a segmentation threshold for the transport block to a first threshold or a second threshold that is less than the first threshold based on the determined transmission time interval. The method includes converting the transport block into one or more outgoing code blocks that each has a size not greater than the determined segmentation threshold and encoding the one or more outgoing code blocks for transmission when communication device is configured to transmit the transport block. The method also includes receiving one or more incoming code blocks that each has a size not greater than the determined segmentation threshold and reconstructing the transport block from the one or more incoming code blocks when communication device is configured to receive the transport block.

Abstract: A method of dynamic spectrum sharing mechanism called listen-before-talk (LBT) is proposed for uplink transmission in Licensed Assisted Access (LAA). A maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) including downlink (DL) transmission from one eNB and uplink (UL) transmission to the same eNB is introduced. A transmission sequence is defined as a number of subframes including possible partial subframes for DL and/or UL within a MCOT. The transmission in the first subframe among the transmission sequence is conducted after a Category 4 LBT. The transmission sequence within the MCOT can be initiated by either a DL transmission or an UL transmission. After the first subframe in a transmission sequence, LBT for another transmission is a fast DL LBT and/or fast UL LBT. Further, a Category 4 LBT can be converted to a short LBT (e.g., one shot CCA) for more efficient channel access.

Abstract: A method of uplink data compression (UDC) error handling is proposed to handle UDC error and to maintain compression memory synchronization between a transmitter and a receiver. Specifically, UDC checksum operation is proposed to maintain compression memory synchronization between compressor at the transmitter and decompressor at the receiver. The transmitter attaches a checksum to each UDC packet and keeps processed uncompressed data in a compression memory. The receiver decompresses each UDC packet and keeps processed uncompressed data in a compression memory. If the UDC compression memory is unsynchronized and a checksum mismatch is detected, the receiver sends an error indication to the transmitter, which resets its compression memory. The transmitter sends a reset indication to the receiver to reset its compression memory. The UDC compression memory is re-synchronized and UDC is restarted from the beginning.

Abstract: A method of reporting UE measurement state information in RLF report is provided. A UE performs radio measurements of a serving cell and neighbor cells in a mobile communication network. The UE evaluates a measurement reporting criteria and attempts to access the network to deliver a measurement report if the criteria is met. The UE then detects a radio link failure or a handover failure event and reconnects to the network by performing RRC reestablishment or RRC establishment. Finally, the UE transmits a failure event report to the network. The failure event report comprises UE measurement state information corresponds to the failure event. The UE measurement state information helps the network to determine whether to apply corrective actions to mitigate the failure.

Abstract: A method of throughput and data volume measurement for minimization of drive test (MDT) is proposed. A base station establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with a user equipment (UE) in a mobile communication network. The base station or UE measures transmitted or received data volume during a transmission time of a data burst between the base station and the UE. When the data burst spans multiple measurement periods and the data burst is split at each measurement period boundary. For each measurement period, data volume during the measurement period is measured to generate a measurement result. When throughput measurement is performed by the network, the base station receives location information that is available during the transmission time of the data burst. The data volume measurement is logged with time stamp such that each measurement result can correlated with the location information.

Abstract: A method of supporting fast dual connectivity (DC) configuration after fallback in a 4G/5G network is proposed. A UE is configured with MR-DC (Multi-RAT Dual Connectivity) and is connected to both LTE/NR RAT in LTE/NR serving cells of master cell group (MCG) and secondary cell group (SCG). The UE has to fall back to legacy 2G/3G RAT and is forced to release the DC configuration. The UE records the serving cell information before fallback procedure and sends assistant information of the DC configuration to the network after fallback procedure. The assistant information comprises the stored serving cell information and optional additional measurement results for candidate SCG cells. The assistant information allows the network to resume the highspeed data transmission soon after the fallback procedure.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided for RRM measurement in the NR network. In one novel aspect, the RRM measurement is configured with one measurement gap for SS block and CSI-RS. In one embodiment, an extended MGL (eMGL) is configured such that the SS block and CSI-RS is measurement within one measurement gap. In another embodiment, the shorter MGL (sMGL) that is shorter than the standard MGL is configured. In another novel aspect, the CSI-RS is allocated adjacent to the SS blocks such that one measurement gap is configured for both the SS block and CSI-RS measurement. In another novel aspect, the CSI-RS measurement is conditionally configured. In yet another novel aspect, the UE decodes the time index of the SS block conditionally.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast bearer in a network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. In one embodiment, The UE requests to switch the DL multicast traffic from the multicast MBMS bearer to the unicast bearer upon detecting that the UE is approaching an MBMS coverage boundary. In another embodiment, the UE transmits an indication of preferred target cells to the network before performing a handover and thereby maintaining multicast service continuity of the group communication.

Abstract: A method of managing bandwidth resources provided by multiple network interfaces is proposed. When one or more network interfaces provide network bandwidth resources, a bandwidth manager manages all available bandwidth resources based on a list of decision criteria. The list of decision criteria includes energy efficiency, network throughput, channel condition, device mobility, and user preference. An application traffic flow distributor dynamically adjusts the amount of traffic flows on different network interfaces according to the joint decision based on the decision criteria. A network interface manager dynamically enables or disables each network interface according to the joint decision based on the decision criteria. Furthermore, a device movement analyzer analyzes and predicts device movement to facilitate accurate decision making of the bandwidth management.

Abstract: A UE controls in-device coexistence (IDC) indication message generation to mitigate potential throughput impact on UE to maintain UE performance as much as possible. Under the proposed method, FDM-based solution is always preferred by the UE. Based on the IDC indication message generated by the UE, a network applies an IDC interference mitigation solution that prioritizes FDM-based solution. Specifically, the UE first sends an IDC message requesting FDM-based solution. In case the serving eNB does not respond, the UE sends a new IDC message by alternating IDC option. Even if a TDM-based solution has been received, the UE may continue requesting FDM-based solution to gain UE performance.

Abstract: A method of two-layer (Rank=2) demodulation reference signal (DMRS) based transmission scheme is proposed. The precoding matrix on a data RE can be represented as A×B. The precoding matrix on the UE-specific reference signal DMRS is A. Matrix B is the co-phasing cycling matrix. By applying the proposed co-phasing cycling matrix B for Rank=2 DMRS-based transmission scheme, the ratio of PDSCH EPRE to DMRS EPRE is equal to OdB, as required by the LTE specification. Further, when the DMRS power follows the precoding matrix A, UE channel estimation performance is improved.

Abstract: A method of supporting group communication over LTE MBMS is provided. A UE first establishes a unicast Evolved Packet Service (EPS) bearer in an LTE network for group communication. The UE belongs to a communication group having a communication group ID. The UE receives access information from the network for monitoring downlink (DL) multicast traffic of the DL group communication based on a multicast decision. The UE is then ready for monitoring a multicast Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Service (MBMS) bearer for receiving the DL multicast traffic. In one embodiment, The UE requests to switch the DL multicast traffic from the multicast MBMS bearer to the unicast EPS bearer upon detecting that the UE is approaching an MBMS coverage boundary. In another embodiment, the UE transmits an indication of preferred target cells to the network before performing a handover and thereby maintaining multicast service continuity of the group communication.