Bandwidth Part Operation in a Wireless Communication Network

A wireless device (18) is configured for use in a wireless communication network (10). The wireless device (18) receives broadcasted system information (20) for a cell (14). The broadcasted system information (20) indicates multiple bandwidth parts (16-1, 16-2 . . . 16-N)of the cell (14), where the multiple bandwidth parts (16-1, 16-2, . . . 16-N) indicated are either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts. Alternatively or additionally, the broadcasted system information (20) indicates respective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, for the cell (14).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to a wireless communication network and relates more particularly to bandwidth part operation in such a network.

BACKGROUND

In some wireless communication networks, such as those based on New Radio (NR), the receive and/or transmit bandwidth of a wireless device need not be as large as the bandwidth of a cell. Rather, the wireless device can use a receive and/or transmit bandwidth that is just a subset of the total cell bandwidth of the cell. In this regard, a subset of the total cell bandwidth of a cell is referred to herein as a bandwidth part (BWP). Allowing a wireless device to use just a part of the total cell bandwidth in this way creates flexibility in how the total cell bandwidth can be used. However, bandwidth part operation heretofore requires all wireless devices (e.g., in a radio resource control, RRC, idle state) to initially access and camp on the cell using the same BWP. This bottleneck in turn threatens to limit system capacity, especially for non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) whose cells cover large areas. Moreover, while reusing frequencies on a bandwidth part basis may improve signal quality and facilitate mobility management, it complicates data channel transmission and reception.

SUMMARY

According to some embodiments herein, a radio network node informs a wireless device about multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs) of a cell, e.g., multiple downlink BWPs of the cell or multiple uplink BWPs of the cell. The radio network node may for example broadcast system information indicating the multiple BWPs of the cell. In these and other embodiments, then, the wireless device may be informed about the multiple BWPs even in advance of the wireless device accessing, or camping on, the cell, e.g., from a radio resource control (RRC) idle state or an RRC inactive state. This way, rather than only a single BWP being available to the wireless device for accessing or camping on the cell, multiple BWPs are made available in this regard as options for the wireless device to select between. Some embodiments accordingly control or configure wireless device BWP selection so that at least some wireless devices select different BWPs for accessing or camping on the cell, e.g., from RRC idle or RRC inactive. This distributes loading attributable to access and camping across multiple BWPs of the cell so as to advantageously alleviate bottlenecking and increase system capacity. Such may prove particularly advantageous in embodiments where the cell is in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or otherwise has a large coverage area.

According to other embodiments herein, a radio network node alternatively or additionally informs a wireless device about the respective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) for a cell. Signaling the respective frequency positions of the multiple SSBs for the cell in this way may advantageously enable adaptive use of BWPs for frequency reuse planning, e.g., based on traffic demand. Indeed, in these and other embodiments, SSBs may be flexibly positioned as needed so that any given BWP may have zero, one, or more SSBs included therein, or even have a fraction of an SSB included therein. Rate matching may then be employed for data channel transmissions, to account for potentially multiple SSBs being positioned within the operating bandwidth of the wireless device, e.g., in the form of a selected BWP from among multiple BWPs. Some embodiments may thereby advantageously enable adaptive use of BWPs for frequency reuse planning, while preserving data channel performance.

Generally, then, embodiments herein include a method performed by a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication network. The method may comprise receiving broadcasted system information for a cell. The broadcasted system information indicates at least one of any one or more of: (i) multiple bandwidth parts of the cell; and (ii) respective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) for the cell.

In embodiments where the broadcasted system information indicates multiple bandwidth parts of the cell, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated may be either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts. In some embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by the wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell, e.g., in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state. In this case, the method may further comprise selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell. Alternatively or additionally, the method may further comprise accessing, or camping on, the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, e.g., from an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.

In some embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by the wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell. In this case, the method may further comprise accessing, or camping on, the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated. In one or more of these embodiments, accessing the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated comprises transmitting or receiving one or more messages of a random access procedure in one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated. Alternatively or additionally, camping on the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated may comprise monitoring a paging channel in one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell. In one such embodiment, selecting one or more bandwidth parts comprises selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts based on an identity which identifies the wireless device or a subscriber associated with the wireless device and/or based on signal measurements performed by the wireless device on signals received in respective ones of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell. In one such embodiment, selecting one or more bandwidth parts comprises randomly selecting one or more bandwidth parts from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated according to a probability distribution indicated by the broadcasted system information.

In some embodiments, for at least one of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is indicated by the broadcasted system information and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is received by the wireless device on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part. In other embodiments, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is either indicated by the broadcasted system information or is received by the wireless device on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part, and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is derived by the wireless device from configuration parameters for another bandwidth part.

In some embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts are each usable by the wireless device to perform one or more operations in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state. In one such embodiment, the method further comprises, while the wireless device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state, performing one or more operations using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates multiple downlink bandwidth parts and multiple uplink bandwidth parts. In one such embodiment, the broadcasted system information indicates selectable bandwidth part pairs, with each bandwidth part pair including one of the multiple downlink bandwidth parts and one of the multiple uplink bandwidth parts. In this case, the method may further comprise selecting one of the selectable bandwidth part pairs to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information includes a System Information Block 1 (SIB1) that indicates the at least one of any one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell and the respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication network is or includes a non-terrestrial network.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates a first polarization mode for a first bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell and a second polarization mode for a second bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises determining, based on the one or more respective positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs for the cell, radio resources on which to receive a data channel of the cell and receiving the data channel on radio resources according to said determining.

In some embodiments, at least two of the multiple SSBs for the cell are cell-defining SSBs.

Embodiments herein also include a corresponding method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The method comprises broadcasting system information for a cell. The broadcasted system information indicates at least one of any one or more of: (i) multiple bandwidth parts of the cell; and (ii) respective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) for the cell.

In embodiments where the broadcasted system information indicates multiple bandwidth parts of the cell, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated may be either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated to serve a wireless device.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell. In one or more of these embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by a wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting or receiving one or more messages of a random access procedure in each of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated. Additionally or alternatively, the method further comprises paging the same wireless device within each of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.

In some embodiments, the system information indicates a probability distribution according to which the wireless device is to randomly select, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell.

In some embodiments, for at least one of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is indicated by the broadcasted system information and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is transmitted on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part. In other embodiments, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is either indicated by the broadcasted system information or is transmitted on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part, and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is derivable from configuration parameters for another bandwidth part.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates multiple downlink bandwidth parts and multiple uplink bandwidth parts. In one such embodiment, the broadcasted system information indicates selectable bandwidth part pairs, with each bandwidth part pair including one of the multiple downlink bandwidth parts and one of the multiple uplink bandwidth parts.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information includes a System Information Block 1 (SIB1) that indicates the at least one of any one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell and the respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell.

In some embodiments, the wireless communication network is or includes a non-terrestrial network.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates a first polarization mode for a first bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell and a second polarization mode for a second bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.

In some embodiments, the broadcasted system information indicates respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell. In one or more of these embodiments, the method further comprises mapping a data channel of the cell onto radio resources in dependence on one or more respective frequency positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs for the cell, and transmitting the data channel on radio resources according to said mapping.

In some embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple uplink bandwidth parts. In one such embodiment, the method further comprises monitoring each of two or more of the multiple uplink bandwidth parts for a random access preamble from a wireless device.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, a bandwidth part that a wireless device is to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell. In this case, determining the bandwidth part may be performed based on an identity which identifies the wireless device or a subscriber associated with the wireless device.

In some embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple downlink bandwidth parts. In this case, determining the bandwidth part may comprise determining, from the multiple downlink bandwidth parts, a downlink bandwidth part that the wireless device is to use for camping on the cell. In this case, the method further comprises paging the wireless device within the determined downlink bandwidth part.

In some embodiments, at least two of the multiple SSBs for the cell are cell-defining SSBs.

Embodiments herein may further include a method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The method comprises broadcasting multiple system information blocks (e.g., multiple type 1 system information blocks, SIB1s) that each indicate system information for the same cell and that each define scheduling of other system information blocks. In some embodiments, the multiple system information blocks are broadcasted at different frequency positions within the same carrier. The method may in some embodiments further comprise transmitting synchronization signal blocks (SSBs). The SSBs may be associated with respective ones of the multiple system information blocks broadcasted and/or indicate parameters (e.g., control resource sets) for receiving respective ones of the multiple system information blocks broadcasted.

In some embodiments, at least two or more of the multiple system information blocks are broadcasted in different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises performing, in each of the different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell, random access procedures for wireless devices to access the cell from a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state. Additionally or alternatively, the method further comprises transmitting, in each of the different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell, paging messages to wireless devices in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.

In some embodiments, the system information blocks broadcasted are each a System Information Block 1 (SIB1).

In some embodiments, the wireless communication network is or includes a non-terrestrial network.

Other embodiments herein include a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication network. The wireless device is configured to receive broadcasted system information for a cell. The broadcasted system information indicates at least one of any one or more of multiple bandwidth parts of the cell, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts, and respective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, for the cell.

In some embodiments, the wireless device is configured to perform the steps described above for a wireless device.

Other embodiments herein include a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The radio network node is configured to broadcast system information for a cell. The broadcasted system information indicates at least one of any one or more of multiple bandwidth parts of the cell, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts, and respective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, for the cell.

In some embodiments, the radio network node is configured to perform the steps described above for a radio network node.

Other embodiments herein include a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network. The radio network node is configured to broadcast multiple system information blocks that each indicate system information for the same cell and that each define scheduling of other system information blocks.

In some embodiments, the radio network node is configured to perform the steps described above for a radio network node.

Other embodiments herein include a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless device, causes the wireless device to carry out the steps described above for a wireless device. Other embodiments herein include a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a radio network node, causes the radio network node to carry out the steps described above for a radio network node. In one or more of these embodiments, a carrier containing the computer program described above is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG.1shows a wireless communication network10(e.g., a non-terrestrial network, NTN) according to some embodiments. The network10includes one or more radio network nodes (e.g., one or more base stations) that each provide one or more cells, potentially in cooperation with one or more satellites. Different cells may be provided on and/or correspond to different radio carriers, which may have respective bandwidths in frequency.

As depicted, for example, the network10includes a radio network node12that provides a cell14, e.g., in cooperation with one or more satellites15. The cell14may be uniquely identified in the wireless communication network10by a cell global identity such as a New Radio Cell Global Identity (NCGI). The total cell bandwidth16of the cell14spans from frequency F_0 to frequency F_N. The receive and/or transmit bandwidth of a wireless device, however, need not be as large as the total cell bandwidth16. Rather, a wireless device can use a receive and/or transmit bandwidth that is just a subset of the total cell bandwidth16of the cell14. A subset of the total cell bandwidth16of the cell14is referred to herein as a bandwidth part (BWP).

According to some embodiments, the radio network node12is configured to inform a wireless device18about multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs)16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14. In some embodiments, the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N are multiple downlink BWPs, e.g., each dedicated for downlink communication from the radio network node12to the wireless device18. In other embodiments, the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N are multiple uplink BWPs, e.g., each dedicated for uplink communication from the wireless device18to the radio network node12. In any of the embodiments, though, each of the BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N is a respective subset of the total cell bandwidth16of the cell14, e.g., included within the frequency span of the same carrier. In one such embodiment, each BWP is a contiguous subset of physical resource blocks (PRBs) defined for a given numerology on a given carrier, e.g., where a PRB is 12 consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. As shown, for example, BWP16-1spans from F_0 to F_1, BWP16-2spans from F_1 to F_2, and so on up to BWP16-N spanning from F_(N-1) to F_N. Although illustrated here as non-overlapping or disjoint, the BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N in other embodiments may at least partially overlap with one another.

No matter the particular nature of the BWPs as being downlink BWPs or uplink BWPs, the radio network node12in some embodiments informs the wireless device18about those BWPs by broadcasting system information20which indicates the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14. The system information20may indicate these multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N even though the system information20may be broadcast in only one downlink BWP of the cell14, e.g., a so-called initial BWP. In some embodiments, the system information20is a Master Information Block (MIB) or a System Information Block of Type 1 (SIB1). As shown, for instance, the system information20includes BWP information22(e.g., in the form of one or more information elements, IEs) which indicates the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14.

The system information20may indicate the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N in the sense that the system information20indicates, for each of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N, one or more parameters of that BWP. The one or more parameters of a BWP may include, for instance, an identity or index of the BWP, a location of the BWP in frequency, a bandwidth spanned by the BWP, numerology (e.g., subcarrier spacing, cyclic prefix length, etc. for the BWP), and/or a control resource set for the BWP.

In some embodiments, the system information20fully specifies or indicates at least one of the multiple BPWs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N, e.g., by specifying all needed configuration parameters for use. In other embodiments, though, the system information20may only partially specify or indicate at least one of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N, e.g., by specifying only a portion of the needed configuration parameters for use.

As an example of these latter embodiments, for at least one of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the BWP is indicated by the broadcasted system information20and another portion of the configuration parameters for the BWP is indicated on a downlink channel in the BWP itself. The portion of configurations parameters indicated by the broadcasted system information20may include for instance an identity of the BWP as well as generic parameters of the BWP such as frequency location and bandwidth, subcarrier spacing, and/or cyclic prefix length. The portion of configuration parameters indicated on a downlink channel in the BWP itself may include additional system information and/or dedicated (i.e., device-specific) parameters.

As another example, for at least one of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the BWP is indicated by the broadcasted system information20or is indicated on a downlink channel in the BWP itself, and another portion of configuration parameters for the BWP is derived by the wireless device18from configuration parameters for another BWP, e.g., the BWP in which the broadcasted system information20is received. Such derivation may be based upon inheritance from the BWP in which the broadcasted system information20is received, e.g., one or more configuration parameters for a BWP may be inherited from one or more parameters of a common control resource set configured by the broadcasted system information20. One exception may be the parameter frequencyDomainResources that configures the frequency domain resource for the common control resource set. Each bit in frequencyDomainResources corresponds to a group of6resource blocks, with grouping starting from the first resource block group in BWP #0. In one example, a separate parameter is used to configure the frequency domain resource for the common control resource set used in a BWP other than BWP #0. Alternatively, the frequency domain resource for the common control resource set used in a BWP other than BWP #0 is derived from frequencyDomainResources configured in the system information2by assuming that the grouping starts from the first resource block group in that BWP.

In any event, with the system information20broadcasted for the cell14, the information indicating the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N may be considered cell-specific information, as opposed to device-specific information. The multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated in may thereby represent BWPs that are commonly available to multiple wireless devices, as opposed to being dedicated for a particular wireless device.

In these and other embodiments, then, the wireless device18may be informed about the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14even in advance of the wireless device18accessing, or camping on, the cell14, e.g., from a radio resource control (RRC) idle state or an RRC inactive state. The multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated may thereby each be usable by the wireless device18to access, or camp on, the cell14, e.g., from an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state. This way, rather than only a single BWP being available to the wireless device18for accessing or camping on the cell14, multiple

BWPs are made available in this regard as options for the wireless device18to select between.

In some embodiments, therefore, the wireless device18selects, from the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, one or more BWPs to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell14. In one such embodiment, the wireless device18randomly selects, from the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N, one or more BWPs to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell14. This random selection may be performed according to a certain probability distribution. The probability distribution in one embodiment may specify an equal probability of selection for each of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N. In other embodiments, the probability distribution may specify an unequal probability of selection amongst the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N, e.g., so as to bias selection towards certain BWP(s). In one such embodiment, for instance, the probability distribution may specify a weight wnto BWP16-nso that the wireless device18selects BWP16-n with probability wnΣmwm. Regardless, in some embodiments, the probability distribution is fixed, e.g., in the sense that it does not change from time to time. In other embodiments, the probability distribution is dynamic, e.g., so as to change from time to time or from circumstance to circumstance. In one embodiment, for example, the system information20may indicate the probability distribution to the wireless device18. This may thereby enable the radio network node12to dynamically adapt the probability distribution as needed, e.g., based on estimated load across BWPs.

In other embodiments, the wireless device18selects, from the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, one or more BWPs based on an identity which identifies the wireless device18or a subscriber associated with the wireless device18. The identity may be an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI), a Subscription Permanent Identity (SUPI) such as an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI), or the like. Regardless, in embodiments where the multiple BWPs indicated have respective indices (e.g., 1 to N), the wireless device18may for example select a BWP with an index n=ID mod N, where ID is the identity which identifies the wireless device18or the subscriber associated with the wireless device18, and where N is a number of the multiple BWPs indicated.

In yet other embodiments, the wireless device18selects, from the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, one or more BWPs based on signal measurements performed by the wireless device18on signals received in respective ones of the multiple BWPs indicated. The wireless device18may for example measure the strength of signals received in respective ones of the multiple BWPs indicated and select the BWP that provides the maximum received signal power.

These and other embodiments effectively control or configure wireless device BWP selection so that at least some wireless devices select different BWPs for accessing or camping on the cell14, e.g., from RRC idle or RRC inactive.FIG.2in this regard shows a simple example where wireless devices18-1,18-2, . . .18-N each receive the broadcast information20informing the devices about the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N. Having been informed about the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N, wireless device18-1in this example selects BWP16-1for cell access or camping, wireless device18-2selects BWP16-2for cell access or camping, and so on up to wireless device18-N selects BWP16-N for cell access or camping. These and other examples demonstrate that some embodiments distribute loading attributable to access and camping across multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14so as to advantageously alleviate bottlenecking and increase system capacity. Such may prove particularly advantageous in embodiments where the cell14is in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or otherwise has a large coverage area.

In embodiments where the wireless device's BWP selection is deterministic, such as where BWP selection is performed based on an identity associated with the wireless device or a subscriber, the radio network node12may similarly select to use the same BWP(s) to serve the wireless device18, e.g., in RRC idle state or RRC inactive state. For example, the radio network node12may determine, based on an identity which identifies the wireless device18or a subscriber associated with the wireless device18, the downlink BWP that the wireless device18is to select for camping on the cell14. The radio network node12may then page the wireless device18within the determined downlink BWP. Alternatively or additionally, the radio network node12may determine, based on an identity which identifies the wireless device18or a subscriber associated with the wireless device18, the uplink BWP that the wireless device18is to select for accessing the cell14. The radio network node12may then monitor for a random access preamble from the wireless device18within the determined uplink BWP.

In other embodiments where BWP selection is non-deterministic, such as where BWP selection is random or based upon signal measurements, the radio network node12may account for the wireless device18selecting any of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated. For example, where the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N are uplink BWPs, the radio network node12may monitor each of two or more of the uplink BWPs for use by the wireless device18to access the cell14, e.g., for a random access preamble from the wireless device18. As another example, where the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N are downlink BWPs, the radio network node12may page the wireless device18in each of the multiple downlink BWPs.

Note that accessing the cell14using one or more of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated may involve transmitting or receiving one or more messages of a random access procedure, e.g., in one or more of the BWPs indicated. Accessing the cell14in this case involves attempting to perform random access to the cell14, e.g., so as to potentially contend for access with one or more other wireless devices. This access to the cell14may be performed from RRC idle state, so as to be referred to as the wireless device's initial access to the cell14from that state. In these and other embodiments, during initial access, the wireless device18may perform cell search based on a synchronization signal block (SSB), read the system information20(e.g., SIB1) on one of the BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N (e.g., BWP #0), and select a BWP from the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N configured in the system information20to perform RRC idle random access and/or read paging.

Note further that camping on the cell14using one or more of the BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated (e.g., in the form of downlink BWPs) may involve monitoring a paging channel in one or more of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16N. More broadly, though, a wireless device18camping on the cell14herein refers to the wireless device18monitoring one or more downlink channels of the cell14, e.g., from a state in which the wireless device18has acquired system information and knows how to send a random access preamble on the random access channel to access the cell14. In some embodiments, when the wireless device18is camped on a cell, the wireless device18has completed the cell (re)selection process, has chosen a cell, monitors system information, and (in most cases) monitors paging information. Camping therefore enables the wireless device18to receive system information, initially access the network on the control channel of the cell on which it is camped, and receive a paging message and respond.

Of course, although the wireless device18was described in some embodiments above as using one or more of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N for accessing, or camping on, the cell14, the wireless device18in other embodiments may use one or more of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N to perform any type of operation(s) in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state. That is, the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N in some embodiments are each usable by the wireless device18to perform one or more operations in an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state. These operation(s) may include or relate to Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) selection, cell (re)selection, and/or location registration and RAN Notification Area (RNA) update. These operation(s) may be implemented, for example, as described in 3GPP TS 38.304 v15.6.0.

Note that an RRC idle state herein is a state in which the wireless device18has no RRC connection established. In the RRC idle state, the wireless device18may acquire system information20, monitor a paging channel for core network paging, and/or perform neighbor cell measurements and cell (re)selection. An RRC inactive state herein is a state in which the wireless device has an RRC connection established, but the RRC connection is suspended. In the RRC inactive state, the wireless device18may store a context for the suspended RRC connection, acquire system information20, monitoring a paging channel for core network paging and/or radio access network (RAN) paging, perform neighbor cell measurements and cell (re)selection, and/or perform RAN-based notification area updates. By storing the context for the suspended RRC connection, the wireless device18can resume the RRC connection more quickly than if the wireless device18had released the context as in RRC idle state. If inactivity continues for longer than a certain time, the wireless device18may only then release its RRC connection with the access network and transition to RRC idle state. On the other hand, if the wireless device18becomes active, the wireless device18may transition to an RRC connected state in order to establish or resume an RRC connection.

Note further that the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated by the system information20have been exemplified as multiple downlink BWPs or multiple uplink BWPs. In some embodiments where the multiple BWPs are multiple downlink BWPs, the wireless device18may be configured to select one or more of the multiple downlink BWPs (e.g., to use for accessing or camping on the cell14) independently of which one or more uplink BWPs the wireless device18uses. That is downlink BWP selection may be independent of any uplink BWP selection or use. In other embodiments where the multiple BWPs are multiple uplink BWPs, the wireless device18may be configured to select one or more of the uplink downlink BWPs (e.g., to use for accessing the cell14) independently of which one or more downlink BWPs the wireless device18uses. That is uplink BWP selection may be independent of any downlink BWP selection or use.

Note, too, that the system information20in some embodiments may indicate both multiple downlink BWPs and multiple uplink BWPs, e.g., where the same or different numbers of BWPs may be indicated for the uplink and downlink. In this case, BWP selection may be separately applied for the uplink and downlink. Of course, such selection may be conditioned on the system information20actually indicating multiple BWPs from which to select. For example, the system information20may configure one downlink BWP #0 and 3 uplink BWPs. In this case, the wireless device18does not need to perform downlink BWP selection and may select an uplink BWP from the3configured uplink BWPs.

In still other embodiments, the system information20may indicate selectable BWP pairs, with each BWP pair including a downlink BWP and an uplink BWP so as to link a downlink BWP with an uplink BWP. In this case, the wireless device18may be configured to select one of the BWP pairs, e.g., to use for accessing or camping on the cell14. In one such embodiment, a BPW mapping table is configured, where each entry of the table indicates a BWP pair linking a downlink (DL) BWP to an uplink (UL) BWP. A downlink BWP may be paired with zero, one, or more uplink BWPs. For example, with one downlink BWP #0 and three uplink BWPs #0, #1, and #2, a mapping table with four entries (DL BWP#0, null), (DL BWP#0, UL BWP#0), (DL BWP#0, UL BWP#1), and (DL BWP#0, UL BWP#2) may be configured. To select an appropriate BWP pair, the wireless device18may first perform DL BWP selection. If the determined DL BWP is included in only one entry in the mapping table, the paired UL BWP (if not null) is determined accordingly. If the determined DL BWP is included in more than one entry in the mapping table, the wireless device18may proceed to perform UL BWP selection or choose to operate without UL BWP. In the aforementioned example, the wireless device18first determines DL BWP#0, which is the only DL BWP, and continues with UL BWP selection or chooses to operate without UL BWP. This two-step procedure determines the selected BWP pair. Furthermore, with BWP paring, BWP switching may be applied per BWP pair.

In still other embodiments herein, the system information20or other signaling may indicate a polarization mode for a BWP. The system information20or other signaling may for example indicate a first polarization mode for a first BWP of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14, and indicate a second polarization mode for a second BWP of the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14. Correspondingly, then, communication in the first BWP is to be performed with the first polarization and communication in the second BWP is to be performed with the second polarization. This second polarization may be orthogonal to the first polarization. If the first polarization is right-hand circular polarization (RHCP), for example, the second polarization may be left-hand circular polarization (LHCP), and vice versa. The network10in these and other embodiments may thereby use two orthogonal polarizations to configure two layers making use of the same spectrum resource, and each comprising one or more BWPs.

FIG.3shows one example of how these embodiments may support BWP-based frequency and polarization reuse, e.g., in an NTN. As shown, BWP#0 covers the entire cell14and additional BWPs #1, #2, and #3 may be dynamically configured to cover different parts of the cell14. To have cell-wide coverage for BWP#0, a wide beam for BWP#0 can continuously cover the full cell (as shown), or a narrow beam can cover different parts of the cell14with a time-multiplexed pattern. BWPs #1, #2, and #3 may be mapped to different beams to create frequency-reuse. Notably, each BWP, and the transmissions made in each BWP, are associated with a frequency range and a polarization mode. BWP#0 and BWP#2 are associated with the same frequency range, but different polarization modes. BWP#1 and BWP#3 are similarly associated with the same frequency range, but different polarization modes.

Alternatively or additionally to the above embodiments inFIGS.1-3,FIG.4shows that some embodiments may exploit multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) for the cell14. As shown, for example, multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M are transmitted for the cell14, e.g., at different frequency positions within the same carrier and/or within total cell bandwidth16. Each SSB34-1,34-2, . . .34-M includes one or more synchronization signals, e.g., a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The one or more synchronization signals of each SSB may collectively convey a Physical Cell Identity (PCI), which may or may not be unique across the PCIs conveyed by different SSBs. In some embodiments, each SSB34-1,34-2, . . .34-M also includes a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). In this case, each SSB may also be referred to as a synchronization signal (SS)/PBCH block, yet still be denoted as an SSB for convenience.FIG.5shows the time-frequency structure of each SSB according to some of these embodiments.

In some embodiments, two or more of the SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M are so-called cell-defining (CD) SSBs for the same cell14. A CD-SSB as used herein is an SSB associated with a system information block (e.g., SIB1) that defines the scheduling of other system information blocks. Such a system information block (e.g., SIB1) may also be referred to as Remaining Minimum SI (RMSI), in which case a CD-SSB is an SSB associated with RMSI. In some embodiments, a CD-SSB indicates a control resource set for such a system information block (e.g., SIB1).

Regardless, according to some embodiments inFIG.4, the radio network node12informs the wireless device18of respective frequency positions of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14. As shown, for example, the radio network node12broadcasts system information30for the cell14, e.g., in the form of a System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1). The system information30may be the same as or different from the system information20described inFIGS.1-3. Regardless, this system information30indicates (e.g., via SSB information32) respective frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14. The frequency position of each SSB may be indicated by an absolute radio-frequency channel number (ARFCN). Alternatively, since the system information30may include frequency information about the carrier, the frequency position of each SSB may be indicated relative to the carrier frequency position. In one example, the system information30indicates which subcarrier or resource block in the carrier is the starting subcarrier or resource block of each SSB. In another example, a bitmap, where each bit indicates a subcarrier or a resource block of the carrier, is used to indicate the SSB frequency positions. A value of “1” in the bitmap indicates the corresponding subcarrier or resource block is the starting point of an SSB.

Signaling the respective frequency positions of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14in these or other ways may advantageously enable adaptive use of BWPs for frequency reuse planning, e.g., based on traffic demand. Indeed, in these and other embodiments, SSBs may be flexibly positioned as needed so that any given BWP may have zero, one, or more SSBs included therein, or even have a fraction of an SSB included therein. Rate matching may then be employed for data channel transmissions, to account for potentially multiple SSBs being positioned within the operating bandwidth of the wireless device18, e.g., in the form of a selected BWP from among multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N. In particular, the radio network node12may map a data channel of the cell14onto radio resources in dependence on one or more respective frequency positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14. The radio network node12may then transmit the data channel on the radio resources according to that mapping. Correspondingly, the wireless device18may determine, based on one or more respective frequency positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell indicated by the received system information30, radio resources on which to receive the data channel. The wireless device18may accordingly receive the data channel on radio resources according to that determination.

In embodiments where the data channel is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), for instance, the wireless device18may make assumptions based on whether the PDSCH carries SIB1. When receiving a PDSCH carrying SIB1, the wireless device18may assume that no SSB is transmitted in radio resources (e.g., resource elements, REs) used by the wireless device18for reception of the PDSCH. By contrast, when receiving a PDSCH carrying information other than SIB1, and if the PDSCH resource allocation overlaps with physical resource blocks containing SSB transmission resources, the wireless device18shall assume that the physical resource block containing SSB transmission resources are not available for PDSCH in the (e.g., Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing, OFDM) symbols where SSB is transmitted. In one example, the PDSCH is assumed to be punctured at the “not available” resources. In other examples, the PDSCH resource mapping is performed such that it is not mapped to the “not available” resources, i.e., PDCH rate matching is applied for the “not available” resources.

Note that the system information30in some embodiments may indicate the respective SSB frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M on a carrier level, not on a BWP level. That is, the system information may not distinguish between different BWPs of the cell14in indicating the SSB frequency positions. Nonetheless, equipped with these SSB frequency positions for the cell14, the wireless device18may determine which SSBs fall within the BWP in which the wireless device18receives a data channel for the cell14so as to rate match around the corresponding radio resources. Some embodiments may thereby advantageously enable adaptive use of BWPs for frequency reuse planning, e.g., based on traffic demand, while preserving data channel performance.

Note further that the system information30may indicate the SSB frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M in conjunction with indicating the positions of the SSBs in time as well. That is, SSB positions in both time and frequency for the cell14may be signalled to the wireless device18, which may in turn take into account multiple SSBs in frequency for data channel mapping.

In one embodiment in this regard, the system information30includes a parameter that indicates the respective frequency positions in addition to a single ssb-PositionsInBurst parameter. This single ssb-PositionsInBurst parameer indicates timing of the SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M per half frame, e.g., in terms of SSB periodicity and SSB symbol positions. In these embodiments, then, the same SSB pattern in time is repeated in two or more of the multiple frequency positions indicated.

In other embodiments, the system information30includes a parameter that indicates SSB positions in frequency. And, for each SSB position in frequency, the system information30includes a separate bitmap that indicates SSB positions in time per half frame and SSB periodicity. In this case, different SSB patterns in time may be signalled in two or more frequency positions.

Note further that the frequency position of at least one of the multiple SSBs may have already been identified by the wireless device18, e.g., as part of cell search in order to receive the system information30. The system information30in at least some embodiments, then, may not indicate the frequency position of such an SSB, e.g., the frequency position of the SSB associated with the system information30. The system information30therefore generally indicates the frequency position of at least one of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M.

Note that embodiments inFIGS.1-3and embodiments inFIGS.4-5may be employed separately or in combination.FIG.6for example shows that the radio network node12may transmit system information20,30to the wireless device18, e.g., including both BWP information22and SSB information32, for use as described above.

FIG.7illustrates still other embodiments herein. As shown, the radio network node12alternatively or additionally broadcasts multiple system information blocks (SIBs)40-1,40-2, . . .40-X. Each of these SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X indicates system information40for the same cell14. In fact, in some embodiments, the SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X redundantly provide the same system information. Moreover, each of these SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X defines scheduling of other system information blocks (not shown). Accordingly, each such SIB may also be referred to as a System Information Block Type 1 (SIB1) or as Remaining Minimum SI (RMSI). That is, rather than only one such SIB being broadcast for the cell14, multiple such SIBs are broadcast for the same cell14. Accordingly, multiple such SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X may be associated with the same unique cell identity, e.g., NR Cell Global Identity (NCGI).

In some embodiments, the multiple SIBs may be broadcast at different frequency positions within the same carrier. For example, at least two or more of the multiple SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X may be broadcast in different downlink BWPs of the cell14. As shown inFIG.7, for instance, SIB40-1is broadcast in BWP16-1, SIB40-2is broadcast in BWP16-2, SIB40-X is broadcast in BWP16-N, etc. where N may or may not be equal to X.

Also as shown, the radio network node12may further transmit SSBs42-1,42-2, . . .42-X. These SSBs42-1,42-2, . . .42-X may be associated with respective ones of the multiple SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X broadcasted. For example, the SSBs42-1,42-2, . . .42-X may indicate parameters (e.g., control resource sets) for receiving respective ones of the multiple SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X broadcasted. In these and other embodiments, then, the SSBs42-1,42-2, . . .42-X may each be a CD-SSB as described above.

With SSBs42-1,42-2, . . .42-X broadcast in this way, the wireless device18will search along a raster for an SSB. When the wireless device18finds and synchronizes to a suitable SSB, the wireless device18will read system information (e.g., in the form of a Master Information Block, MIB) included in that found SSB. This system information will provide the wireless device18with information needed to receive whichever of the SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X is broadcast in the same BWP as the BWP within which the wireless device18found the suitable SSB. In some embodiments, the wireless device18is configured to access, or camp on, the cell14using this BWP, e.g., from RRC idle state or RRC inactive state. In this case, then, the BWP serves as the initial BWP that the wireless device18uses to initially access the cell14from RRC idle. Correspondingly, with multiple SSBs42-1,42-2, . . .42-X and SIBs40-1,40-2, . . .40-X broadcast in respective BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N for the cell14, the multiple BWPs16-1,16-2, . . .16-N may be referred to as multiple initial BWPs for the same cell14.

FIG.8for example shows one example where multiple SIB1blocks associated with the same NCGI=n are transmitted within respective initial BWPs A, B, and C. And respective SSBs A, B, and C are transmitted within respective initial BWPs A, B, and C as well. Accordingly, the same carrier provides multiple SSBs, with more than one initial BWP being associated to the same NCGI, e.g., such that the same system information is provided in the associated SIB1 in the initial BWP corresponding to each SSB. In some embodiments, each BWP broadcasts SIB1. This SIB1 may be broadcast on the PDSCH, which is scheduled by downlink control information (DCI) on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) using a control resource set associated with the SSB in the corresponding BWP. The SIB1 in each BWP may further configure a control resource set. Each BWP may configure its radio resources for paging and random access.

To the extent that different wireless devices find and synchronize to different SSBs in different BWPs with respective SIBs, these embodiments may similarly prove effective in distributing load attributable to access and camping across multiple BWPs of the cell14. Again, this alleviates bottlenecking and increases system capacity, which may prove particularly advantageous in embodiments where the cell14is in a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or otherwise has a large coverage area.

Note that, in the case where more than one initial BWP is associated to the same NCGI, the SSB for each initial BWP may provide the same or different physical cell identities (PCIs). These SSBs may share the synchronization raster location which the wireless device18uses for scanning SSBs for initial access, or they may be on different absolute radio frequency channel number (ARFCN) on the synchronization raster. This essentially means potentially mapping one NCGI to more than one PCI. For Xn signaling and PCI mapping tables, one of the PCIs can be determined to be the main PCI, or mapped PCI even from the device perspective. Each PCl/SSB may provide SIB1 and thus an initial access opportunity to this NCGI. System information may point if the PCI is the main or mapped PCI for possible self-organizing network (SON) reporting.

Note that some embodiments herein may be realized in the context of 3GPP standardized operation of a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN). A satellite radio access network usually includes the following components: (i) a satellite that refers to a space-borne platform; (ii) an earth-based gateway that connects the satellite to a base station or a core network, depending on the choice of architecture; (iii) a feeder link that refers to the link between a gateway and a satellite; and (iv) a service link that refers to the link between a satellite and a UE.

Two popular architectures are the Bent pipe transponder and the Regenerative transponder architectures. In the first case, the base station is located on earth behind the gateway, and the satellite operates as a repeater forwarding the feeder link signal to the service link, and vice versa. In the second case, the satellite is in the base station and the service link connects it to the earth-based core network.

Depending on the orbit altitude, a satellite may be categorized as low earth orbit (LEO), medium earth orbit (MEO), or geostationary earth orbit (GEO) satellite. LEO has typical heights ranging from 250-1,500 km, with orbital periods ranging from 90-120 minutes. MEO has typical heights ranging from 5,000-25,000 km, with orbital periods ranging from 3-15 hours. And GEO has a height at about 35,786 km, with an orbital period of 24 hours.

A communication satellite typically generates several beams over a given area. The footprint of a beam is usually in an elliptic shape, which has been traditionally considered as a cell. The footprint of a beam is also often referred to as a spotbeam. The spotbeam may move over the earth surface with the satellite movement or may be earth fixed with some beam pointing mechanism used by the satellite to compensate for its motion. The size of a spotbeam depends on the system design, which may range from tens of kilometers to a few thousands of kilometers.

FIG.9shows an example architecture of a satellite network with bent pipe transponders. The depicted elevation angle of the service link is important as it affects the distance between the satellite and the device, and the velocity of the satellite relative to the device.

In view of the above modifications and variations,FIG.10depicts a method performed by a wireless device18configured for use in a wireless communication network, e.g., an non-terrestrial network (NTN). The method includes receiving broadcasted system information20and/or30for a cell14, e.g., identified with a unique cell global identity (Block1000). The broadcasted system information20and/or30may indicate at least one of any one or more of: (i) multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs)16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14; and (ii) respective frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs)34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14. In embodiments where the broadcasted system information20indicates multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14, the multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated may be either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts.

In some embodiments, the multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated are each usable by the wireless device18to access, or camp on, the cell18, e.g., in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state. In this case, the method may further comprise selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell14(Block1010). Alternatively or additionally, the method may further comprise accessing, or camping on, the cell14using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, e.g., from an RRC idle state or an RRC inactive state (Block1020).

Alternatively or additionally, in embodiments where the broadcasted system information30indicates respective frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs)34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14, the method may further comprise receiving a data channel of the cell14on radio resources determined based on those respective frequency positions indicated (Block1030). The method may for example comprise determining, based on the one or more respective positions of one or more of the multiple34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14, radio resources on which to receive a data channel of the cell14and receiving the data channel on radio resources according to that determining.

FIG.11depicts a method performed by a radio network node12configured for use in a wireless communication network10, e.g., an NTN. The method includes broadcasting system information20and/or30for a cell14(Block1100). The broadcasted system information20and/or30may indicate at least one of any one or more of: (i) multiple bandwidth parts (BWPs)16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14; and (ii) respective frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs)34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14. In embodiments where the broadcasted system information20indicates multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N of the cell14, the multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated may be either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts.

In some embodiments where the broadcasted system information20and/or30indicates multiple BWPs of the cell14, the method may further comprise determining, from the multiple bandwidth parts16-1,16-2, . . .16-N indicated, a bandwidth part that a wireless device18is to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell14(Block1110). The method may then include performing one or more operations associated with the wireless device18using the determined bandwidth part for accessing, or camping on, the cell14. For example, the method may include monitoring for a random access preamble from the wireless device18in the determined bandwidth part or paging the wireless device18within the determined bandwidth part (Block1120).

Alternatively or additionally, in some embodiments where the broadcasted system information20and/or30indicates respective frequency positions FP_1, FP_2, . . . FP_M of multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs)34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14, the method may further comprise mapping a data channel of the cell14onto radio resources in dependence on one or more respective frequency positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs34-1,34-2, . . .34-M for the cell14, and transmitting the data channel on radio resources according to said mapping (Block1130).

FIG.12depicts another method performed by a radio network node12configured for use in a wireless communication network10, e.g., an NTN. The method includes broadcasting multiple system information blocks (e.g., SIB1s) that each indicate system information for the same cell14and that each define scheduling of other system information blocks (Block1200). The method may alternatively or additionally include transmitting synchronization signal blocks (e.g., CD-SSBs) associated with respective ones of the multiple system information blocks broadcasted (Block1210).

Embodiments herein also include corresponding apparatuses. Embodiments herein for instance include a wireless device18configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the wireless device18.

Embodiments also include a wireless device18comprising processing circuitry and power supply circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the wireless device18. The power supply circuitry is configured to supply power to the wireless device18.

Embodiments further include a wireless device18comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the wireless device18. In some embodiments, the wireless device18further comprises communication circuitry.

Embodiments further include a wireless device18comprising processing circuitry and memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the wireless device18is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the wireless device18.

Embodiments moreover include a wireless device18in the form of a user equipment (UE). The UE comprises an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals. The UE also comprises radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the wireless device18. In some embodiments, the UE also comprises an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry. The UE may comprise an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry. The UE may also comprise a battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

Embodiments herein also include a radio network node12configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the radio network node12.

Embodiments also include a radio network node12comprising processing circuitry and power supply circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the radio network node12. The power supply circuitry is configured to supply power to the radio network node12.

Embodiments further include a radio network node12comprising processing circuitry. The processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the radio network node12. In some embodiments, the radio network node12further comprises communication circuitry.

Embodiments further include a radio network node12comprising processing circuitry and memory. The memory contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the radio network node12is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the radio network node12.

FIG.13for example illustrates a wireless device18as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the wireless device18includes processing circuitry1310and communication circuitry1320. The communication circuitry1320(e.g., radio circuitry) is configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. Such communication may occur via one or more antennas that are either internal or external to the wireless device18. The processing circuitry1310is configured to perform processing described above, such as by executing instructions stored in memory1330. The processing circuitry1310in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

FIG.14illustrates a radio network node12as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the radio network node12includes processing circuitry1410and communication circuitry1420. The communication circuitry1420is configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. The processing circuitry1410is configured to perform processing described above, such as by executing instructions stored in memory1430. The processing circuitry1410in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules.

InFIG.15, network node1560includes processing circuitry1570, device readable medium1580, interface1590, auxiliary equipment1584, power source1586, power circuitry1587, and antenna1562. Although network node1560illustrated in the example wireless network ofFIG.15may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node1560are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium1580may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

Processing circuitry1570may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node1560components, such as device readable medium1580, network node1560functionality. For example, processing circuitry1570may execute instructions stored in device readable medium1580or in memory within processing circuitry1570. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry1570may include a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry1570may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry1572and baseband processing circuitry1574. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry1572and baseband processing circuitry1574may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry1572and baseband processing circuitry1574may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry1570executing instructions stored on device readable medium1580or memory within processing circuitry1570. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry1570without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry1570can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry1570alone or to other components of network node1560, but are enjoyed by network node1560as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Interface1590is used in the wired or wireless communication of signalling and/or data between network node1560, network1506, and/or WDs1510. As illustrated, interface1590comprises port(s)/terminal(s)1594to send and receive data, for example to and from network1506over a wired connection. Interface1590also includes radio front end circuitry1592that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna1562. Radio front end circuitry1592comprises filters1598and amplifiers1596. Radio front end circuitry1592may be connected to antenna1562and processing circuitry1570. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna1562and processing circuitry1570. Radio front end circuitry1592may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry1592may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters1598and/or amplifiers1596. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna1562. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna1562may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry1592. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry1570. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node1560may not include separate radio front end circuitry1592, instead, processing circuitry1570may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna1562without separate radio front end circuitry1592. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry1572may be considered a part of interface1590. In still other embodiments, interface1590may include one or more ports or terminals1594, radio front end circuitry1592, and RF transceiver circuitry1572, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface1590may communicate with baseband processing circuitry1574, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

Antenna1562may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna1562may be coupled to radio front end circuitry1590and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna1562may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna1562may be separate from network node1560and may be connectable to network node1560through an interface or port.

Antenna1562, interface1590, and/or processing circuitry1570may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna1562, interface1590, and/or processing circuitry1570may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment.

Power circuitry1587may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node1560with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry1587may receive power from power source1586. Power source1586and/or power circuitry1587may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node1560in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source1586may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry1587and/or network node1560. For example, network node1560may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry1587. As a further example, power source1586may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry1587. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.

Alternative embodiments of network node1560may include additional components beyond those shown inFIG.15that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node's functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node1560may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node1560and to allow output of information from network node1560. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node1560.

As illustrated, wireless device1510includes antenna1511, interface1514, processing circuitry1520, device readable medium1530, user interface equipment1532, auxiliary equipment1534, power source1536and power circuitry1537. WD1510may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD1510, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, NB-IoT, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD1510.

Antenna1511may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface1514. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna1511may be separate from WD1510and be connectable to WD1510through an interface or port. Antenna1511, interface1514, and/or processing circuitry1520may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna1511may be considered an interface.

As illustrated, interface1514comprises radio front end circuitry1512and antenna1511. Radio front end circuitry1512comprise one or more filters1518and amplifiers1516. Radio front end circuitry1514is connected to antenna1511and processing circuitry1520, and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna1511and processing circuitry1520. Radio front end circuitry1512may be coupled to ora part of antenna1511. In some embodiments, WD1510may not include separate radio front end circuitry1512; rather, processing circuitry1520may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna1511. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry1522may be considered a part of interface1514. Radio front end circuitry1512may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry1512may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters1518and/or amplifiers1516. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna1511. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna1511may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry1512. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry1520. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

Processing circuitry1520may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD1510components, such as device readable medium1530, WD1510functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry1520may execute instructions stored in device readable medium1530or in memory within processing circuitry1520to provide the functionality disclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry1520includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry1522, baseband processing circuitry1524, and application processing circuitry1526. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry1520of WD1510may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry1522, baseband processing circuitry1524, and application processing circuitry1526may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry1524and application processing circuitry1526may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry1522may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry1522and baseband processing circuitry1524may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry1526may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry1522, baseband processing circuitry1524, and application processing circuitry1526may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry1522may be a part of interface1514. RF transceiver circuitry1522may condition RF signals for processing circuitry1520.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry1520executing instructions stored on device readable medium1530, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry1520without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry1520can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry1520alone or to other components of WD1510, but are enjoyed by WD1510as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium1530may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry1520. Device readable medium1530may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry1520. In some embodiments, processing circuitry1520and device readable medium1530may be considered to be integrated.

User interface equipment1532may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD1510. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment1532may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD1510. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment1532installed in WD1510. For example, if WD1510is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD1510is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment1532may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment1532is configured to allow input of information into WD1510, and is connected to processing circuitry1520to allow processing circuitry1520to process the input information. User interface equipment1532may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment1532is also configured to allow output of information from WD1510, and to allow processing circuitry1520to output information from WD1510. User interface equipment1532may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment1532, WD1510may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment1534is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment1534may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source1536may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD1510may further comprise power circuitry1537for delivering power from power source1536to the various parts of WD1510which need power from power source1536to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry1537may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry1537may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD1510may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry1537may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source1536. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source1536. Power circuitry1537may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source1536to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD1510to which power is supplied.

InFIG.16, UE1600includes processing circuitry1601that is operatively coupled to input/output interface1605, radio frequency (RF) interface1609, network connection interface1611, memory1615including random access memory (RAM)1617, read-only memory (ROM)1619, and storage medium1621or the like, communication subsystem1631, power source1633, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium1621includes operating system1623, application program1625, and data1627. In other embodiments, storage medium1621may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown inFIG.16, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface1605may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE1600may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface1605. An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE1600. The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. UE1600may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface1605to allow a user to capture information into UE1600. The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

InFIG.16, RF interface1609may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface1611may be configured to provide a communication interface to network1643a. Network1643amay encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network1643amay comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface1611may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SON ET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface1611may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM1617may be configured to interface via bus1602to processing circuitry1601to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM1619may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry1601. For example, ROM1619may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium1621may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium1621may be configured to include operating system1623, application program1625such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file1627. Storage medium1621may store, for use by UE1600, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

InFIG.16, processing circuitry1601may be configured to communicate with network1643busing communication subsystem1631. Network1643aand network1643bmay be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem1631may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network1643b. For example, communication subsystem1631may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.16, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter1633and/or receiver1635to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter1633and receiver1635of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE1600or partitioned across multiple components of UE1600. Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem1631may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry1601may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus1602. In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry1601perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry1601and communication subsystem1631. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications1720(which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications1720are run in virtualization environment1700which provides hardware1730comprising processing circuitry1760and memory1790. Memory1790contains instructions1795executable by processing circuitry1760whereby application1720is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment1700, comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices1730comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry1760, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory1790-1which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions1795or software executed by processing circuitry1760. Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs)1770, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface1780. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media1790-2having stored therein software1795and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry1760. Software1795may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers1750(also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines1740as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines1740, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer1750or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance1720may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines1740, and the implementations may be made in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry1760executes software1795to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer1750, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer1750may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine1740.

As shown inFIG.17, hardware1730may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware1730may comprise antenna17225and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware1730may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO)17100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications1720.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine1740may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines1740, and that part of hardware1730that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines1740, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines1740on top of hardware networking infrastructure1730and corresponds to application1720inFIG.17.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units17200that each include one or more transmitters17220and one or more receivers17210may be coupled to one or more antennas17225. Radio units17200may communicate directly with hardware nodes1730via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use of control system17230which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes1730and radio units17200.

FIG.18illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, with reference toFIG.18, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network1810, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network1811, such as a radio access network, and core network1814. Access network1811comprises a plurality of base stations1812a,1812b,1812c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area1813a,1813b,1813c. Each base station1812a,1812b,1812cis connectable to core network1814over a wired or wireless connection1815. A first UE1891located in coverage area1813cis configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station1812c. A second UE1892in coverage area1813ais wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station1812a. While a plurality of UEs1891,1892are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station1812.

Telecommunication network1810is itself connected to host computer1830, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer1830may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections1821and1822between telecommunication network1810and host computer1830may extend directly from core network1814to host computer1830or may go via an optional intermediate network1820. Intermediate network1820may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network1820, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network1820may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system ofFIG.18as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs1891,1892and host computer1830. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection1850. Host computer1830and the connected UEs1891,1892are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection1850, using access network1811, core network1814, any intermediate network1820and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection1850may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection1850passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station1812may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer1830to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE1891. Similarly, base station1812need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE1891towards the host computer1830.

Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference toFIG.19.FIG.19illustrates host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments In communication system1900, host computer1910comprises hardware1915including communication interface1916configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system1900. Host computer1910further comprises processing circuitry1918, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry1918may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer1910further comprises software1911, which is stored in or accessible by host computer1910and executable by processing circuitry1918. Software1911includes host application1912. Host application1912may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE1930connecting via OTT connection1950terminating at UE1930and host computer1910. In providing the service to the remote user, host application1912may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection1950.

Communication system1900further includes base station1920provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware1925enabling it to communicate with host computer1910and with UE1930. Hardware1925may include communication interface1926for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system1900, as well as radio interface1927for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection1970with UE1930located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG.19) served by base station1920. Communication interface1926may be configured to facilitate connection1960to host computer1910. Connection1960may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown inFIG.19) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware1925of base station1920further includes processing circuitry1928, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station1920further has software1921stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system1900further includes UE1930already referred to. Its hardware1935may include radio interface1937configured to set up and maintain wireless connection1970with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE1930is currently located. Hardware1935of UE1930further includes processing circuitry1938, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE1930further comprises software1931, which is stored in or accessible by UE1930and executable by processing circuitry1938. Software1931includes client application1932. Client application1932may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE1930, with the support of host computer1910. In host computer1910, an executing host application1912may communicate with the executing client application1932via OTT connection1950terminating at UE1930and host computer1910. In providing the service to the user, client application1932may receive request data from host application1912and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection1950may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application1932may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer1910, base station1920and UE1930illustrated inFIG.19may be similar or identical to host computer1830, one of base stations1812a,1812b,1812cand one of UEs1891,1892ofFIG.18, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown inFIG.19and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that ofFIG.18.

InFIG.19, OTT connection1950has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer1910and UE1930via base station1920, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE1930or from the service provider operating host computer1910, or both. While OTT connection1950is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection1970between UE1930and base station1920is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE1930using OTT connection1950, in which wireless connection1970forms the last segment.

A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection1950between host computer1910and UE1930, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection1950may be implemented in software1911and hardware1915of host computer1910or in software1931and hardware1935of UE1930, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection1950passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software1911,1931may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection1950may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station1920, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station1920. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer1910's measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software1911and1931causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection1950while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG.20is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.18and19. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.20will be included in this section. In step2010, the host computer provides user data. In substep2011(which may be optional) of step2010, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step2020, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step2030(which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step2040(which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

FIG.22is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.18and19. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.22will be included in this section. In step2210(which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step2220, the UE provides user data. In substep2221(which may be optional) of step2220, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep2211(which may be optional) of step2210, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep2230(which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step2240of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

In view of the above, then, embodiments herein generally include a communication system including a host computer. The host computer may comprise processing circuitry configured to provide user data. The host computer may also comprise a communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE). The cellular network may comprise a base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a base station.

In some embodiments, the communication system further includes the base station.

In some embodiments, the communication system further includes the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data. In this case, the UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Embodiments herein also include a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE). The method comprises, at the host computer, providing user data. The method may also comprise, at the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station. The base station performs any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a base station.

In some embodiments, the method further comprising, at the base station, transmitting the user data.

In some embodiments, the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application. In this case, the method further comprises, at the UE, executing a client application associated with the host application.

Embodiments herein also include a user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station. The UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the embodiments above described for a UE.

Embodiments herein further include a communication system including a host computer. The host computer comprises processing circuitry configured to provide user data, and a communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE). The UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry. The UE's components are configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a UE.

In some embodiments, the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data. The UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Embodiments also include a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE). The method comprises, at the host computer, providing user data and initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station. The UE performs any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a UE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, at the UE, receiving the user data from the base station.

Embodiments herein further include a communication system including a host computer. The host computer comprises a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station. The UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry. The UE's processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a UE.

In some embodiments the communication system further includes the UE.

In some embodiments, the communication system further including the base station. In this case, the base station comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the UE to the base station.

Embodiments herein also include a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE). The method comprises, at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base station from the UE. The UE performs any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for the UE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, at the UE, providing the user data to the base station.

In some embodiments, the method also comprises, at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted. The method may further comprise, at the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, at the UE, executing a client application, and, at the UE, receiving input data to the client application. The input data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application. The user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data.

Embodiments also include a communication system including a host computer. The host computer comprises a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station. The base station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry. The base station's processing circuitry is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a base station.

In some embodiments, the communication system further includes the base station.

In some embodiments, the communication system further includes the UE. The UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

Embodiments moreover include a method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE). The method comprises, at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the base station has received from the UE. The UE performs any of the steps of any of the embodiments described above for a UE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, at the base station, receiving the user data from the UE.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises, at the base station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

Example embodiments of the techniques and apparatus described herein include, but are not limited to, the following enumerated examples:

Group A Embodiments

A1. A method performed by a wireless device configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:receiving broadcasted system information for a cell, the broadcasted system information indicating at least one of any one or more of:multiple bandwidth parts of the cell, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts; andrespective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, for the cell.
A2. The method of embodiment A1, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.
A3. The method of embodiment A2, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by the wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell.
A4. The method of any of embodiments A2-A3, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by the wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell from a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
A5. The method of any of embodiments A2-A4, further comprising accessing, or camping on, the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
A6. The method of embodiment A5, wherein accessing the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated comprises transmitting or receiving one or more messages of a random access procedure in one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
A7. The method of any of embodiments A5-A6, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple downlink bandwidth parts, and wherein camping on the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated comprises monitoring a paging channel in one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
A8. The method of any of embodiments A5-A7, wherein said accessing, or camping on, the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated comprises accessing, or camping on, the cell using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, from an Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
A9. The method of any of embodiments A1-A8, wherein receiving the broadcasted system information comprises receiving the broadcasted system information in a downlink bandwidth part of the cell.
A10. The method of any of embodiments A2-A9, further comprising selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell.
A11. The method of embodiment A10, wherein said selecting comprises selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts based on an identity which identifies the wireless device or a subscriber associated with the wireless device.
A12. The method of embodiment A11, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated have respective indices, and wherein said selecting comprises selecting a bandwidth part with an index n=ID mod N, where ID is the identity which identifies the wireless device or the subscriber associated with the wireless device, and where N is a number of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
A13. The method of embodiment A10, wherein said selecting comprises selecting, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts based on signal measurements performed by the wireless device on signals received in respective ones of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
A14. The method of embodiment A10, wherein said selecting comprises randomly selecting one or more bandwidth parts from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
A15. The method of embodiment A14, wherein said randomly selecting comprises randomly selecting the one or more bandwidth parts according to a probability distribution indicated by the broadcasted system information.
A16. The method of any of embodiments A2-A15, wherein, for at least one of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is indicated by the broadcasted system information and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is received by the wireless device on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part.
A17. The method of any of embodiments A2-A16, wherein, for at least one of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is either indicated by the broadcasted system information or is received by the wireless device on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part, and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is derived by the wireless device from configuration parameters for another bandwidth part.
A18. The method of embodiment A17, wherein the another bandwidth part is a bandwidth part in which the broadcasted system information is received.
A19. The method of any of embodiments A2-A18, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts are each usable by the wireless device to perform one or more operations in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
A20. The method of any of embodiments A2-A19, further comprising, while the wireless device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state, performing one or more operations using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.
A21. The method of any of embodiments A2-A20, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple downlink bandwidth parts, and wherein the method comprises selecting, from the multiple downlink bandwidth parts indicated, one or more downlink bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell, independently of which of one or more uplink bandwidth parts the wireless device uses.
A22. The method of any of any of embodiments A2-A21, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple uplink bandwidth parts, and wherein the method comprises selecting, from the multiple uplink bandwidth parts indicated, one or more uplink bandwidth parts to use for accessing the cell, independently of which of one or more downlink bandwidth parts the wireless device uses.
A23. The method of any of embodiments A2-A20, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates multiple downlink bandwidth parts and multiple uplink bandwidth parts.
A24. The method of embodiment A23, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates selectable bandwidth part pairs, with each bandwidth part pair including one of the multiple downlink bandwidth parts and one of the multiple uplink bandwidth parts, and wherein the method further comprises selecting one of the selectable bandwidth part pairs to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell.
A25. The method of any of embodiments A1-A24, wherein the broadcasted system information includes a System Information Block 1 (SIB1) that indicates the at least one of any one or more of:the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell; andthe respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell.
A26. The method of any of embodiments A1-A25, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell are included within the frequency span of the same carrier.
A27. The method of any of embodiments A1-A26, wherein the cell is uniquely identified in the wireless communication network by a cell global identity.
A28. The method of any of embodiments A1-A27, wherein the wireless communication network is or includes a non-terrestrial network.
A29. The method of any of embodiments A1-A28, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates a first polarization mode for a first bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell and a second polarization mode for a second bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.
A30. The method of any of embodiments A1-A29, wherein communication in a first bandwidth part of the cell is to be performed with a first polarization and communication in a second bandwidth part of the cell is to be performed with a second polarization which is orthogonal to the first polarization.
A31. The method of any of embodiments A1-A30, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell.
A32. The method of embodiment A31, further comprising determining, based on the one or more respective positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs for the cell, radio resources on which to receive a data channel of the cell and receiving the data channel on radio resources according to said determining.
A33. The method of any of embodiments A1-A32, wherein either:the broadcasted system information indicates, for each of one or more of the multiple BWPs of the cell, a physical cell identity conveyed by an SSB transmitted within that BWP; orthe broadcasted system information indicates, for each of one or more of the multiple SSBs for the cell, a physical cell identity conveyed by the SSB.
A34. The method of any of embodiments A1-A33, wherein at least two of the multiple SSBs for the cell are cell-defining SSBs.
AA. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising:providing user data; andforwarding the user data to a host computer via the transmission to a base station.

Group B Embodiments

B1. A method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:broadcasting system information for a cell, the broadcasted system information indicating at least one of any one or more of:multiple bandwidth parts of the cell, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are either multiple downlink bandwidth parts or multiple uplink bandwidth parts; andrespective frequency positions of multiple synchronization signal blocks, SSBs, for the cell.
B2. The method of embodiment B1, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.
B3. The method of embodiment B2, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by a wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell.
B4. The method of any of embodiments B2-B3, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are each usable by a wireless device to access, or camp on, the cell from a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
B5. The method of any of embodiments B2-B4, further comprising using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated to serve a wireless device.
B6. The method of any of embodiments B2-B5, further comprising transmitting or receiving one or more messages of a random access procedure in one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
B7. The method of any of embodiments B2-B6, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple downlink bandwidth parts, and wherein the method further comprises paging the same wireless device within each of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
B8. The method of any of embodiments B2-B7, further comprising using one or more of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated to serve a wireless device while the wireless device is in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
B9. The method of any of embodiments B1-B8, wherein broadcasting the system information comprises broadcasting the system information in a downlink bandwidth part of the cell.
B10. The method of any of embodiments B2-B9, wherein the system information indicates a probability distribution according to which the wireless device is to randomly select, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one or more bandwidth parts to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell.
B11. The method of any of embodiments B2-B10, wherein, for at least one of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is indicated by the broadcasted system information and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is transmitted on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part.
B12. The method of any of embodiments B2-B11, wherein, for at least one of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, one portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is either indicated by the broadcasted system information or is transmitted on a downlink channel in the bandwidth part, and another portion of configuration parameters for the bandwidth part is derivable from configuration parameters for another bandwidth part.
B13. The method of embodiment B12, wherein the another bandwidth part is a bandwidth part in which the broadcasted system information is transmitted.
B14. The method of any of embodiments B2-B13, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts are each usable by a wireless device to perform one or more operations in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
B15. The method of any of embodiments B2-B14, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates multiple downlink bandwidth parts and multiple uplink bandwidth parts.
B16. The method of embodiment B15, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates selectable bandwidth part pairs, with each bandwidth part pair including one of the multiple downlink bandwidth parts and one of the multiple uplink bandwidth parts.
B17. The method of any of embodiments B1-B16, wherein the broadcasted system information includes a System Information Block 1 (SIB1) that indicates the at least one of any one or more of:the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell; andthe respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell.
B18. The method of any of embodiments B1-B17, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell are included within the frequency span of the same carrier.
B19. The method of any of embodiments B1-B18, wherein the cell is uniquely identified in the wireless communication network by a cell global identity.
B20. The method of any of embodiments B1-B19, wherein the wireless communication network is or includes a non-terrestrial network.
B21. The method of any of embodiments B1-B20, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates a first polarization mode for a first bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell and a second polarization mode for a second bandwidth part of the multiple bandwidth parts of the cell.
B22. The method of any of embodiments B1-B21, wherein communication in a first bandwidth part of the cell is to be performed with a first polarization and communication in a second bandwidth part of the cell is to be performed with a second polarization which is orthogonal to the first polarization.
B23. The method of any of embodiments B1-B22, wherein the broadcasted system information indicates respective frequency positions of multiple SSBs for the cell.
B24. The method of embodiment B23, further comprising mapping a data channel of the cell onto radio resources in dependence on one or more respective frequency positions of one or more of the multiple SSBs for the cell, and transmitting the data channel on radio resources according to said mapping.
B25. The method of any of embodiments B2-B24, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple uplink bandwidth parts, and wherein the method further comprising monitoring each of two or more of the multiple uplink bandwidth parts for a random access preamble from a wireless device.
B26. The method of embodiment B25, further comprising:determining, from the uplink bandwidth part within which a random access preamble is received from a wireless device, a downlink bandwidth part within which to transmit a response to the random access preamble; andtransmitting a response to the random access preamble within the determined downlink bandwidth part.
B27. The method of any of embodiments B2-B26, further comprising determining, from the multiple bandwidth parts indicated, a bandwidth part that a wireless device is to use for accessing, or camping on, the cell.
B28. The method of embodiment B27, wherein said determining is performed based on an identity which identifies the wireless device or a subscriber associated with the wireless device.
B29. The method of embodiment B28, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated have respective indices, and wherein said determining comprises determining the bandwidth part that the wireless device is to use as being a bandwidth part with an index n=ID mod N, where ID is the identity which identifies the wireless device or the subscriber associated with the wireless device, and where N is a number of the multiple bandwidth parts indicated.
B30. The method of any of embodiments B27-B29, wherein the multiple bandwidth parts indicated are multiple downlink bandwidth parts, wherein said determining comprises determining, from the multiple downlink bandwidth parts, a downlink bandwidth part that the wireless device is to use for camping on the cell, and wherein the method further comprises paging the wireless device within the determined downlink bandwidth part.
B31. The method of any of embodiments B1-B30, wherein either:the broadcasted system information indicates, for each of one or more of the multiple BWPs of the cell, a physical cell identity conveyed by an SSB transmitted within that BWP; orthe broadcasted system information indicates, for each of one or more of the multiple SSBs for the cell, a physical cell identity conveyed by the SSB.
B32. The method of any of embodiments B1-B31, wherein at least two of the multiple SSBs for the cell are cell-defining SSBs.
BB1. A method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:broadcasting multiple system information blocks that each indicate system information for the same cell and that each define scheduling of other system information blocks.
BB2. The method of embodiment BB1, wherein the multiple system information blocks are broadcasted at different frequency positions within the same carrier.
BB3. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB2, further comprising transmitting synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) associated with respective ones of the multiple system information blocks broadcasted.
BB4. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB3, further comprising transmitting synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) that indicate parameters for receiving respective ones of the multiple system information blocks broadcasted.
BB5. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB4, further comprising transmitting synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) that indicate control resource sets for receiving respective ones of the multiple system information blocks broadcasted.
BB6. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB5, wherein at least two or more of the multiple system information blocks are broadcasted in different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell.
BB7. The method of embodiment BB6, further comprising performing, in each of the different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell, random access procedures for wireless devices to access the cell from a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
BB8. The method of any of embodiments BB6-BB7, further comprising transmitting, in each of the different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell, paging messages to wireless devices in a Radio Resource Control, RRC, idle state or an RRC inactive state.
BB9. The method of any of embodiments BB6-BB8, wherein the different downlink bandwidth parts are each usable by wireless devices to access, or camp on, the cell.
BB10. The method of any of embodiments BB6-BB9, wherein the different downlink bandwidth parts of the cell are included within the frequency span of the same carrier.
BB11. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB10, wherein the system information blocks broadcasted are each a System Information Block 1 (SIB1).
BB12. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB11, wherein the cell is uniquely identified in a wireless communication network by a cell global identity such that the system information blocks broadcasted are associated with the same cell global identity.
BB13. The method of embodiment BB12, wherein the cell global identity is mapped to multiple different non-unique physical cell identities.
BB14. The method of any of embodiments BB1-BB13, wherein the wireless communication network is or includes a non-terrestrial network.
BB15. A method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:transmitting multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) associated with respective ones of multiple system information blocks broadcasted for the same cell, wherein each of the multiple system information blocks indicates system information for the same cell and defines scheduling of other system information blocks.
BB16. A method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:transmitting multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) that indicate respective control resource sets used to schedule respective ones of multiple system information blocks broadcasted for the same cell, wherein each of the multiple system information blocks indicates system information for the same cell and defines scheduling of other system information blocks.
BB17. A method performed by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:transmitting multiple cell-defining synchronization signal blocks (CD-SSBs) for the same cell.
BB. The method of any of the previous embodiments, further comprising:obtaining user data; andforwarding the user data to a host computer or a wireless device.

Group C Embodiments

C1. A wireless device configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
C2. A wireless device comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
C3. A wireless device comprising:communication circuitry; andprocessing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
C4. A wireless device comprising:processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments; andpower supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.
C5. A wireless device comprising:processing circuitry and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the wireless device is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
C6. A user equipment (UE) comprising:an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals;radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry;the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments;an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry;an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; anda battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.
C7. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a wireless device, causes the wireless device to carry out the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
C8. A carrier containing the computer program of embodiment C7, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.
C9. A radio network node configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
C10. A radio network node comprising processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
C11. A radio network node comprising:communication circuitry; andprocessing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
C12. A radio network node comprising:processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments;power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the radio network node.
C13. A radio network node comprising:processing circuitry and memory, the memory containing instructions executable by the processing circuitry whereby the radio network node is configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
C14. The radio network node of any of embodiments C9-C13, wherein the radio network node is a base station.
C15. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by at least one processor of a radio network node, causes the radio network node to carry out the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
C16. The computer program of embodiment C14, wherein the radio network node is a base station.
C17. A carrier containing the computer program of any of embodiments C15-C16, wherein the carrier is one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium.

Group D Embodiments

D1. A communication system including a host computer comprising:processing circuitry configured to provide user data; anda communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
D2. The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the base station.
D3. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.
D4. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; andthe UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.
D5. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
at the host computer, providing user data; andat the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the base station performs any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
D6. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the base station, transmitting the user data.
D7. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, the method further comprising, at the UE, executing a client application associated with the host application.
D8. A user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station, the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to perform any of the previous 3 embodiments.
D9. A communication system including a host computer comprising:processing circuitry configured to provide user data; anda communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE's components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
D10. The communication system of the previous embodiment, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.
D11. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; andthe UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.
D12. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, providing user data; andat the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
D13. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the UE, receiving the user data from the base station.
D14. A communication system including a host computer comprising:communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station,wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
D15. The communication system of the previous embodiment, further including the UE.
D16. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the UE to the base station.
D17. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; andthe UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.
D18. The communication system of the previous 4 embodiments, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; andthe UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.
D19. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base station from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
D20. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising, at the UE, providing the user data to the base station.
D21. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising:at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; andat the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.
D22. The method of the previous 3 embodiments, further comprising:at the UE, executing a client application; andat the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application,wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data.
D23. A communication system including a host computer comprising a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the Group B embodiments.
D24. The communication system of the previous embodiment further including the base station.
D25. The communication system of the previous 2 embodiments, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.
D26. The communication system of the previous 3 embodiments, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application;the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer.
D27. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the base station has received from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the Group A embodiments.
D28. The method of the previous embodiment, further comprising at the base station, receiving the user data from the UE.
D29. The method of the previous 2 embodiments, further comprising at the base station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.