WO2018049274A1

WO2018049274A1 - Low latency random access channel procedures for beamformed systems

Info

Publication number: WO2018049274A1
Application number: PCT/US2017/050838
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gang Xiong; Qiaoyang Ye; Huaning Niu; Hong He; Seunghee Han
Original assignee: Intel IP Corporation
Priority date: 2016-09-09
Filing date: 2017-09-08
Publication date: 2018-03-15

Abstract

Described is an apparatus of a User Equipment (UE). The apparatus may comprise a first circuitry and a second circuitry. The first circuitry may be operable to determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble signature index. The second circuitry may be operable to generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion. The one or more physical resources may include one or more time resources and/or one or more frequency resources.

Description

Low LATENCY RANDOM ACCESS CHANNEL PROCEDURES

FOR BEAMFORMED SYSTEMS

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to United

States Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/385,833 filed September 9, 2016, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] A variety of wireless cellular communication systems have been implemented, including a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) Universal Mobile

Telecommunications System, a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system, and a 3GPP LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) system. Next-generation wireless cellular communication systems based upon LTE and LTE-A systems are being developed, such as a fifth generation (5G) or New Radio (NR) wireless system / 5G mobile networks system. Next-generation wireless cellular communication systems may present a unified approach to vastly different and sometimes conflicting performance dimensions, and may accommodate diverse multi-dimensional requirements driven by a variety of different potential services and applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The embodiments of the disclosure will be understood more fully from the detailed description given below and from the accompanying drawings of various embodiments of the disclosure. However, while the drawings are to aid in explanation and understanding, they are only an aid, and should not be taken to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments depicted therein.

[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates a procedure for contention-based random access in LTE, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates a simplified random access procedure, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0006] Fig. 3 illustrates a scenario of a random access procedure in reciprocity, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0007] Fig. 4 illustrates random access transmission structures in the time domain, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

l [0008] Fig. 5 illustrates a data packet structure in the time domain, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0009] Fig. 6 illustrates scenarios of Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) and data packet multiplexing in a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) manner within the same subframe or slot, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0010] Fig. 7 illustrates a scenario of PRACH and data packet multiplexing in a TDM manner within different subframes or slots, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0011] Fig. 8 illustrates scenarios of PRACH and data packet multiplexing in a

Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner within the same subframe or slot, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 9 illustrates an Evolved Node B (eNB) and a User Equipment (UE), in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 10 illustrates hardware processing circuitries for a UE for low-latency

PRACH transmission schemes and resource mapping schemes for PRACH preamble and data packet, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0014] Fig. 11 illustrates methods for a UE for low-latency PRACH transmission schemes and resource mapping schemes for PRACH preamble and data packet, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0015] Fig. 12 illustrates methods for a UE for low-latency PRACH transmission schemes and resource mapping schemes for PRACH preamble and data packet, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0016] Fig. 13 illustrates example components of a device, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

[0017] Fig. 14 illustrates example interfaces of baseband circuitry, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Various wireless cellular communication systems have been implemented or are being proposed, including a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a 3GPP Long-Term Evolution (LTE) system, a 3GPP LTE-Advanced system, and a 5th Generation wireless system / 5th Generation mobile networks (5G) system / 5th Generation new radio (NR) system. [0019] Mobile communication systems have evolved significantly from early voice systems to contemporary, highly sophisticated integrated communication platforms. Next- generation wireless communication systems (such as 5G systems) may provide access to information and sharing of data in a wide variety of locations and at a wide variety of times by various users and applications.

[0020] 5G systems may evolve from 3GPP LTE-Advanced systems incorporating additional Radio Access Technologies (RATs) that may advantageously facilitate simpler and more seamless wireless connectivity solutions. 5G wireless communication systems may ultimately accommodate a wide variety of elements and may enhance speed and capability of delivered contents and services.

[0021] Fig. 1 illustrates a procedure for contention-based random access in LTE, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. A four-step Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure 100 between a UE 101 and an eNB 102, which may be used for initial contention-based random access, may comprise a first part 110, a second part 120, a third part 130, and a fourth part 140. In first part 110, UE 101 may transmit a random access preamble to eNB 102. In second part 120, eNB 102 may transmit a random access response to UE 101. In a subsequent portion 125, Uplink (UL) timing may be adjusted. In third part 130, UE 101 may transmit an L2/L3 message to eNB 102. In fourth part 140, eNB 102 may transmit one or more contention resolution transmissions to UE 101.

[0022] In first part 110, UE 101 may transmit a Physical Random Access Channel

(PRACH) in the UL by randomly selecting a preamble signature, which may facilitate eNB 102 in estimating a delay between eNB 102 and UE 101 for subsequent UL timing adjustments. Subsequently, in second part 120, eNB 102 may feed back a Random Access Response (RAR), which may carry Timing Advance (TA) command information, and a UL grant for a UL transmission in third part 130. UE 101 may expect receipt of the RAR within a time window, the start and the end of which may be configured by eNB 102 via a System Information Block (SIB).

[0023] To reduce access latency, a simplified RACH procedure may facilitate fast access and low-latency UL transmission. For instance, a four-step RACH procedure may be reduced to two steps, where UE may combine first part 110 and third part 130 of a RACH procedure to facilitate low-latency PRACH transmission.

[0024] This may be advantageous for UL transmission in unlicensed spectrum.

According to regulatory requirements, transmissions in unlicensed spectrum may be subject to a Listen-Before-Talk (LBT) procedure. A UE may be disposed to performing an LBT procedure before transmission of a PRACH preamble (e.g., in first part 110) as well as performing an LBT procedure before transmission of a Message 3 (Msg-3) in third part 130. Similarly, an eNB may be disposed to performing an LBT procedure before transmission of an RAR in second part 120 as well as performing an LBT procedure before transmission a Message 4 (Msg-4) in fourth part 140. As a result, up to four LBTs may be performed for procedure 100, which may cause substantial access delays and may limit UL transmissions.

[0025] Meanwhile, for 5G systems, high-frequency band communication may facilitate wider bandwidths to support future integrated communication systems. In turn, beamforming may facilitate implementation of high-frequency band systems as a result of beamforming gains, which may compensate for severe path loss related to by atmospheric attenuation, may improve a Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), and may enlarge a coverage area. By aligning a transmission beam to a target UE, radiated energy may be focused for higher energy efficiency, and mutual UE interference may be reduced or suppressed.

[0026] Disclosed herein are low-latency RACH procedure for high-frequency band systems to accommodate beamforming at an eNB, a UE, or both. Some embodiments may incorporate low-latency PRACH transmission procedures. Some embodiments may incorporate resource mapping schemes for PRACH preambles and data packets. Some embodiments may incorporate mechanisms for multiplexing of low-latency PRACH transmissions and legacy PRACH transmissions.

[0027] In the following description, numerous details are discussed to provide a more thorough explanation of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art, however, that embodiments of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form, rather than in detail, in order to avoid obscuring embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] Note that in the corresponding drawings of the embodiments, signals are represented with lines. Some lines may be thicker, to indicate a greater number of constituent signal paths, and/or have arrows at one or more ends, to indicate a direction of information flow. Such indications are not intended to be limiting. Rather, the lines are used in connection with one or more exemplary embodiments to facilitate easier understanding of a circuit or a logical unit. Any represented signal, as dictated by design needs or preferences, may actually comprise one or more signals that may travel in either direction and may be implemented with any suitable type of signal scheme. [0029] Throughout the specification, and in the claims, the term "connected" means a direct electrical, mechanical, or magnetic connection between the things that are connected, without any intermediary devices. The term "coupled" means either a direct electrical, mechanical, or magnetic connection between the things that are connected or an indirect connection through one or more passive or active intermediary devices. The term "circuit" or "module" may refer to one or more passive and/or active components that are arranged to cooperate with one another to provide a desired function. The term "signal" may refer to at least one current signal, voltage signal, magnetic signal, or data/clock signal. The meaning of "a," "an," and "the" include plural references. The meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on."

[0030] The terms "substantially," "close," "approximately," "near," and "about" generally refer to being within +/- 10% of a target value. Unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinal adjectives "first," "second," and "third," etc., to describe a common object, merely indicate that different instances of like objects are being referred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so described must be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking, or in any other manner.

[0031] It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the invention described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

[0032] The terms "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "over," "under," and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions.

[0033] For purposes of the embodiments, the transistors in various circuits, modules, and logic blocks are Tunneling FETs (TFETs). Some transistors of various embodiments may comprise metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) transistors, which include drain, source, gate, and bulk terminals. The transistors may also include Tri-Gate and FinFET transistors, Gate All Around Cylindrical Transistors, Square Wire, or Rectangular Ribbon Transistors or other devices implementing transistor functionality like carbon nanotubes or spintronic devices. MOSFET symmetrical source and drain terminals i.e., are identical terminals and are interchangeably used here. A TFET device, on the other hand, has asymmetric Source and Drain terminals. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other transistors, for example, Bi-polar junction transistors-BJT PNP/NPN, BiCMOS, CMOS, etc., may be used for some transistors without departing from the scope of the disclosure. [0034] For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrases "A and/or B" and "A or

B" mean (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase "A, B, and/or C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

[0035] In addition, the various elements of combinatorial logic and sequential logic discussed in the present disclosure may pertain both to physical structures (such as AND gates, OR gates, or XOR gates), or to synthesized or otherwise optimized collections of devices implementing the logical structures that are Boolean equivalents of the logic under discussion.

[0036] In addition, for purposes of the present disclosure, the term "eNB" may refer to a legacy LTE capable Evolved Node-B (eNB), a next-generation or 5G capable eNB, a centimeter-wave (cmWave) capable eNB or a cmWave small cell, a millimeter-wave (mmWave) capable eNB or an mmWave small cell, an Access Point, and/or another base station for a wireless communication system. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term "gNB" may refer to a next-generation or 5G capable eNB, a centimeter-wave (cmWave) capable eNB or a cmWave small cell, a millimeter-wave (mmWave) capable eNB or an mmWave small cell, a 5G Access Point, and/or another 5G base station for a wireless communication system. Structures and methods discussed herein as pertaining to eNBs may also pertain to gNBs. For purposes of the present disclosure, the term "UE" may refer to a legacy LTE capable User Equipment (UE), a next-generation or 5G capable UE, a cmWave capable UE, an mmWave capable UE, a Station (STA), and/or another mobile equipment for a wireless communication system.

[0037] Various embodiments of eNBs and/or UEs discussed below may process one or more transmissions of various types. Some processing of a transmission may comprise demodulating, decoding, detecting, parsing, and/or otherwise handling a transmission that has been received. In some embodiments, an eNB or UE processing a transmission may determine or recognize the transmission's type and/or a condition associated with the transmission. For some embodiments, an eNB or UE processing a transmission may act in accordance with the transmission's type, and/or may act conditionally based upon the transmission's type. An eNB or UE processing a transmission may also recognize one or more values or fields of data carried by the transmission. Processing a transmission may comprise moving the transmission through one or more layers of a protocol stack (which may be implemented in, e.g., hardware and/or software-configured elements), such as by moving a transmission that has been received by an eNB or a UE through one or more layers of a protocol stack. [0038] Various embodiments of eNBs and/or UEs discussed below may also generate one or more transmissions of various types. Some generating of a transmission may comprise modulating, encoding, formatting, assembling, and/or otherwise handling a transmission that is to be transmitted. In some embodiments, an eNB or UE generating a transmission may establish the transmission's type and/or a condition associated with the transmission. For some embodiments, an eNB or UE generating a transmission may act in accordance with the transmission's type, and/or may act conditionally based upon the transmission's type. An eNB or UE generating a transmission may also determine one or more values or fields of data carried by the transmission. Generating a transmission may comprise moving the transmission through one or more layers of a protocol stack (which may be implemented in, e.g., hardware and/or software-configured elements), such as by moving a transmission to be sent by an eNB or a UE through one or more layers of a protocol stack.

[0039] In various embodiments, resources may span various Resource Blocks (RBs),

Physical Resource Blocks (PRBs), and/or time periods (e.g., frames, subframes, and/or slots) of a wireless communication system. In some contexts, allocated resources (e.g., channels, Orthogonal Frequency -Division Multiplexing (OFMD) symbols, subcarrier frequencies, resource elements (REs), and/or portions thereof) may be formatted for (and prior to) transmission over a wireless communication link. In other contexts, allocated resources (e.g., channels, OFDM symbols, subcarrier frequencies, REs, and/or portions thereof) may be detected from (and subsequent to) reception over a wireless communication link.

[0040] Fig. 2 illustrates a simplified random access procedure, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. A two-step RACH procedure 200 between a UE 201 and an eNB 202 may comprise a first part 210 and a second part 220. First part 210 may comprise a PRACH transmission with a temporary and/or assigned Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI), a Buffer Status Report (BSR), and/or a Msg-3, which may carry or otherwise include a UE Identity. Second part 220 may comprise a 5G Physical Downlink Control Channel (xPDCCH), which may carry or otherwise include a UE's assigned C-RNTI, a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI), and/or an RAR, and/or another message.

[0041] A four-step RACH procedure may be simplified to a two-step RACH procedure, in which in a first step, a UE may transmit a PRACH preamble together with a data packet carrying or otherwise including a UE ID, BSR information, a Common Control Channel (CCCH) subheader, and/or an Msg-3. [0042] For cmWave systems and mmWave systems, one or more Beam Reference

Signals (BRSes) may be transmitted from an eNB to allow a UE to measure a BRS Received Power (BRS-RP) and determine or obtain an optimal, preferable, or otherwise best eNB Transmit (Tx) beam and an optimal, preferable, or otherwise best UE Receive (Rx) beam. In various embodiments discussed herein, the BRSes may comprise one or more

synchronization signals such as a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB). If a one-to-one association rule is defined or established between a 5G PRACH (xPRACH) transmission resource and a BRS Antenna Port (AP), a UE may transmit a xPRACH for UL

synchronization using the best UE Rx beam (which may be acquired during an initial beam acquisition stage), on a time resource and/or frequency resource which may be associated with the best eNB Tx beam.

[0043] Fig. 3 illustrates a scenario of a random access procedure in reciprocity, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. A scenario 300 may comprise one or more BRS APs 310 (e.g., a BRS AP #0, a BRS AP #1, a BRS AP #2, and/or a BRS AP #3). In various embodiments discussed herein, a BRS may be an SSB, and a BRS AP may accordingly be an SSB AP. The one or more BRS APs may be associated with one or more respectively corresponding eNB Tx beams, which may in turn be associated with one or more respectively corresponding Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbols. For example, BRS APs 310 may span fourteen OFDM symbols, which may have indices from 0 through 13.

[0044] Scenario 300 may also comprise one or more xPRACH frequency resources

320 (e.g., an xPRACH frequency resource #0 and/or an xPRACH frequency resource #1). The one or more xPRACH frequency resources may be associated with one or more respectively corresponding xPRACH slots. For example, xPRACH frequency resources 320 may span five xPRACH slots, which may have indices from 0 through 4.

[0045] Scenario 300 may correspond with a RACH procedure in a case of perfect reciprocity. As depicted, a best eNB Tx beam may be located at BRS AP #0 (which may correspond with a BRS beam group #0) and at an OFDM symbol number 2. According to an association rule, a UE may correspondingly transmit an xPRACH in an associated xPRACH resource (which may correspond with xPRACH frequency resource #1) and at an xPRACH slot number 2. Accordingly, the xPRACH resource may be a third xPRACH slot in a subframe #5 or slot #5 (e.g., a low-latency PRACH subframe and/or a RAT slot). [0046] In some embodiments, to increase a random access capacity, a UE may randomly select one frequency resource for xPRACH transmission. For example, as depicted, the UE may choose xPRACH frequency resource #1 for xPRACH transmission.

[0047] Fig. 4 illustrates random access transmission structures in the time domain, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. For low-latency RACH procedures, one low-latency PRACH transmission may comprise a PRACH preamble and a data packet. The PRACH preamble may span or more symbols.

[0048] Depending on the number of symbols allocated for one PRACH transmission, one long PRACH preamble may be used in some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in a case 410), or multiple short PRACH preambles may be used in some embodiments (e.g., as depicted in a case 420 and a case 430). Furthermore, for some embodiments, a cyclic prefix (CP) may be present between multiple short PRACH preambles (as in case 420), and for some embodiments, a CP may not be present between multiple short PRACH preambles (as in case 430).

[0049] In various embodiments, a guard period (GP) may be used for PRACH transmission. The GP may follow a PRACH preamble. In some embodiments, for cases in which a PRACH preamble and a data packet are multiplexed in a Time-Division

Multiplexing (TDM) manner and are adjacent to each other, a guard period (GP) might not be used for PRACH transmission.

[0050] Fig. 5 illustrates a data packet structure in the time domain, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In a case 510, two symbols (e.g., two OFDM symbols) may be used for data packet transmission. In some embodiments, a CP may be used for (e.g., inserted before) each symbol. Furthermore, a GP may be used (e.g., inserted after) the last part of data packet transmission, in a manner similar to the transmission of a PRACH preamble.

[0051] In various embodiments, the same transmission timing may be used for a

PRACH preamble and a data packet. In addition, either the same subcarrier spacing or different subcarrier spacing may be applied for PRACH preamble transmission and data packet transmission.

[0052] In some embodiments, for data packet generation, a PRACH preamble signature index may be used to generate a scrambling sequence for a data packet. A scrambling seed may be defined as (or otherwise based upon) one or more of following parameters: a physical cell identity (ID) and/or a virtual cell ID; a frame index, a subframe index (which may be a low-latency PRACH subframe index or a RAT slot index), a slot index (which may be a PRACH slot index or a low-latency PRACH slot index), a symbol index, a PRB index, a sub-band index, and/or a frequency resource index used for the PRACH transmission; and/or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[0053] In one example, the scrambling seed may be established or determined by:

cinit ⁼ f (Nfv ^tt, n_SF, I_PRACH)

Where i ,"¹¹ may be a cell ID; n_SF may be a subframe index (which may be a RAT slot index) or a slot index (which may be a PRACH slot index); and IPRACH ^MA¥ ^De a PRACH preamble signature index.

[0054] In another example, the scrambling seed may be established or determined by:

cinit ⁼ / WD" < SF< lpRACH> ⁿfreq ,PRACH)

Where n^_{req PRACH} may be a frequency resource index for the PRACH transmission.

[0055] In some embodiments, multiple UEs may randomly select different PRACH preamble signatures for PRACH transmission. As a result, when data packet transmissions from the UEs collide in the same resource, the data packets may advantageously be decodable with different scrambling sequences. For example, the data packets may be decodable if an eNB implements an interference-cancellation type of receiver, such as a Minimum Mean-Square Error Successive Interference Cancellation (MMSE-SIC) receiver.

[0056] Furthermore, for some embodiments, a PRACH preamble signature index and/or a frequency resource index may be used to mask a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) used for transmission of the data packet, which may advantageously serve a verification purpose.

[0057] In some embodiments, the transmit power may be used to transmit the

PRACH and to transmit the data packet. This may be advantageous when PRACH is used as a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) for a data packet transmission. For some embodiments, an eNB may estimate a channel from PRACH and may apply the estimated channel for demodulation and/or decoding of the data packet.

[0058] In some embodiments, for a low-latency RACH procedure, a UE may perform a random backoff procedure if it does not receive an RAR during an RAR window. For some embodiments, if a maximum number of low-latency RACH attempts are reached, a UE may fall back to another RACH procedure, such as a legacy four-step RACH procedure. In some embodiments, when an eNB can successfully detect a PRACH preamble but fails to decode a data packet, in a second part or second step of the RACH procedure, the eNB may transmit an RAR in accordance with a legacy RACH procedure. Subsequently, a UE may send an Msg-3 in accordance with a legacy RACH procedure.

[0059] In various embodiments, a PRACH preamble portion of a transmission and a data packet portion of a transmission may be multiplexed in a TDM manner, or in a

Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner, or in a combination thereof. Further, the same UE Tx beam may be applied for both the PRACH preamble portion of the transmission and the data packet portion of the transmission, which may advantageously facilitate or achieve adequate coverage for the UL transmission. Various of embodiments of the resource mapping for a PRACH preamble and a data packet for a low-latency RACH transmission are discussed herein.

[0060] Fig. 6 illustrates scenarios of PRACH and data packet multiplexing in a TDM manner within the same subframe or slot, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, a PRACH preamble portion of a transmission and a data packet portion of the transmission may be multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same subframe or slot. In a first scenario 610, the frequency resources used for the PRACH preamble portion of the transmission may be the same as the frequency resources used for the data packet portion of the transmission. In a second scenario 620, the frequency resources used for the PRACH preamble portion of the transmission may different than the frequency resources used for the data packet portion of the transmission. In some embodiments, the data packet portion may use more frequency resources than the PRACH preamble portion, while in some embodiments, the data packet portion may use fewer frequency resources than the PRACH preamble portion.

[0061] In first scenario 610, the PRACH preamble portion may serve as DMRS for demodulation and/or decoding of the data packet. In some embodiments, a UE may randomly select one PRACH resource for PRACH transmission, and the frequency resource used for PRACH transmission may also be used for data packet transmission. In some embodiments, a Single-Carrier Frequency -Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) waveform may be applied for data packet transmission, which advantageously lower a Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR).

[0062] In some embodiments, a low-latency PRACH subframe or slot may comprise

12 symbols (e.g., OFDM symbols), which may further be divided into three low-latency PRACH slots. Within one low-latency PRACH slot, one symbol may be allocated for PRACH transmission, such as PRACH preamble transmission, while three symbols may be allocated for data packet transmission. [0063] For some embodiments, a PRACH preamble and a data packet may be transmitted in a low-latency PRACH slot, which may be one-to-one associated with an eNB Tx beam or BRS AP (similar to the association rule discussed with respect to Fig. 3).

Various embodiments may support other transmission durations for a PRACH preamble and a data packet. For example, in some embodiments, two symbols may be allocated for a PRACH preamble and two symbols may be allocated for a data packet.

[0064] In comparison with first scenario 610, in second scenario 620, a data packet may occupy more frequency resources than a PRACH preamble, which may advantageously accommodate relatively larger data payload sizes.

[0065] In some embodiments, a PRACH preamble and a data packet may be multiplexed in a TDM manner in different subframes or slots. The same Tx beam applied to the transmission of the PRACH preamble may be applied to the transmission of the data packet. For some embodiments, the same low-latency RPACH slot used for PRACH preamble transmission may be used for data packet transmission in two subframes or slots, where the selected low-latency PRACH slot may be associated with a best eNB Tx beam and/or a BRS AP.

[0066] Fig. 7 illustrates a scenario of PRACH and data packet multiplexing in a TDM manner within different subframes or slots, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In scenario 710, a PRACH preamble may be transmitted in a first subframe or slot 712, and a corresponding data packet may be transmitted in a second subframe or slot 714 (e.g., one subframe or slot after first subframe or slot 712). In some embodiments, the same low-latency PRACH slot (e.g., a PRACH slot #2) used for PRACH preamble transmission in first subframe or slot 712 may be used for data packet transmission in second subframe or slot 714.

[0067] In various embodiments, accordingly, different frequency resources may be used for transmission of a PRACH preamble and a data packet. A data packet may advantageously occupy more resources than a PRACH preamble to accommodate a large packet size. In addition, to advantageously further reduce collisions from different UEs, resources used for transmission of data packet may be defined as a function of a frequency resource index for the PRACH preamble and/or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[0068] In one example, where a number M of total resources are allocated for a data packet in one low-latency PRACH slot, a UE may select one resource for data packet as:

¹data — f pRACH' ⁿfreq,PRACH Where I_DATA = (0, · · · , M— 1} may be a data packet resource index; IPRACH ^may ^De a PRACH preamble signature index; and nj_{req PRACE} may be a frequency resource index for the PRACH transmission (e.g., the PRACH preamble transmission).

[0069] Given a one-subframe or one-slot separation between a PRACH preamble and a data packet, a dedicated DMRS may be inserted for the transmission of the data packet. This may accommodate an estimated channel from the PRACH preamble, which might not be applied for demodulation and/or decoding of data packet. To differentiate DMRS from different UEs, a DMRS sequence may be defined as a function of a PRACH preamble signature index. In one example, when a Zadoff-Chu sequence is used for DMRS generation, a root index may be defined as a function of a cell ID, and/or a cyclic shift value may be defined as a function of at least a PRACH preamble signature index.

[0070] In some embodiments of the invention, a PRACH preamble and a data packet may be multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same subframe or slot. A low-latency PRACH slot (which may be associated with a best eNB Tx beam or a BRS AP) may be used for PRACH preamble transmission and data packet transmission, and the same low-latency PRACH slot may be used for data packet transmission. For some embodiments, such as when different numerologies are used for the PRACH preamble and the data packet, a guard band (e.g., a GP) may be inserted between the PRACH preamble and the data packet.

[0071] Some embodiments may use a dedicated DMRS for demodulation of the data packet. Some embodiments may define a DMRS sequence as a function of PRACH preamble signature index, which may advantageously help differentiate DMRS from different UEs.

[0072] Fig. 8 illustrates scenarios of PRACH and data packet multiplexing in an

FDM manner within the same subframe or slot, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, a PRACH preamble portion of a transmission and a data packet portion of the transmission may be multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same subframe or slot. In a first scenario 810, the frequency resources used for the data packet portion of the transmission may be at higher frequencies than the frequency resources used for the PRACH preamble portion of the transmission. In a second scenario 820, the frequency resources used for the data packet portion of the transmission may be at lower frequencies than the frequency resources used for the PRACH preamble portion of the transmission. In a third scenario 830, the frequency resources used for the data packet portion of the transmission may be located around the frequency resources used for the PRACH preamble portion of the transmission (e.g., the frequency resources used for the PRACH preamble may be between the frequency resources used for the data packet).

[0073] In various embodiments, a UE may select either frequency resources for data packet transmission based on a parity of a PRACH preamble signature index. For instance, for a PRACH preamble signature of a first parity (e.g., an even parity), a UE may select frequency resources for the data packet that are at frequencies higher than the frequency resources for the PRACH preamble, while for PRACH preamble signature of a second parity opposite from the first parity (e.g., an odd parity), the UE may select frequency resources for the data packet that are at frequencies lower than the frequency resources for the PRACH preamble.

[0074] In various embodiments, for low-latency RACH procedures, an eNB may attempt to first detect a PRACH preamble and then decode a data packet. Dedicated resources for low-latency PRACH transmission may be advantageous in reducing receiver complexity on the eNB side. For example, an eNB may merely decode a data packet for a detected PRACH preamble on a dedicated resource reserved for a low-latency RACH procedure.

[0075] For some embodiments, PRACH resources for low-latency RACH procedures

(e.g., two-step RACH procedures) and legacy RACH procedures (e.g., four-step RACH procedures) may be multiplexed in a TDM manner, in an FDM manner, in a Code Division Multiplexing (CDM) manner, and/or in some combination thereof. In some embodiments, a resource partition may be predefined, or may be configured by higher layers via an NR Master Information Block (xMIB) and/or an NR Minimum System Information (MSI), an NR SIB (xSIB) and/or an NR Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), an NR Other System Information (OSI), and/or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[0076] In some embodiments, one or more PRACH preamble signature sequences may be reserved for PRACH transmission for a low-latency RACH procedure. For some embodiments, one or more frequency resources may be allocated for PRACH transmission for a low-latency RACH procedure. In some embodiments, one or more time resources may be allocated for PRACH transmission for a low-latency RACH procedure. For example, PRACH for a legacy RACH procedure may be transmitted in a subframe or slot number 0 in one radio frame, and/or PRACH for a low-latency RACH procedure may be transmitted in a subframe or slot number 25 in one radio frame.

[0077] For some embodiments, a combination of TDM based multiplexed schemes,

FDM based multiplexed schemes, and/or CDM based multiplexed schemes may be used to separate one or more resources for a low-latency RACH procedure from one or more resources for a legacy RACH procedure.

[0078] Fig. 9 illustrates an eNB and a UE, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. 9 includes block diagrams of an eNB 910 and a UE 930 which are operable to co-exist with each other and other elements of an LTE network. High-level, simplified architectures of eNB 910 and UE 930 are described so as not to obscure the embodiments. It should be noted that in some embodiments, eNB 910 may be a stationary non-mobile device.

[0079] eNB 910 is coupled to one or more antennas 905, and UE 930 is similarly coupled to one or more antennas 925. However, in some embodiments, eNB 910 may incorporate or comprise antennas 905, and UE 930 in various embodiments may incorporate or comprise antennas 925.

[0080] In some embodiments, antennas 905 and/or antennas 925 may comprise one or more directional or omni-directional antennas, including monopole antennas, dipole antennas, loop antennas, patch antennas, microstrip antennas, coplanar wave antennas, or other types of antennas suitable for transmission of RF signals. In some MIMO (multiple-input and multiple output) embodiments, antennas 905 are separated to take advantage of spatial diversity.

[0081] eNB 910 and UE 930 are operable to communicate with each other on a network, such as a wireless network. eNB 910 and UE 930 may be in communication with each other over a wireless communication channel 950, which has both a downlink path from eNB 910 to UE 930 and an uplink path from UE 930 to eNB 910.

[0082] As illustrated in Fig. 9, in some embodiments, eNB 910 may include a physical layer circuitry 912, a MAC (media access control) circuitry 914, a processor 916, a memory 918, and a hardware processing circuitry 920. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other components not shown may be used in addition to the components shown to form a complete eNB.

[0083] In some embodiments, physical layer circuitry 912 includes a transceiver 913 for providing signals to and from UE 930. Transceiver 913 provides signals to and from UEs or other devices using one or more antennas 905. In some embodiments, MAC circuitry 914 controls access to the wireless medium. Memory 918 may be, or may include, a storage media/medium such as a magnetic storage media (e.g., magnetic tapes or magnetic disks), an optical storage media (e.g., optical discs), an electronic storage media (e.g., conventional hard disk drives, solid-state disk drives, or flash-memory-based storage media), or any tangible storage media or non-transitory storage media. Hardware processing circuitry 920 may comprise logic devices or circuitry to perform various operations. In some embodiments, processor 916 and memory 918 are arranged to perform the operations of hardware processing circuitry 920, such as operations described herein with reference to logic devices and circuitry within eNB 910 and/or hardware processing circuitry 920.

[0084] Accordingly, in some embodiments, eNB 910 may be a device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antenna ports, and an interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device.

[0085] As is also illustrated in Fig. 9, in some embodiments, UE 930 may include a physical layer circuitry 932, a MAC circuitry 934, a processor 936, a memory 938, a hardware processing circuitry 940, a wireless interface 942, and a display 944. A person skilled in the art would appreciate that other components not shown may be used in addition to the components shown to form a complete UE.

[0086] In some embodiments, physical layer circuitry 932 includes a transceiver 933 for providing signals to and from eNB 910 (as well as other eNBs). Transceiver 933 provides signals to and from eNBs or other devices using one or more antennas 925. In some embodiments, MAC circuitry 934 controls access to the wireless medium. Memory 938 may be, or may include, a storage media/medium such as a magnetic storage media (e.g., magnetic tapes or magnetic disks), an optical storage media (e.g., optical discs), an electronic storage media (e.g., conventional hard disk drives, solid-state disk drives, or flash-memory -based storage media), or any tangible storage media or non-transitory storage media. Wireless interface 942 may be arranged to allow the processor to communicate with another device. Display 944 may provide a visual and/or tactile display for a user to interact with UE 930, such as a touch-screen display. Hardware processing circuitry 940 may comprise logic devices or circuitry to perform various operations. In some embodiments, processor 936 and memory 938 may be arranged to perform the operations of hardware processing circuitry 940, such as operations described herein with reference to logic devices and circuitry within UE 930 and/or hardware processing circuitry 940.

[0087] Accordingly, in some embodiments, UE 930 may be a device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antennas, a wireless interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, and a touch-screen display.

[0088] Elements of Fig. 9, and elements of other figures having the same names or reference numbers, can operate or function in the manner described herein with respect to any such figures (although the operation and function of such elements is not limited to such descriptions). For example, Figs. 10 and 13-14 also depict embodiments of eNBs, hardware processing circuitry of eNBs, UEs, and/or hardware processing circuitry of UEs, and the embodiments described with respect to Fig. 9 and Figs. 10 and 13-14 can operate or function in the manner described herein with respect to any of the figures.

[0089] In addition, although eNB 910 and UE 930 are each described as having several separate functional elements, one or more of the functional elements may be combined and may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements and/or other hardware elements. In some embodiments of this disclosure, the functional elements can refer to one or more processes operating on one or more processing elements. Examples of software and/or hardware configured elements include Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), one or more microprocessors, DSPs, Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits (RFICs), and so on.

[0090] Fig. 10 illustrates hardware processing circuitries for a UE for a UE for low- latency PRACH transmission schemes and resource mapping schemes for PRACH preamble and data packet, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. With reference to Fig. 9, a UE may include various hardware processing circuitries discussed herein (such as hardware processing circuitry 1000 of Fig. 10), which may in turn comprise logic devices and/or circuitry operable to perform various operations. For example, in Fig. 9, UE 930 (or various elements or components therein, such as hardware processing circuitry 940, or combinations of elements or components therein) may include part of, or all of, these hardware processing circuitries.

[0091] In some embodiments, one or more devices or circuitries within these hardware processing circuitries may be implemented by combinations of software-configured elements and/or other hardware elements. For example, processor 936 (and/or one or more other processors which UE 930 may comprise), memory 938, and/or other elements or components of UE 930 (which may include hardware processing circuitry 940) may be arranged to perform the operations of these hardware processing circuitries, such as operations described herein with reference to devices and circuitry within these hardware processing circuitries. In some embodiments, processor 936 (and/or one or more other processors which UE 930 may comprise) may be a baseband processor.

[0092] Returning to Fig. 10, an apparatus of UE 930 (or another UE or mobile handset), which may be operable to communicate with one or more eNBs on a wireless network, may comprise hardware processing circuitry 1000. In some embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 1000 may comprise one or more antenna ports 1005 operable to provide various transmissions over a wireless communication channel (such as wireless

communication channel 950). Antenna ports 1005 may be coupled to one or more antennas 1007 (which may be antennas 925). In some embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 1000 may incorporate antennas 1007, while in other embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 1000 may merely be coupled to antennas 1007.

[0093] Antenna ports 1005 and antennas 1007 may be operable to provide signals from a UE to a wireless communications channel and/or an eNB, and may be operable to provide signals from an eNB and/or a wireless communications channel to a UE. For example, antenna ports 1005 and antennas 1007 may be operable to provide transmissions from UE 930 to wireless communication channel 950 (and from there to eNB 910, or to another eNB). Similarly, antennas 1007 and antenna ports 1005 may be operable to provide transmissions from a wireless communication channel 950 (and beyond that, from eNB 910, or another eNB) to UE 930.

[0094] Hardware processing circuitry 1000 may comprise various circuitries operable in accordance with the various embodiments discussed herein. With reference to Fig. 10, hardware processing circuitry 1000 may comprise a first circuitry 1010, a second circuitry 1020, a third circuitry 1030, a fourth circuitry 1040, and/or a fifth circuitry 1050.

[0095] In various embodiments, first circuitry 1010 may be operable to determine a

UE Tx beam for a transmission carrying a PRACH preamble and/or a PRACH preamble signature index. Second circuitry 1020 may be operable to generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion. First circuitry 1010 may be operable to provide information regarding the UE Tx beam, such as identification information regarding the UE Tx beam, to second circuitry 1020 via an interface 1012. The one or more physical resources may include one or more time resources and/or or one or more frequency resources. In some embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 1000 may also comprise an interface for sending the transmission to a transceiver circuitry.

[0096] In some embodiments, the physical resources may be associated an identified eNB Tx beam or a BRS AP. For some embodiments, the transmission may carry a UE identifier, a BSR, and/or a Message 3.

[0097] In some embodiments, third circuitry 1030 may be operable to generate a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon the PRACH preamble signature index. Third circuitry 1030 may provide the information regarding the scrambling seed (such as identifying information) to first circuitry 1010 via an interface 1032. For some embodiments, fourth circuitry 1040 may be operable to define a scrambling seed based on a physical cell ID, a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a subframe index, a slot index, a symbol index, a PRB index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, and/or the PRACH preamble signature index. Fourth circuitry 1040 may be operable to provide information regarding the scrambling seed to third circuitry 1030 via an interface 1042. In some embodiments, third circuitry 1030 may also be operable to mask a CRC for the second part of the transmission based upon the PRACH preamble signature index and/or a frequency resource index.

[0098] In some embodiments, a transmit power may be used for the first part of the transmission is substantially the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.

[0099] For some embodiments, fifth circuitry 1050 may be operable to monitor for receipt of a RAR during an RAR window. In some embodiments, second circuitry 1020 may additionally be operable to initiate a random backoff procedure comprising generation of one or more additional transmissions carrying the PRACH preamble signature index if no RAR is received during the RAR window. For some embodiments, fifth circuitry 1050 may also be operable to monitor for receipt of an RAR during the random backoff procedure. In some embodiments, second circuitry 1020 may also be additionally operable to initiate a four-step RACH procedure if no RAR is received during the random backoff procedure. Fifth circuitry 1050 may be operable to provide information regarding the random backoff procedure and/or the four-step RACH procedure (such as an indicator that the random backoff procedure and/or the four-step RACH procedure, respectively, should be initiated) via an interface 1052.

[00100] In some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may be configured by an xMIB, an xSIB, and/or RRC signaling. For some embodiments, a PRACH preamble signature sequence, and/or a set of time resources, and/or a set of frequency resources may be reserved for the transmission.

[00101] For various embodiments, first circuitry 1010 may be operable to determine a

Tx beam for a transmission carrying a PRACH preamble and/or a PRACH preamble signature index. Second circuitry 1020 may be operable to generate a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources. Second circuitry 1020 may also be operable to generate a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources. The physical resources may be associated with an identified eNB Tx beam and/or a BRS AP. First circuitry 1010 may be operable to provide information regarding the UE Tx beam (such as identification information regarding the UE Tx beam) to second circuitry 1020 via an interface 1012. In some embodiments, hardware processing circuitry 1000 may also comprise an interface for sending the transmission to a transceiver circuitry.

[00102] In some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may include one or more time resources and/or one or more frequency resources. For some embodiments, the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission may be multiplexed in a TDM manner, an FDM manner, or both. In some embodiments, the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same subframe or slot. For some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may be randomly selected.

[00103] For some embodiments, the first part of the transmission may be generated for a slot within a first subframe or slot. In some embodiments, the second part of the transmission may be generated for the same slot within a second subframe or slot. For some embodiments, the slot may be associated with an identified eNB Tx beam and/or a BRS AP.

[00104] In some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may be determined based on a frequency resource index for the transmission, and/or the PRACH preamble signature index. For some embodiments, the second part of the transmission may comprise a DMRS. In some embodiments, a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on the PRACH preamble signature index.

[00105] For some embodiments, the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission may be multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same subframe or slot. In some embodiments, the second part of the transmission may comprise a DMRS. For some embodiments, a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS may be based on the PRACH preamble signature index.

[00106] In some embodiments, first circuitry 1010, second circuitry 1020, third circuitry 1030, fourth circuitry 1040, and/or fifth circuitry 1050 may be implemented as separate circuitries. In other embodiments, first circuitry 1010, second circuitry 1020, third circuitry 1030, fourth circuitry 1040, and/or fifth circuitry 1050 may be combined and implemented together in a circuitry without altering the essence of the embodiments.

[00107] Fig. 11 illustrates methods for a UE for a UE for low-latency PRACH transmission schemes and resource mapping schemes for PRACH preamble and data packet, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. Fig. 12 illustrates methods for a UE for a UE for low-latency PRACH transmission schemes and resource mapping schemes for PRACH preamble and data packet, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. With reference to Fig. 9, methods that may relate to UE 930 and hardware processing circuitry 940 are discussed herein. Although the actions in the method 1 100 of Fig. 11 and method 1200 of Fig. 12 are shown in a particular order, the order of the actions can be modified. Thus, the illustrated embodiments can be performed in a different order, and some actions may be performed in parallel. Some of the actions and/or operations listed in Figs. 11 and 12 are optional in accordance with certain embodiments. The numbering of the actions presented is for the sake of clarity and is not intended to prescribe an order of operations in which the various actions must occur. Additionally, operations from the various flows may be utilized in a variety of combinations.

[00108] Moreover, in some embodiments, machine readable storage media may have executable instructions that, when executed, cause UE 930 and/or hardware processing circuitry 940 to perform an operation comprising the methods of Figs. 11 and 12. Such machine readable storage media may include any of a variety of storage media, like magnetic storage media (e.g., magnetic tapes or magnetic disks), optical storage media (e.g., optical discs), electronic storage media (e.g., conventional hard disk drives, solid-state disk drives, or fiash-memory-based storage media), or any other tangible storage media or non-transitory storage media.

[00109] In some embodiments, an apparatus may comprise means for performing various actions and/or operations of the methods of Figs. 11 and 12.

[00110] Returning to Fig. 11, various methods may be in accordance with the various embodiments discussed herein. A method 1 100 may comprise a determining 11 10 and a generating 1 115. Method 1100 may also comprise a generating 1120, a defining 1 125, a masking 1130, a monitoring 1 140, an initiating 1 145, a monitoring 1 150, and/or an initiating 1 155.

[00111] In determining 11 10, a UE Tx beam may be determined for a transmission carrying a PRACH preamble and/or a PRACH preamble signature index. In generating 1 115, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion may be generated for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources. The one or more physical resources may include one or more time resources and/or one or more frequency resources. [00112] In some embodiments, the physical resources may be associated an identified eNB Tx beam or a BRS AP. For some embodiments, the transmission may carry a UE identifier, a BSR, and/or a Message 3.

[00113] In some embodiments, in generating 1120, a scrambling sequence may be generated for the second part of the transmission based upon the PRACH preamble signature index. For some embodiments, in defining 1125, a scrambling seed based on a physical cell ID, a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a subframe index, a slot index, a symbol index, a PRB index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, and/or the PRACH preamble signature index may be defined. In some embodiments, in masking 1130, a CRC for the second part of the transmission may be masked based upon the PRACH preamble signature index and/or a frequency resource index.

[00114] In some embodiments, a transmit power may be used for the first part of the transmission is substantially the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.

[00115] For some embodiments, in monitoring 1140, receipt of an RAR during an

RAR window may be monitored for. In some embodiments, in initiating 1145, a random backoff procedure comprising generation of one or more additional transmissions carrying the PRACH preamble signature index may be initiated if no RAR is received during the RAR window. For some embodiments, in monitoring 1150, receipt of an RAR during the random backoff procedure may be monitored for. In some embodiments, a four-step RACH procedure may be initiated if no RAR is received during the random backoff procedure.

[00116] In some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may be configured by an xMIB, an xSIB, and/or RRC signaling. For some embodiments, a PRACH preamble signature sequence, and/or a set of time resources, and/or a set of frequency resources may be reserved for the transmission.

[00117] Returning to Fig. 12, various methods may be in accordance with the various embodiments discussed herein. A method 1200 may comprise a determining 1210, a generating 1215, and a generating 1220. In determining 1210, a UE Tx beam for a transmission carrying a PRACH preamble and/or a PRACH preamble signature index may be determined. In generating 1215, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion may be generated for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources. In generating 1220, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion may be generated for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources. The physical resources may be associated with an identified eNB Tx beam and/or or a BRS AP [00118] In some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may include one or more time resources and/or one or more frequency resources. For some embodiments, the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission may be multiplexed in a TDM manner, an FDM manner, or both. In some embodiments, the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same subframe or slot. For some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may be randomly selected.

[00119] For some embodiments, the first part of the transmission may be generated for a slot within a first subframe or slot. In some embodiments, the second part of the transmission may be generated for the same slot within a second subframe or slot. For some embodiments, the slot may be associated with an identified eNB Tx beam and/or a BRS AP.

[00120] In some embodiments, the one or more physical resources may be determined based on a frequency resource index for the transmission, and/or the PRACH preamble signature index. For some embodiments, the second part of the transmission may comprise a DMRS. In some embodiments, a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on the PRACH preamble signature index.

[00121] For some embodiments, the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission may be multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same subframe or slot. In some embodiments, the second part of the transmission may comprise a DMRS. For some embodiments, a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS may be based on the PRACH preamble signature index.

[00122] Fig. 13 illustrates example components of a device, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. In some embodiments, the device 1300 may include application circuitry 1302, baseband circuitry 1304, Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry 1306, front-end module (FEM) circuitry 1308, one or more antennas 1310, and power management circuitry (PMC) 1312 coupled together at least as shown. The components of the illustrated device 1300 may be included in a UE or a RAN node. In some embodiments, the device 1300 may include less elements (e.g., a RAN node may not utilize application circuitry 1302, and instead include a processor/controller to process IP data received from an EPC). In some embodiments, the device 1300 may include additional elements such as, for example, memory /storage, display, camera, sensor, or input/output (I/O) interface. In other embodiments, the components described below may be included in more than one device (e.g., said circuitries may be separately included in more than one device for Cloud-RAN (C- RAN) implementations). [00123] The application circuitry 1302 may include one or more application processors. For example, the application circuitry 1302 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The processor(s) may include any combination of general-purpose processors and dedicated processors (e.g., graphics processors, application processors, and so on). The processors may be coupled with or may include memory /storage and may be configured to execute instructions stored in the memory /storage to enable various applications or operating systems to run on the device 1300. In some embodiments, processors of application circuitry 1302 may process IP data packets received from an EPC.

[00124] The baseband circuitry 1304 may include circuitry such as, but not limited to, one or more single-core or multi-core processors. The baseband circuitry 1304 may include one or more baseband processors or control logic to process baseband signals received from a receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1306 and to generate baseband signals for a transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1306. Baseband processing circuity 1304 may interface with the application circuitry 1302 for generation and processing of the baseband signals and for controlling operations of the RF circuitry 1306. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1304 may include a third generation (3G) baseband processor 1304A, a fourth generation (4G) baseband processor 1304B, a fifth generation (5G) baseband processor 1304C, or other baseband processor(s) 1304D for other existing generations, generations in development or to be developed in the future (e.g., second generation (2G), sixth generation (6G), and so on). The baseband circuitry 1304 (e.g., one or more of baseband processors 1304A-D) may handle various radio control functions that enable communication with one or more radio networks via the RF circuitry 1306. In other embodiments, some or all of the functionality of baseband processors 1304A-D may be included in modules stored in the memory 1304G and executed via a Central Processing Unit (CPU) 1304E. The radio control functions may include, but are not limited to, signal modulation/demodulation,

encoding/decoding, radio frequency shifting, and so on. In some embodiments,

modulation/demodulation circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1304 may include Fast-Fourier Transform (FFT), precoding, or constellation mapping/demapping functionality. In some embodiments, encoding/decoding circuitry of the baseband circuitry 1304 may include convolution, tail-biting convolution, turbo, Viterbi, or Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) encoder/decoder functionality. Embodiments of modulation/demodulation and

encoder/decoder functionality are not limited to these examples and may include other suitable functionality in other embodiments. [00125] In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1304 may include one or more audio digital signal processor(s) (DSP) 1304F. The audio DSP(s) 1304F may be include elements for compression/decompression and echo cancellation and may include other suitable processing elements in other embodiments. Components of the baseband circuitry may be suitably combined in a single chip, a single chipset, or disposed on a same circuit board in some embodiments. In some embodiments, some or all of the constituent components of the baseband circuitry 1304 and the application circuitry 1302 may be implemented together such as, for example, on a system on a chip (SOC).

[00126] In some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1304 may provide for communication compatible with one or more radio technologies. For example, in some embodiments, the baseband circuitry 1304 may support communication with an evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (EUTRAN) or other wireless metropolitan area networks (WMAN), a wireless local area network (WLAN), a wireless personal area network (WPAN). Embodiments in which the baseband circuitry 1304 is configured to support radio communications of more than one wireless protocol may be referred to as multi-mode baseband circuitry.

[00127] RF circuitry 1306 may enable communication with wireless networks using modulated electromagnetic radiation through a non-solid medium. In various embodiments, the RF circuitry 1306 may include switches, filters, amplifiers, and so on to facilitate the communication with the wireless network. RF circuitry 1306 may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1308 and provide baseband signals to the baseband circuitry 1304. RF circuitry 1306 may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry to up-convert baseband signals provided by the baseband circuitry 1304 and provide RF output signals to the FEM circuitry 1308 for transmission.

[00128] In some embodiments, the receive signal path of the RF circuitry 1306 may include mixer circuitry 1306A, amplifier circuitry 1306B and filter circuitry 1306C. In some embodiments, the transmit signal path of the RF circuitry 1306 may include filter circuitry 1306C and mixer circuitry 1306A. RF circuitry 1306 may also include synthesizer circuitry 1306D for synthesizing a frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1306A of the receive signal path and the transmit signal path. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1306 A of the receive signal path may be configured to down-convert RF signals received from the FEM circuitry 1308 based on the synthesized frequency provided by synthesizer circuitry 1306D. The amplifier circuitry 1306B may be configured to amplify the down-converted signals and the filter circuitry 1306C may be a low-pass filter (LPF) or band-pass filter (BPF) configured to remove unwanted signals from the down-converted signals to generate output baseband signals. Output baseband signals may be provided to the baseband circuitry 1304 for further processing. In some embodiments, the output baseband signals may be zero-frequency baseband signals, although this is not a requirement. In some embodiments, mixer circuitry 1306A of the receive signal path may comprise passive mixers, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[00129] In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1306A of the transmit signal path may be configured to up-convert input baseband signals based on the synthesized frequency provided by the synthesizer circuitry 1306D to generate RF output signals for the FEM circuitry 1308. The baseband signals may be provided by the baseband circuitry 1304 and may be filtered by filter circuitry 1306C.

[00130] In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1306A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1306A of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for quadrature downconversion and upconversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1306A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1306A of the transmit signal path may include two or more mixers and may be arranged for image rejection (e.g., Hartley image rejection). In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1306A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1306A may be arranged for direct downconversion and direct upconversion, respectively. In some embodiments, the mixer circuitry 1306 A of the receive signal path and the mixer circuitry 1306A of the transmit signal path may be configured for super-heterodyne operation.

[00131] In some embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be analog baseband signals, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In some alternate embodiments, the output baseband signals and the input baseband signals may be digital baseband signals. In these alternate embodiments, the RF circuitry 1306 may include analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) circuitry and the baseband circuitry 1304 may include a digital baseband interface to communicate with the RF circuitry 1306.

[00132] In some dual-mode embodiments, a separate radio IC circuitry may be provided for processing signals for each spectrum, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect.

[00133] In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1306D may be a fractional -N synthesizer or a fractional N/N+l synthesizer, although the scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect as other types of frequency synthesizers may be suitable. For example, synthesizer circuitry 1306D may be a delta-sigma synthesizer, a frequency multiplier, or a synthesizer comprising a phase-locked loop with a frequency divider.

[00134] The synthesizer circuitry 1306D may be configured to synthesize an output frequency for use by the mixer circuitry 1306A of the RF circuitry 1306 based on a frequency input and a divider control input. In some embodiments, the synthesizer circuitry 1306D may be a fractional N/N+l synthesizer.

[00135] In some embodiments, frequency input may be provided by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO), although that is not a requirement. Divider control input may be provided by either the baseband circuitry 1304 or the applications processor 1302 depending on the desired output frequency. In some embodiments, a divider control input (e.g., N) may be determined from a look-up table based on a channel indicated by the applications processor 1302.

[00136] Synthesizer circuitry 1306D of the RF circuitry 1306 may include a divider, a delay-locked loop (DLL), a multiplexer and a phase accumulator. In some embodiments, the divider may be a dual modulus divider (DMD) and the phase accumulator may be a digital phase accumulator (DP A). In some embodiments, the DMD may be configured to divide the input signal by either N or N+l (e.g., based on a carry out) to provide a fractional division ratio. In some example embodiments, the DLL may include a set of cascaded, tunable, delay elements, a phase detector, a charge pump and a D-type flip-flop. In these embodiments, the delay elements may be configured to break a VCO period up into Nd equal packets of phase, where Nd is the number of delay elements in the delay line. In this way, the DLL provides negative feedback to help ensure that the total delay through the delay line is one VCO cycle.

[00137] In some embodiments, synthesizer circuitry 1306D may be configured to generate a carrier frequency as the output frequency, while in other embodiments, the output frequency may be a multiple of the carrier frequency (e.g., twice the carrier frequency, four times the carrier frequency) and used in conjunction with quadrature generator and divider circuitry to generate multiple signals at the carrier frequency with multiple different phases with respect to each other. In some embodiments, the output frequency may be a LO frequency (fLO). In some embodiments, the RF circuitry 1306 may include an IQ/polar converter.

[00138] FEM circuitry 1308 may include a receive signal path which may include circuitry configured to operate on RF signals received from one or more antennas 1310, amplify the received signals and provide the amplified versions of the received signals to the RF circuitry 1306 for further processing. FEM circuitry 1308 may also include a transmit signal path which may include circuitry configured to amplify signals for transmission provided by the RF circuitry 1306 for transmission by one or more of the one or more antennas 1310. In various embodiments, the amplification through the transmit or receive signal paths may be done solely in the RF circuitry 1306, solely in the FEM 1308, or in both the RF circuitry 1306 and the FEM 1308.

[00139] In some embodiments, the FEM circuitry 1308 may include a TX/RX switch to switch between transmit mode and receive mode operation. The FEM circuitry may include a receive signal path and a transmit signal path. The receive signal path of the FEM circuitry may include an LNA to amplify received RF signals and provide the amplified received RF signals as an output (e.g., to the RF circuitry 1306). The transmit signal path of the FEM circuitry 1308 may include a power amplifier (PA) to amplify input RF signals (e.g., provided by RF circuitry 1306), and one or more filters to generate RF signals for subsequent transmission (e.g., by one or more of the one or more antennas 1310).

[00140] In some embodiments, the PMC 1312 may manage power provided to the baseband circuitry 1304. In particular, the PMC 1312 may control power-source selection, voltage scaling, battery charging, or DC-to-DC conversion. The PMC 1312 may often be included when the device 1300 is capable of being powered by a battery, for example, when the device is included in a UE. The PMC 1312 may increase the power conversion efficiency while providing desirable implementation size and heat dissipation characteristics.

[00141] While Fig. 13 shows the PMC 1312 coupled only with the baseband circuitry 1304. However, in other embodiments, the PMC 1312 may be additionally or alternatively coupled with, and perform similar power management operations for, other components such as, but not limited to, application circuitry 1302, RF circuitry 1306, or FEM 1308.

[00142] In some embodiments, the PMC 1312 may control, or otherwise be part of, various power saving mechanisms of the device 1300. For example, if the device 1300 is in an RRC_Connected state, where it is still connected to the RAN node as it expects to receive traffic shortly, then it may enter a state known as Discontinuous Reception Mode (DRX) after a period of inactivity. During this state, the device 1300 may power down for brief intervals of time and thus save power.

[00143] If there is no data traffic activity for an extended period of time, then the device 1300 may transition off to an RRC Idle state, where it disconnects from the network and does not perform operations such as channel quality feedback, handover, and so on. The device 1300 goes into a very low power state and it performs paging where again it periodically wakes up to listen to the network and then powers down again. The device 1300 may not receive data in this state, in order to receive data, it must transition back to

RRC Connected state.

[00144] An additional power saving mode may allow a device to be unavailable to the network for periods longer than a paging interval (ranging from seconds to a few hours). During this time, the device is totally unreachable to the network and may power down completely. Any data sent during this time incurs a large delay and it is assumed the delay is acceptable.

[00145] Processors of the application circuitry 1302 and processors of the baseband circuitry 1304 may be used to execute elements of one or more instances of a protocol stack. For example, processors of the baseband circuitry 1304, alone or in combination, may be used execute Layer 3, Layer 2, or Layer 1 functionality, while processors of the application circuitry 1304 may utilize data (e.g., packet data) received from these layers and further execute Layer 4 functionality (e.g., transmission communication protocol (TCP) and user datagram protocol (UDP) layers). As referred to herein, Layer 3 may comprise a radio resource control (RRC) layer, described in further detail below. As referred to herein, Layer 2 may comprise a medium access control (MAC) layer, a radio link control (RLC) layer, and a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, described in further detail below. As referred to herein, Layer 1 may comprise a physical (PHY) layer of a UE/RAN node, described in further detail below.

[00146] Fig. 14 illustrates example interfaces of baseband circuitry, in accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure. As discussed above, the baseband circuitry 1304 of Fig. 13 may comprise processors 1304A-1304E and a memory 1304G utilized by said processors. Each of the processors 1304A-1304E may include a memory interface, 1404A- 1404E, respectively, to send/receive data to/from the memory 1304G.

[00147] The baseband circuitry 1304 may further include one or more interfaces to communicatively couple to other circuitries/devices, such as a memory interface 1412 (e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from memory extemal to the baseband circuitry 1304), an application circuitry interface 1414 (e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from the application circuitry 1302 of Fig. 13), an RF circuitry interface 1416 (e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from RF circuitry 1306 of Fig. 13), a wireless hardware connectivity interface 1418 (e.g., an interface to send/receive data to/from Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g., Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communication components), and a power management interface 1420 (e.g., an interface to send/receive power or control signals to/from the PMC 1312.

[00148] It is pointed out that elements of any of the Figures herein having the same reference numbers and/or names as elements of any other Figure herein may, in various embodiments, operate or function in a manner similar those elements of the other Figure (without being limited to operating or functioning in such a manner).

[00149] Reference in the specification to "an embodiment," "one embodiment," "some embodiments," or "other embodiments" means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiments is included in at least some embodiments, but not necessarily all embodiments. The various appearances of "an embodiment," "one embodiment," or "some embodiments" are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiments. If the specification states a component, feature, structure, or characteristic "may," "might," or "could" be included, that particular component, feature, structure, or characteristic is not required to be included. If the specification or claim refers to "a" or "an" element, that does not mean there is only one of the elements. If the specification or claims refer to "an additional" element, that does not preclude there being more than one of the additional element.

[00150] Furthermore, the particular features, structures, functions, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, a first embodiment may be combined with a second embodiment anywhere the particular features, structures, functions, or characteristics associated with the two embodiments are not mutually exclusive.

[00151] While the disclosure has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, many alternatives, modifications and variations of such embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in light of the foregoing description. For example, other memory architectures e.g., Dynamic RAM (DRAM) may use the

embodiments discussed. The embodiments of the disclosure are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as to fall within the broad scope of the appended claims.

[00152] In addition, well known power/ground connections to integrated circuit (IC) chips and other components may or may not be shown within the presented figures, for simplicity of illustration and discussion, and so as not to obscure the disclosure. Further, arrangements may be shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the disclosure, and also in view of the fact that specifics with respect to implementation of such block diagram arrangements are highly dependent upon the platform within which the present disclosure is to be implemented (i.e., such specifics should be well within purview of one skilled in the art). Where specific details (e.g., circuits) are set forth in order to describe example embodiments of the disclosure, it should be apparent to one skilled in the art that the disclosure can be practiced without, or with variation of, these specific details. The description is thus to be regarded as illustrative instead of limiting.

[00153] The following examples pertain to further embodiments. Specifics in the examples may be used anywhere in one or more embodiments. All optional features of the apparatus described herein may also be implemented with respect to a method or process.

[00154] Example 1 provides an apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node B (gNB) on a wireless network, comprising: one or more processors to: determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion; and generate, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and an interface for sending the transmission to a transceiver circuitry.

[00155] In example 2, the apparatus of example 1 , wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00156] In example 3, the apparatus of either of examples 1 or 2, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in at least one of: a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) manner, or a Frequency -Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner.

[00157] In example 4, the apparatus of example 3, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot.

[00158] In example 5, the apparatus of examples 4, wherein the one or more physical resources are randomly selected.

[00159] In example 6, the apparatus of any of examples 3 through 5, wherein the first part of the transmission is generated for a PRACH slot within a first Radio Access

Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission is generated for the same PRACH slot within a second RAT slot; and wherein the PRACH slot is associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP).

[00160] In example 7, the apparatus of example 6, wherein the one or more physical resources of the second part of the transmission are determined based on at least one of: a frequency resource index for the first part of the transmission, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00161] In example 8, the apparatus of either of examples 6 or 7, wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00162] In example 9, the apparatus of any of examples 3 through 8, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00163] Example 10 provides a User Equipment (UE) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antennas, a wireless interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, and a touch-screen display, the UE device including the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 9.

[00164] Example 11 provides a method comprising: determining, for a User

Equipment, a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; generating, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion; and generating, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00165] In example 12, the method of example 11, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00166] In example 13, the method of either of examples 11 or 12, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in at least one of: a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) manner, or a Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner. [00167] In example 14, the method of example 13, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot.

[00168] In example 15, the method of example 14, wherein the one or more physical resources is randomly selected.

[00169] In example 16, the method of any of examples 13 through 15, wherein the first part of the transmission is generated for a PRACH slot within a first Radio Access

[00170] In example 17, the method of example 16, wherein the one or more physical resources of the second part of the transmission are determined based on at least one of: a frequency resource index for the first part of transmission, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00171] In example 18, the method of either of examples 16 or 17, wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00172] In example 19, the method of any of examples 13 through 18, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00173] Example 20 provides a User Equipment (UE) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antennas, a wireless interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, and a touch-screen display, the UE device including the apparatus of any of examples 11 through 19.

[00174] Example 21 provides an apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node B (gNB) on a wireless network, comprising: means for determining a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; means for generating, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion; and means for generating, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified a gNB Tx beam, or a

Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00175] In example 22, the apparatus of example 21, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00176] In example 23, the apparatus of either of examples 21 or 22, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in at least one of: a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) manner, or a Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner.

[00177] In example 24, the apparatus of example 23, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot.

[00178] In example 25, the apparatus of example 24, wherein the one or more physical resources is randomly selected.

[00179] In example 26, the apparatus of any of examples 23 through 25, wherein the first part of the transmission is generated for a PRACH slot within a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission is generated for the same PRACH slot within a second RAT slot; and wherein the PRACH slot is associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP).

[00180] In example 27, the apparatus of example 26, wherein the one or more physical resources of the second part of the transmission are determined based on at least one of: a frequency resource index for the first part of transmission, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00181] In example 28, the apparatus of either of examples 26 or 27, wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00182] In example 29, the apparatus of any of examples 23 through 28, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index. [00183] Example 30 provides machine readable storage media having machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a User

Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) on a wireless network to perform an operation comprising: determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble;

generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion; and generate, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00184] In example 31, the machine readable storage media of example 30, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00185] In example 32, the machine readable storage media of either of examples 30 or

31, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in at least one of: a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) manner, or a Frequency- Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner.

[00186] In example 33, the machine readable storage media of example 32, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot.

[00187] In example 34, the machine readable storage media of example 33, wherein the one or more physical resources is randomly selected.

[00188] In example 35, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 32 through 34, wherein the first part of the transmission is generated for a PRACH slot within a first Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission is generated for the same PRACH slot within a second RAT slot; and wherein the PRACH slot is associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP).

[00189] In example 36, the machine readable storage media of example 35, wherein the one or more physical resources of the second part of the transmission are determined based on at least one of: a frequency resource index for the first part of transmission, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00190] In example 37, the machine readable storage media of either of examples 35 or

36, wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00191] In example 38, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 32 through 37, wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in an FDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot; wherein the second part of the transmission comprises a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS); and wherein a DMRS sequence associated with the DMRS are based on a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00192] Example 39 provides an apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node B (gNB) on a wireless network, comprising: one or more processors to: determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; and generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources; and an interface for sending the transmission to a transceiver circuitry.

[00193] In example 40, the apparatus of example 39, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00194] In example 41, the apparatus of either of examples 39 or 40, wherein the transmission carries at least one of: a UE identifier, a Buffer Status Report (BSR), or a Message 3.

[00195] In example 42, the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 41, wherein the one or more processors are to: generate a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon a PRACH preamble signature index; and define a scrambling seed based on at least one of: a physical cell identity (ID), a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot index, a PRACH slot index, a symbol index, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00196] In example 43, the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 42, wherein the one or more processors are to: mask a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for the second part of the transmission based upon at least one of: a PRACH preamble signature index, or a frequency resource index. [00197] In example 44, the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 43, wherein a transmit power used for the first part of the transmission is substantially the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.

[00198] In example 45, the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 44, wherein the one or more processors are to: monitor for receipt of a Random Access Response (RAR) during an RAR window; initiate a random backoff procedure comprising generation of one or more additional transmissions carrying a PRACH preamble signature index if no RAR is received during the RAR window; monitor for receipt of an RAR during the random backoff procedure; and initiate a four-step RACH procedure if no RAR is received during the random backoff procedure.

[00199] In example 46, the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 45, wherein the one or more physical resources are configured by one of: a New Radio (NR) Minimum System Information (MSI), an NR Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), an NR Other System Information (OSI), or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[00200] In example 47, the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 46, wherein at least one of a PRACH preamble signature sequence, a set of time resources, or a set of frequency resources is reserved for the transmission.

[00201] Example 48 provides a User Equipment (UE) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antennas, a wireless interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, and a touch-screen display, the UE device including the apparatus of any of examples 39 through 47.

[00202] Example 49 provides a method comprising: determining, for a User

Equipment (UE), a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; and generating, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00203] In example 50, the method of example 49, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified New Radio Evolved Node B (gNB) Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00204] In example 51, the method of either of examples 49 or 50, wherein the transmission carries at least one of: a UE identifier, a Buffer Status Report (BSR), or a Message 3. [00205] In example 52, the method of any of examples 49 through 51, comprising: generating a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon a PRACH preamble signature index; and defining a scrambling seed based on at least one of: a physical cell identity (ID), a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot index, a PRACH slot index, a symbol index, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00206] In example 53, the method of any of examples 49 through 52, comprising: masking a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for the second part of the transmission based upon at least one of: a PRACH preamble signature index, or a frequency resource index.

[00207] In example 54, the method of any of examples 49 through 53, wherein a transmit power used for the first part of the transmission is the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.

[00208] In example 55, the method of any of examples 49 through 54, comprising: monitoring for receipt of a Random Access Response (RAR) during an RAR window;

initiating a random backoff procedure comprising generation of one or more additional transmissions carrying a PRACH preamble signature index if no RAR is received during the RAR window; monitoring for receipt of an RAR during the random backoff procedure; and initiating a four-step RACH procedure if no RAR is received during the random backoff procedure.

[00209] In example 56, the method of any of examples 49 through 55, wherein the one or more physical resources are configured by one of: a New Radio (NR) Minimum System Information (MSI), an NR Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), an NR Other System Information (OSI), or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[00210] In example 57, the method of any of examples 49 through 56, wherein at least one of a PRACH preamble signature sequence, a set of time resources, or a set of frequency resources is reserved for the transmission.

[00211] Example 58 provides a User Equipment (UE) device comprising an application processor, a memory, one or more antennas, a wireless interface for allowing the application processor to communicate with another device, and a touch-screen display, the UE device including the apparatus of any of examples 49 through 57.

[00212] Example 59 provides an apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node B (gNB) on a wireless network, comprising: means for determining a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; and means for generating, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00213] In example 60, the apparatus of example 59, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00214] In example 61, the apparatus of either of examples 59 or 60, wherein the transmission carries at least one of: a UE identifier, a Buffer Status Report (BSR), or a Message 3.

[00215] In example 62, the apparatus of any of examples 59 through 61, comprising: means for generating a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon a PRACH preamble signature index; and means for defining a scrambling seed based on at least one of: a physical cell identity (ID), a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot index, a PRACH slot index, a symbol index, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00216] In example 63, the apparatus of any of examples 59 through 62, comprising: means for masking a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for the second part of the transmission based upon at least one of: a PRACH preamble signature index, or a frequency resource index.

[00217] In example 64, the apparatus of any of examples 59 through 63, wherein a transmit power used for the first part of the transmission is the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.

[00218] In example 65, the apparatus of any of examples 59 through 64, comprising: means for monitoring for receipt of a Random Access Response (RAR) during an RAR window; means for initiating a random backoff procedure comprising generation of one or more additional transmissions carrying a PRACH preamble signature index if no RAR is received during the RAR window; means for monitoring for receipt of an RAR during the random backoff procedure; and means for initiating a four-step RACH procedure if no RAR is received during the random backoff procedure.

[00219] In example 66, the apparatus of any of examples 59 through 65, wherein the one or more physical resources are configured by one of: a New Radio (NR) Minimum System Information (MSI), an NR Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), an NR Other System Information (OSI), or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[00220] In example 67, the apparatus of any of examples 59 through 66, wherein at least one of a PRACH preamble signature sequence, a set of time resources, or a set of frequency resources is reserved for the transmission.

[00221] Example 68 provides machine readable storage media having machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a User

Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) on a wireless network to perform an operation comprising: determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; and generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion, wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

[00222] In example 69, the machine readable storage media of example 68, wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a

Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

[00223] In example 70, the machine readable storage media of either of examples 68 or

69, wherein the transmission carries at least one of: a UE identifier, a Buffer Status Report (BSR), or a Message 3.

[00224] In example 71, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 68 through 70, the operation comprising: generate a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon a PRACH preamble signature index; and define a scrambling seed based on at least one of: a physical cell identity (ID), a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot index, a PRACH slot index, a symbol index, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

[00225] In example 72, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 68 through 71, the operation comprising: mask a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for the second part of the transmission based upon at least one of: a PRACH preamble signature index, or a frequency resource index.

[00226] In example 73, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 68 through 72, wherein a transmit power used for the first part of the transmission is the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission. [00227] In example 74, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 68 through 73, the operation comprising: monitor for receipt of a Random Access Response (RAR) during an RAR window; initiate a random backoff procedure comprising generation of one or more additional transmissions carrying a PRACH preamble signature index if no RAR is received during the RAR window; monitor for receipt of an RAR during the random backoff procedure; and initiate a four-step RACH procedure if no RAR is received during the random backoff procedure.

[00228] In example 75, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 68 through 74, wherein the one or more physical resources are configured by one of: a New Radio (NR) Minimum System Information (MSI), an NR Remaining Minimum System Information (RMSI), an NR Other System Information (OSI), or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

[00229] In example 76, the machine readable storage media of any of examples 68 through 75, wherein at least one of a PRACH preamble signature sequence, a set of time resources, or a set of frequency resources is reserved for the transmission.

[00230] In example 77, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 9 and 39 through

47, wherein the one or more processors comprise a baseband processor.

[00231] In example 78, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 9 and 39 through

47, comprising a memory for storing instructions, the memory being coupled to the one or more processors.

[00232] In example 79, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 9 and 39 through

47, comprising a transceiver circuitry for at least one of: generating transmissions, encoding transmissions, processing transmissions, or decoding transmissions.

[00233] In example 80, the apparatus of any of examples 1 through 9 and 39 through

47, comprising a transceiver circuitry for generating transmissions and processing transmissions.

[00234] An abstract is provided that will allow the reader to ascertain the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to limit the scope or meaning of the claims. The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment.

Claims

CLAIMS We claim:

1. An apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) on a wireless network, comprising:

one or more processors to:

determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical

Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble;

generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion; and generate, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion,

wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and an interface for sending the transmission to a transceiver circuitry.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 ,

wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources.

3. The apparatus of either of claims 1 or 2,

wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in at least one of: a Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM) manner, or a Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM) manner.

4. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein the first part of the transmission and the second part of the transmission are multiplexed in a TDM manner within the same Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot.

5. The apparatus of claims 4,

wherein the one or more physical resources are randomly selected.

6. The apparatus of claim 3,

wherein the first part of the transmission is generated for a PRACH slot within a first

Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot;

wherein the second part of the transmission is generated for the same PRACH slot within a second RAT slot; and

wherein the PRACH slot is associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a

Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP).

7. Machine readable storage media having machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) on a wireless network to perform an operation comprising:

determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random

Access Channel (PRACH) preamble;

generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a first part of the transmission carrying a PRACH preamble portion; and

generate, for the UE Tx beam and for the one or more physical resources, a second part of the transmission carrying a data portion,

wherein the physical resources are associated with one of: an identified gNB Tx beam, or a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP), and

8. The machine readable storage media of claim 7,

9. The machine readable storage media of either of claims 7 or 8,

10. The machine readable storage media of claim 9,

11. The machine readable storage media of claim 10,

wherein the one or more physical resources is randomly selected.

12. The machine readable storage media of claim 9,

Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot;

Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Antenna Port (AP).

13. An apparatus of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) on a wireless network, comprising:

one or more processors to:

determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical

Random Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; and

generate, for the UE Tx beam and for one or more physical resources, a transmission having a first part carrying a PRACH preamble portion and a second part carrying a data portion,

wherein the one or more physical resources include at least one of: one or more time resources, or one or more frequency resources; and

an interface for sending the transmission to a transceiver circuitry.

14. The apparatus of claim 13,

15. The apparatus of either of claims 13 or 14,

wherein the transmission carries at least one of: a UE identifier, a Buffer Status Report (BSR), or a Message 3.

16. The apparatus of either of claims 13 or 14, wherein the one or more processors are to: generate a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon a PRACH preamble signature index; and define a scrambling seed based on at least one of: a physical cell identity (ID), a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot index, a PRACH slot index, a symbol index, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

17. The apparatus of either of claims 13 or 14, wherein the one or more processors are to: mask a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for the second part of the transmission based upon at least one of: a PRACH preamble signature index, or a frequency resource index.

18. The apparatus of either of claims 13 or 14,

wherein a transmit power used for the first part of the transmission is substantially the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.

19. Machine readable storage media having machine executable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more processors of a User Equipment (UE) operable to communicate with a New Radio Evolved Node-B (gNB) on a wireless network to perform an operation comprising:

determine a UE Transmit (Tx) beam for a transmission carrying a Physical Random

Access Channel (PRACH) preamble; and

20. The machine readable storage media of claim 19,

21. The machine readable storage media of either of claims 19 or 20,

wherein the transmission carries at least one of: a UE identifier, a Buffer Status

Report (BSR), or a Message 3.

22. The machine readable storage media of either of claims 19 or 20, the operation comprising:

generate a scrambling sequence for the second part of the transmission based upon a PRACH preamble signature index; and

define a scrambling seed based on at least one of: a physical cell identity (ID), a virtual cell ID, a frame index, a Radio Access Technology (RAT) slot index, a PRACH slot index, a symbol index, a Physical Resource Block (PRB) index, a sub-band index, a frequency resource index, or a PRACH preamble signature index.

23. The machine readable storage media of either of claims 19 or 20, the operation

comprising:

mask a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) for the second part of the transmission based upon at least one of: a PRACH preamble signature index, or a frequency resource index.

24. The machine readable storage media of either of claims 19 or 20,

wherein a transmit power used for the first part of the transmission is the same as a transmit power used for the second part of the transmission.