WO2022154822A1 - Apparatus and method of master information block delivery using separate payloads - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for wireless communication is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload unit configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of master information block (MIB) data that with variable information bit. The apparatus may include a second PBCH payload unit configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data with a static information bit. The apparatus may include a first encoding unit configured to encode the first PBCH payload using first PBCH resources. The apparatus may include a second encoding unit configured to encode the second PBCH payload. The second encoding unit may be separate from the first encoding unit. The apparatus may further include a resource mapping unit configured to map the first PBCH payload to the first PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to the second PBCH resources.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MASTER INFORMATION BLOCK DELIVERY USING SEPARATE PAYLOADS

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/137,125, entitled “METHOD FOR BROADCASTING CHANNEL IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM” and filed on January 13, 2021, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to apparatus and method for wireless communication.

[0003] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasts. In cellular communication, such as the 4th-gen eration (4G) Long Term Evolution (LTE) and the 5th- generation (5G) New Radio (NR), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defines various for delivering information used for system acquisition and cell reselection, e.g., such broadcasting information elements in a master information block (MIB) over the physical broadcast channel (PBCH).

SUMMARY

[0004] Embodiments of apparatus and method for system acquisition/cell reselection are disclosed herein.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a base station (BS) is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first PBCH payload unit configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The apparatus may further include a second PBCH payload unit configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The apparatus may further include a first encoding unit configured to encode the first PBCH payload using a first set of PBCH resources. The apparatus may further include a second encoding unit configured to encode the second PBCH payload. The second encoding unit may be separate from the first encoding unit. The apparatus may further include a resource mapping unit configured to map the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a user equipment (UE) is disclosed. The apparatus may include a receiver configured to receive a first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) that includes a first PBCH payload from a first base station. The first PBCH payload may include a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data includes at least one variable information bit. The receiver may be further configured to receive a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station. The second PBCH payload may include a second subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The apparatus may further include a first channel estimation unit configured to generate a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS. The apparatus may further include a first demodulation unit configured to demodulate the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to perform operations associated with MIB transmission. The at least one processor may be configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to encode the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload separately. The at least one processor may be further configured to map the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

[0008] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The method may include generating, using a first PBCH payload unit, a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The method may further include generating, using a second PBCH payload unit, a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The method may further include encoding, using a first encoding unit, the first PBCH payload using a first set of PBCH resources. The method may further include encoding, using a second encoding unit, the second PBCH payload. The second encoding unit may be separate from the first encoding unit. The method may further include mapping, using a resource mapping unit, the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

[0009] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a UE is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to perform operations associated with wireless communication. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a first DMRS that includes a first PBCH payload from a first base station. The first PBCH payload may include a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to receive a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station. The second PBCH payload may include a second subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to generate a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS. The at least one processor may be further configured to demodulate the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.

[0010] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The method may include receiving, using a receiver, a first DMRS that includes a first PBCH payload from a first base station. The first PBCH payload including a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The method may include receiving, using a receiver, a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station, the second PBCH payload including a second subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The method may further include generating, using a first channel estimation unit, a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS. The method may further include demodulating, using a first demodulation unit, the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the present disclosure.

[0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless network, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. 2 A illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus of a BS including a baseband chip, a radio frequency (RF) chip, and a host chip, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus of a UE including a baseband chip, an RF chip, and a host chip, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 3A illustrates a detailed view of a first exemplary implementation of the baseband chip of FIG. 2 A, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3B illustrates a detailed view of a first exemplary implementation of the baseband chip of FIG. 2 A, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 3C illustrates a detailed view of an exemplary implementation of the baseband chip of FIG. 2B, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 3D illustrates an exemplary MIB separated into a first PBCH payload and a second PBCH payload, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 4A illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method of wireless communication of a BS, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 4B illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method of wireless communication of a UE, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary node, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 6A illustrates an example MIB broadcast on the PBCH.

[0023] FIG. 6B illustrates a block diagram of a conventional baseband chip. [0024] FIG. 7 illustrates example base sequences used for linear encoding.

[0025] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] Although specific configurations and arrangements are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustrative purposes only. A person skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other configurations and arrangements can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to a person skilled in the pertinent art that the present disclosure can also be employed in a variety of other applications.

[0027] It is noted that references in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “certain embodiments,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it would be within the knowledge of a person skilled in the pertinent art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0028] In general, terminology may be understood at least in part from usage in context. For example, the term “one or more” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms, such as “a,” “an,” or “the,” again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context.

[0029] Various aspects of wireless communication systems will now be described with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, units, components, circuits, steps, operations, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, firmware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware, firmware, or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0030] The techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication networks, such as code division multiple access (CDMA) system, time division multiple access (TDMA) system, frequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) system, single-carrier frequency division multiple access (SC- FDMA) system, wireless local area network (WLAN) system, and other networks. The terms “network” and “system” are often used interchangeably. A CDMA network may implement a radio access technology (RAT), such as Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), CDMA 2000, etc. A TDMA network may implement a RAT, such as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM). An OFDMA network may implement a RAT, such as LTE or NR. A WLAN system may implement a RAT, such as Wi-Fi. The techniques described herein may be used for the wireless networks and RATs mentioned above, as well as other wireless networks and RATs.

[0031] Important considerations of wireless communication relate to diversity in the spatial and time domains as well as spectral efficiency, especially with the recent ubiquity of mobile devices and media streaming services as a primary means of communication and entertainment. Spatial diversity may be achieved when two or more base stations or transmit antennas transmit the same signal, thereby increasing the probability that the signal will be properly decoded by the LIE. Time diversity may be achieved when a UE combines two or more signals transmitted at different time, thereby increasing the probability that the signal will be properly decoded by the UE. Spectral efficiency relates to data rate and signal throughput, which may be increased by maximizing the use of resources in the spatial domain and/or reducing retransmissions due to poor channel quality.

[0032] After performing initial synchronization using the synchronization signal block (SSB), a UE may begin to decode the MIB (also sent on the PBCH) to obtain various MIB data contained in information elements. FIG. 6A illustrates example information elements 600 that may be contained in a MIB broadcast on the PBCH. These information elements may indicate system frame number (SFN), sub-carrier spacing, SSB subcarrier offset, DMRS spacing, physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) configuration, cell barred information, intra-frequency cell reselection information, and the spare number of bits that are reserved for future use in the 5GNR network. Additional details of each of the above-mentioned information elements 600 of FIG. 6A are described below.

[0033] “systemframenumber”: This information element may include a 10 bit System Frame Number anywhere between 0 to 1023. Typically, the MIB carries the 6 most significant bit (MSB) of the 10 bits, and the remaining 4 LSB of the SFN are conveyed in the PBCH transport block as part of channel coding (e.g., outside the MIB encoding).

[0034] “subCarrierSpacingCommon”: This information element may include the subcarrier spacing for system information block 1 (SIB1), Message 2/4 for initial access, and system information messages. This information element may indicate values of 15 and 30 kHz for carrier frequencies less than 6GHz, and values 60 and 120 kHz for carrier frequencies are greater than 6GHz.

[0035] ssb-subcarrierOffset”: This information element may indicate the frequency domain offset between the SSB and the overall resource block grid in a number of subcarriers. This information element may indicate that this cell does not provide SIB1, and hence, that there may be no common ControlResourceSet (CORESET). In this case, the ‘pdcch-ConfigSIBr information element may indicate the frequency positions where the UE may (or may not) find an SSB/PBCH with a CORESET and search space for SIB1.

[0036] dmrs-TypeA-Position”: This information element may indicate the position of DMRS and may correspond to a layer 1 (LI) parameter, e.g., such as ‘DMRS-typeA-pos.’

[0037] “pdcchConfigSIBr’: This information element may correspond to the remaining minimum system information (RM SI) PDCCH configuration. This information element may be used by the UE to determine a bandwidth for PDCCH/SIB, common CORSET, a common search space, and/or various other PDCCH parameters. If the ‘ssb-SubcarrierOffset’ information element indicates that SIB1 is not present, the ‘pdcch-ConfigSIBr information element may indicate the frequency positions where the UE may find SSB/PBCH with SIB1 or the frequency range where the network does not provide SSB/PBCH block with SIB1.

[0038] cellBarred”: This information element may indicate whether the cell presently allows UEs to camp on this cell, which may depend on factors such as the number of UEs presently camped on that cell.

[0039] “intraFreqReselection”: This information element may indicate whether intrafrequency cell reselection is allowed or not allowed. The ‘intraFreqReselection’ information element may indicate cell reselection to intra-frequency cells when the highest ranked cell is barred as indicated in the ‘cellBarred’ information element or when the cell is treated as barred by the UE. [0040] FIG. 6B illustrates a block diagram of a conventional apparatus 601 of a base station used to generate a MIB (PBCH payload) for transmission on the PBCH. Referring to FIG. 6B, conventional apparatus 601 may include, e.g., a PBCH payload generator unit 602, a first scrambling unit 604, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) unit 606, a channel encoding unit 608, a rate-matching unit 610, a second scrambling unit 612, a modulation unit 614, a DMRS generator unit 616, and a resource mapping unit 618.

[0041] DMRS generator unit 616 generates DMRS that is transmitted over the PBCH. The DMRS is specific for PBCH, and may be used by the UE to estimate the radio channel. The base station may beamform the PBCH DMRS, keep it within a scheduled PBCH resource, and transmit it only when necessary in downlink (DL).

[0042] PBCH payload generator unit 602 may generate a MIB (also referred to herein as a “PBCH payload” or “MIB payload”) that includes a number of bits (e.g., 5 bits, 10 bits, 24 bits, 30 bits, 100 bits, etc.) associated with various information elements, e.g., such as those discussed above or other information elements in future iterations of the 5G NR network. The bits of the MIB payload may be scrambled by first scrambling unit 604 using a first scrambling sequence that may be less than or equal to the number of MIB bits. CRC unit 606 may generate a CRC that is attached to the MIB payload, thereby increasing the size of the MIB payload. For example, assuming PBCH payload generator unit 602 generates a MIB payload with 24 bits, and the CRC unit generates a CRC of 16 bits, the MIB payload output to channel encoding unit 608 may include 40 bits. Following the same example, channel encoding unit 608 may perform tail-bit Polar encoding over the 40 bits of the MIB + CRC such that three bit-streams of 40 bits each may be output to rate-matching unit 610. Rate-matching unit 610 may perform repetition coding, where three bit-streams of an example size of 120 bits (e.g., 40 * 3 bits = 120 bits) are repeated sixteen times to generate 1,920 bits. The repetition rate may be greater than or less than sixteen times but is generally a high number of repeats since the information elements of the MIB contain vital information the UE needs to operate within the network. The second scrambling unit 612 may scramble the 1920 bits with a scrambling sequence less than or equal to 1,920 bits. Modulation unit 614 may perform modulation (e.g., quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK), quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), etc.) over the 1920 bits to obtain (using the QPSK example), e.g., 960 complex QPSK symbols. Using known approaches, resource mapping unit 618 maps the entirety of the MIB payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the DMRS to a second set of PBCH resources that do not overlap with the first set of PBCH resources.

[0043] The various units/ operations described above in connection with FIG. 6B represents the basic operations for PBCH encoding. However, since the MIB is transmitted every 10 ms on subframe 0 of all radio frames, modulation unit 614 may be divided into four sub-buffers each containing up to 20 complex QPSK symbols. The symbols in each sub-buffer may be transmitted over the PBCH, and by the time the last sub-buffer is transmitted, a new MIB arrives from PBCH payload generator unit 602, which is again encoded using the same process described above.

[0044] For example, a new MIB may be generated by PBCH payload generator unit 602 whenever the SFN satisfies the condition where SFN Modulo 4 is zero (e.g., SFN%4=0). The MIB payload may include, e.g., 960 complex symbols that are divided into four parts, where each part is transmitted in consecutive system frames, where the first 240 bits are transmitted in SFN-0, the next 240 bits in SFN-1 and so on. Each individual MIB is independently decodable such that when the UE finds the MIB payload in SFN-0, the UE may decode all information elements of the MIB in SFN-0 without waiting for the parts of the MIB that are included in the next system frame. Thus, from one MIB to the next, there may be certain information elements that remain static (e.g., the ‘subCarrierSpacingCommon,’ ‘ssb-subcarrierOffset,’ and ‘dmrs-TypeA-Position,’ etc.) and other information elements that may be variable (e.g., ‘systemframenumber,’ ‘cellBarred,’ ‘intraFreqReselection,’ etc.).

[0045] In other words, there may be a certain amount of redundancy of the information elements transmitted in the MIB, which reduces the signal throughput and spectral efficiency of the system. However, the variable information elements have a lower sensitivity level than the static information elements, meaning, if the channel quality is low and the UE cannot properly decode the variable information elements in several MIBs, a significant performance loss might be incurred due to the UE not keeping up with these system changes. At the same time DMRS resources occupy one-quarter of all available PBCH resources, which reduces the signal throughput and spectral efficiency of the system.

[0046] Thus, there is an unmet need for a technique that optimizes the use of PBCH resources for transmitting the MIB and the DMRS to increase diversity in the spatial and time domains, while at the same time increasing the signal throughput and spectral efficiency of the system.

[0047] To enhance spatial and time diversity, and hence, improve the overall performance of the system, the present disclosure provides a solution by encoding the PBCH payload into two parts. The first part of the PBCH payload may include the variable information elements of the MIB (e.g., ‘systemframenumber,’ ‘cellBarred,’ ‘intraFreqReselection,’ etc.). On the other hand, the second part of the PBCH payload may include the static information elements (e.g., the ‘subCarrierSpacingCommon,’ ‘ssb-subcarrierOffset,’ and ‘dmrs-TypeA-Position,’ etc.). The first part of the MIB payload and the second part of the PBCH payload may be encoded using separate encoders. Then, the first part of the PBCH payload may be mapped to a first set of PBCH resources, and the second part of the PBCH payload may be mapped to a second set of PBCH resources. In one embodiment, the first part of the PBCH payload may be scrambled with the DMRS and mapped to DMRS resources for transmission. In another embodiment, the first part of the PBCH payload may be transmitted using separate resources than those of the DMRS and/or the second part of the PBCH payload. By separating the more variable information elements from the second PBCH payload in either embodiment, there may be an increased probability that second PBCH payloads received from different base stations may be combined, thereby increasing the spatial and time diversity of the system. Spectral efficiency may also me increased by utilizing the DMRS resources more efficiently with the insertion of the encoded bits into the first part of the PBCH payload with the bits with the DMRS. Additional details of the PBCH optimization technique of the present disclosure are described below in connection with FIGs. 1-5.

[0048] As used herein, the term “static” may refer to an information element that remains the same in two consecutive system frames or from base station to base station. Furthermore, as used herein, the term “variable” may refer to an information element that changes more frequently than static information elements. Variable information elements that may be included in the first part of the PBCH payload may include any one or combination of, e.g., the ‘systemframenumber’ information element, the ‘cellBarred’ information element, the ‘intraFreqReselection’ information element, the ‘subCarrierSpacingCommon’ information element, the ‘ssb-subcarrierOffset’ information element, the ‘dmrs-TypeA-Position’ information element, and/or any other information element that may be included in future iterations of the 5G NR network or not mentioned specifically by name herein. Static information elements that may be included in the second part of the PBCH payload may include any one or combination of, e.g., the ‘systemframenumber’ information element, the ‘cellBarred’ information element, the ‘intraFreqReselection’ information element, the ‘subCarrierSpacingCommon’ information element, the ‘ssb-subcarrierOffset’ information element, the ‘dmrs-TypeA-Position’ information element, and/or any other information element that may be included in future iterations of the 5G NR network or not mentioned specifically by name herein. The first part of the PBCH payload and the second part of the PBCH payload may include one or more of the same information elements for redundancy.

[0049] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary wireless network 100, in which certain aspects of the present disclosure may be implemented, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1, wireless network 100 may include a network of nodes, such as a user equipment (UE) 102, an access node 104, and a core network element 106. User equipment 102 may be any terminal device, such as a mobile phone, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet, a vehicle computer, a gaming console, a printer, a positioning device, a wearable electronic device, a smart sensor, or any other device capable of receiving, processing, and transmitting information, such as any member of a vehicle to everything (V2X) network, a cluster network, a smart grid node, or an Intemet-of-Things (loT) node. It is understood that user equipment 102 is illustrated as a mobile phone simply by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

[0050] Access node 104 may be a device that communicates with user equipment 102, such as a wireless access point, a base station (BS), a Node B, an enhanced Node B (eNodeB or eNB), a next-generation NodeB (gNodeB or gNB), a cluster master node, or the like. Access node 104 may have a wired connection to user equipment 102, a wireless connection to user equipment 102, or any combination thereof. Access node 104 may be connected to user equipment 102 by multiple connections, and user equipment 102 may be connected to other access nodes in addition to access node 104. Access node 104 may also be connected to other user equipments. It is understood that access node 104 is illustrated by a radio tower by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. [0051] Core network element 106 may serve access node 104 and user equipment 102 to provide core network services. Examples of core network element 106 may include a home subscriber server (HSS), a mobility management entity (MME), a serving gateway (SGW), or a packet data network gateway (PGW). These are examples of core network elements of an evolved packet core (EPC) system, which is a core network for the LTE system. Other core network elements may be used in LTE and in other communication systems. In some embodiments, core network element 106 includes an access and mobility management function (AMF) device, a session management function (SMF) device, or a user plane function (UPF) device, of a core network for the NR system. It is understood that core network element 106 is shown as a set of rack-mounted servers by way of illustration and not by way of limitation. [0052] Core network element 106 may connect with a large network, such as the Internet 108, or another Internet Protocol (IP) network, to communicate packet data over any distance. In this way, data from user equipment 102 may be communicated to other user equipments connected to other access points, including, for example, a computer 110 connected to Internet 108, for example, using a wired connection or a wireless connection, or to a tablet 112 wirelessly connected to Internet 108 via a router 114. Thus, computer 110 and tablet 112 provide additional examples of possible user equipments, and router 114 provides an example of another possible access node. [0053] A generic example of a rack-mounted server is provided as an illustration of core network element 106. However, there may be multiple elements in the core network including database servers, such as a database 116, and security and authentication servers, such as an authentication server 118. Database 116 may, for example, manage data related to user subscription to network services. A home location register (HLR) is an example of a standardized database of subscriber information for a cellular network. Likewise, authentication server 118 may handle authentication of users, sessions, and so on. In the NR system, an authentication server function (AUSF) device may be the specific entity to perform user equipment authentication. In some embodiments, a single server rack may handle multiple such functions, such that the connections between core network element 106, authentication server 118, and database 116, may be local connections within a single rack.

[0054] Each element in FIG. 1 may be considered a node of wireless network 100. More detail regarding the possible implementation of a node is provided by way of example in the description of a node 500 in FIG. 5. Node 500 may be configured as user equipment 102, access node 104, or core network element 106 in FIG. 1. Similarly, node 500 may also be configured as computer 110, router 114, tablet 112, database 116, or authentication server 118 in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 5, node 500 may include a processor 502, a memory 504, and a transceiver 506. These components are shown as connected to one another by a bus, but other connection types are also permitted. When node 500 is user equipment 102, additional components may also be included, such as a user interface (UI), sensors, and the like. Similarly, node 500 may be implemented as a blade in a server system when node 500 is configured as core network element 106. Other implementations are also possible.

[0055] Transceiver 506 may include any suitable device for sending and/or receiving data. Node 500 may include one or more transceivers, although only one transceiver 506 is shown for simplicity of illustration. An antenna 508 is shown as a possible communication mechanism for node 500. Multiple antennas and/or arrays of antennas may be utilized for receiving multiple spatially multiplex data streams. Additionally, examples of node 500 may communicate using wired techniques rather than (or in addition to) wireless techniques. For example, access node 104 may communicate wirelessly to user equipment 102 and may communicate by a wired connection (for example, by optical or coaxial cable) to core network element 106. Other communication hardware, such as a network interface card (NIC), may be included as well.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 5, node 500 may include processor 502. Although only one processor is shown, it is understood that multiple processors can be included. Processor 502 may include microprocessors, microcontroller units (MCUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functions described throughout the present disclosure. Processor 502 may be a hardware device having one or more processing cores. Processor 502 may execute software. Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Software can include computer instructions written in an interpreted language, a compiled language, or machine code. Other techniques for instructing hardware are also permitted under the broad category of software. [0057] As shown in FIG. 5, node 500 may also include memory 504. Although only one memory is shown, it is understood that multiple memories can be included. Memory 504 can broadly include both memory and storage. For example, memory 504 may include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FRAM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM) or other optical disk storage, hard disk drive (HDD), such as magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, Flash drive, solid-state drive (SSD), or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions that can be accessed and executed by processor 502. Broadly, memory 504 may be embodied by any computer-readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium.

[0058] Processor 502, memory 504, and transceiver 506 may be implemented in various forms in node 500 for performing wireless communication functions. In some embodiments, processor 502, memory 504, and transceiver 506 of node 500 are implemented (e.g., integrated) on one or more system-on-chips (SoCs). In one example, processor 502 and memory 504 may be integrated on an application processor (AP) SoC (sometimes known as a “host,” referred to herein as a “host chip”) that handles application processing in an operating system (OS) environment, including generating raw data to be transmitted. In another example, processor 502 and memory 504 may be integrated on a baseband processor (BP) SoC (sometimes known as a “modem,” referred to herein as a “baseband chip”) that converts the raw data, e.g., from the host chip, to signals that can be used to modulate the carrier frequency for transmission, and vice versa, which can run a real-time operating system (RTOS). In still another example, processor 502 and transceiver 506 (and memory 504 in some cases) may be integrated on an RF SoC (sometimes known as a “transceiver,” referred to herein as an “RF chip”) that transmits and receives RF signals with antenna 508. It is understood that in some examples, some or all of the host chip, baseband chip, and RF chip may be integrated as a single SoC. For example, a baseband chip and an RF chip may be integrated into a single SoC that manages all the radio functions for cellular communication.

[0059] Referring back to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, any suitable node of wireless network 100 (e.g., user equipment 102 or access node 104) in transmitting signals to another node, for example, from user equipment 102 to access node 104 via, or vice versa, may perform operations associated with the delivery of static and variable MIB information elements using different PBCH payloads, as described below in detail. As a result, compared with known solutions in which the information elements of a MIB are all delivered in the same PBCH payload, the spatial and time diversity of the system may be increased using the techniques described herein, while at the same time increasing the spectral efficiency of the system.

[0060] FIG. 2A illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 200 including a baseband chip 202a, an RF chip 204a, and a host chip 206a, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparatus 200 may be an example of a suitable node of wireless network 100 in FIG. 1, such as access node 104. As shown in FIG. 2A, apparatus 200 may include baseband chip 202a, RF chip 204a, host chip 206a, and one or more antennas 210a. In some embodiments, baseband chip 202a is implemented by processor 502 and memory 504, and RF chip 204a is implemented by processor 502, memory 504, and transceiver 506, as described above with respect to FIG. 5. Besides the on-chip memory 218a (also known as “internal memory,” e.g., registers, buffers, or caches) on each chip 202a, 204a, or 206a, apparatus 200 may further include an external memory 208a (e.g., the system memory or main memory) that can be shared by each chip 202a, 204a, or 206a through the system/main bus. Although baseband chip 202a is illustrated as a standalone SoC in FIG. 2A, it is understood that in one example, baseband chip 202a and RF chip 204a may be integrated as one SoC; in another example, baseband chip 202a and host chip 206a may be integrated as one SoC; in still another example, baseband chip 202a, RF chip 204a, and host chip 206a may be integrated as one SoC, as described above.

[0061] In the downlink, host chip 206a may generate raw data (e.g., associated with information elements of a MIB, a first PBCH payload, a second PBCH payload, DMRS, etc.) and send it to baseband chip 202a for encoding, modulation, and mapping. Interface 214a of baseband chip 202a may receive the data from host chip 206a. Baseband chip 202a may also access the raw data generated by host chip 206a and stored in external memory 208a, for example, using the direct memory access (DMA). Baseband chip 202a may first encode (e.g., by source coding and/or channel coding) the raw data and modulate the coded data using any suitable modulation techniques, such as QPSK modulation, multi-phase shift keying (MPSK) modulation, quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Baseband chip 202a may perform any other functions, such as symbol or layer mapping, to convert the raw data into a signal that can be used to modulate the carrier frequency for transmission. More specifically, interface 214a may pass first raw data that contains variable information elements of a MIB to first PBCH payload unit 216a, second raw data that contains static information elements of a MIB to second PBCH payload unit 220a, and third raw data associated with DMRS-to-DMRS unit 222a. First PBCH payload unit 216a may be configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes the variable information elements and other processing operations, which are described in additional detail below in connection with FIGs. 3 A and 3B. Second PBCH payload unit 220a may be configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes the static information elements and other processing operations, which are described in additional detail below in connection with FIGs. 3 A and 3B. DMRS unit 222a may be configured to generate DMRS, which may be scrambled with the first PBCH payload, as described in detail below in connection with FIG. 3A. In certain embodiments, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 3 A, first PBCH payload unit 216a may be a subunit of DMRS unit 222a. In certain other embodiments, such as the one illustrated in FIG. 3B, first PBCH payload unit 216a may be separate from DMRS unit 222a. As a result, compared with known solutions in which the information elements of a MIB are all delivered in the same PBCH payload, the spatial and time diversity of the system may be increased using the techniques described herein, while at the same time increasing the spectral efficiency of the system.

[0062] In the downlink, baseband chip 202a may send the modulated signal to RF chip 204a via interface 214a. RF chip 204a, through the transmitter, may convert the modulated signal in the digital form into analog signals, i.e., RF signals, and perform any suitable front-end RF functions, such as filtering, digital pre-distortion, up-conversion, or sample-rate conversion. Antenna 210a (e.g., an antenna array) may transmit the RF signals provided by the transmitter of RF chip 204a.

[0063] In the uplink, antenna 210a may receive RF signals from a UE. The RF signals may be passed to the receiver (Rx) of RF chip 204a. RF chip 204a may perform any suitable front-end RF functions, such as filtering, IQ imbalance compensation, down-conversion, or sample-rate conversion, and convert the RF signals into low-frequency digital signals (baseband signals) that can be processed by baseband chip 202a. Baseband chip 202a may perform additional functions, such as demodulation, decoding, error checking, de-mapping, channel estimation, descrambling, etc. The raw data provided by baseband chip 202a may be sent to host chip 206a directly via interface 214a or stored in external memory 208a.

[0064] FIG. 2B illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus 201 including a baseband chip 202b, an RF chip 204b, and a host chip 206b, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparatus 201 may be an example of a suitable node of wireless network 100 in FIG. 1, such as user equipment 102. As shown in FIG. 2B, apparatus 201 may include baseband chip 202b, RF chip 204b, host chip 206b, and one or more antennas 210b. In some embodiments, baseband chip 202b is implemented by processor 502 and memory 504, and RF chip 204b is implemented by processor 502, memory 504, and transceiver 506, as described above with respect to FIG. 5. Besides the on-chip memory 218b (also known as “internal memory,” e.g., registers, buffers, or caches) on each chip 202b, 204b, or 206b, apparatus 201 may further include an external memory 208b (e.g., the system memory or main memory) that can be shared by each chip 202b, 204b, or 206b through the system/main bus. Although baseband chip 202b is illustrated as a standalone SoC in FIG. 2B, it is understood that in one example, baseband chip 202b and RF chip 204b may be integrated as one SoC; in another example, baseband chip 202b and host chip 206b may be integrated as one SoC; in still another example, baseband chip 202b, RF chip 204b, and host chip 206b may be integrated as one SoC, as described above.

[0065] In the uplink, host chip 206b may generate raw data and send it to baseband chip 202b for encoding, modulation, and mapping. Interface 214b of baseband chip 202b may receive the data from host chip 206b. Baseband chip 202b may also access the raw data generated by host chip 206b and stored in external memory 208b, for example, using the direct memory access (DMA). Baseband chip 202b may first encode (e.g., by source coding and/or channel coding) the raw data and modulate the coded data using any suitable modulation techniques, such as multiphase shift keying (MPSK) modulation and/or quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM). Baseband chip 202b may perform any other functions, such as symbol or layer mapping, to convert the raw data into a signal that can be used to modulate the carrier frequency for transmission. In the uplink, baseband chip 202b may send the modulated signal to RF chip 204b via interface 214b. RF chip 204b, through the transmitter, may convert the modulated signal in the digital form into analog signals, i.e., RF signals, and perform any suitable front-end RF functions, such as filtering, digital pre-distortion, up-conversion, or sample-rate conversion. Antenna 210b (e.g., an antenna array) may transmit the RF signals provided by the transmitter of RF chip 204b.

[0066] In the downlink, antenna 210b may receive RF signals (also referred to herein as an “RF sample”) that may include, among other things, a first PBCH payload that contains variable information elements of a MIB, a second PBCH payload that contains static information elements of a MIB, and DMRS which may or may not be scrambled with the first PBCH payload. The RF signals may be passed to the receiver (Rx) of RF chip 204b. RF chip 204b may perform any suitable front-end RF functions, such as filtering, IQ imbalance compensation, down-conversion, or sample-rate conversion, and convert the RF signals into low-frequency digital signals (baseband signals) that can be processed by baseband chip 202b. In the downlink, interface 214b of baseband chip 202b may receive the RF signals, which are passed to first PBCH payload unit 216b, second PBCH payload unit 220b, and/or DMRS unit 222b, which may be configured to decode the first PBCH payload, the second PBCH payload, and the DMRS, respectively. First PBCH payload unit 216b may include one or more of, e.g., a despreading unit, a channel estimation unit, and/or a combining unit, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. Second PBCH payload unit 220b may include one or more of, e.g., a demodulation unit, a first descrambling unit, a de-rate matching unit, a combining unit, a channel decoding unit, a CRC unit, and/ or a second descrambling unit. When the first PBCH payload is scrambled with DMRS, DMRS unit 222b may include one or more of, e.g., a despreading unit, a channel estimation unit, and/or a combining unit, as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

[0067] As a result, compared with known solutions in which the information elements of a MIB are all delivered in the same PBCH payload, the spatial and time diversity of the system may be increased using the techniques described herein, while at the same time increasing the spectral efficiency of the system. Additional details of the operations performed by apparatus 200 and apparatus 201 are described below in connection with FIGs. 3A-3D, 4A, and 4B.

[0068] FIG. 3A illustrates a detailed view of a first exemplary implementation of the baseband chip 202a of FIG. 2A, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3B illustrates a detailed view of a second exemplary implementation of the baseband chip 202a of FIG. 2A, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3C illustrates a detailed view of an exemplary implementation of the baseband chip 202b of FIG. 2B, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3D illustrates exemplary information elements 300 that may be separated into a first PBCH payload and a second PBCH payload, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. FIGs. 3 A-3D will be described together.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 3A, baseband chip 202a may include first PBCH payload unit 216a, second PBCH payload unit 220a, DMRS unit 222a, and a resource mapping unit 318. In the example embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3 A, first PBCH payload unit 216a may be coupled with or may be a subunit of DMRS unit 222a. First PBCH payload unit 216a may include, e.g., first PBCH payload generator unit 324 and/or first encoding unit 326. DMRS unit 222a may include one or more of, e.g., an initial seed unit 320, a pseudo-random (PN) sequence generator unit 322, and a scrambling unit 328. Second PBCH payload unit 220a may include one or more of, e.g., a second PBCH payload generator unit 302, a first scrambling unit 304, a CRC unit 306, a channel encoding unit 308, a rate-matching unit 310, a second scrambling unit 312, and a modulation unit 314.

[0070] Referring to FIGs. 3 A and 3D, first PBCH payload generator unit 324 may generate n bits of a first PBCH payload that may include, among other things, one or more information elements selected from a first subset 375 of MIB data. The information elements included in first subset 375 of MIB data may be referred to as “variable” information elements, though they may only change from time-to-time or base station-to-base station. The n bits of the first PBCH payload may be input to first encoding unit 326. First encoding unit 326 may encode the n bits of first subset 375 using, e.g., Walsh encoding, bipolar Walsh encoding, or any other type of encoding.

[0071] When performing Walsh encoding, first encoding unit 326 may encode the n bits generated by first PBCH payload generator unit 324 to 2ⁿ bits, as shown below in Equations (1), (2), and (3):

where

[0072] When performing bi-Walsh encoding, first encoding unit 326 may encode n + 1 bits to 2ⁿ bits, as shown below in Equation (4):

where W₂ is the matrix shown above in Equation (2), W₂ is the matrix shown above in Equation (3), and b is the index of the bi-Walsh code.

[0073] In a first example embodiment, when the first PBCH payload includes a 2-bit least significant bit (LSB) of SFN, the encoding used by first encoding unit 326 may be a 4-order Walsh code, W₄. In a second example embodiment, when the first PBCH payload includes a 2-bit LSB of SFN and 1 -bit cellBarred, the encoding used by first encoding unit 326 may be an 8-order Walsh code, W₈. In a third example embodiment, when the first PBCH payload includes a 2-bit LSB of SFN and a 1-bit intraFreqReselection, the encoding used by first encoding unit 326 may be a 4- order bipolar Walsh code, 14^.

[0074] In certain implementations of first PBCH payload unit 216a, scrambling after first PBCH payload generation/encoding may be omitted. However, when scrambling is performed, the scrambling code used by first PBCH payload unit 216a may be independent of the TV LSB of SFN of the first PBCH payload. Therefore, the information bit in the first PBCH payload is the same in 2^V PBCH periods in which (L -N) most significant bits (MSB) of SFN are the same, where L is SFN’s total number of bits.

[0075] Then, scrambling unit 328 may insert the encoded first PBCH payload into the PN sequence of the DMRS. Resource mapping unit 318 may map the DMRS/first PBCH payload to DMRS resources for transmission over the PBCH.

[0076] Still referring to FIG. 3A, second PBCH payload generator unit 302 may generate m bits of a second PBCH payload that may include, among other things, one or more information elements selected from a second subset 380 of MIB data. The information elements included in second subset 380 of MIB data may be referred to as “static” information elements, though they may change from time-to-time or base station-to-base station. The m bits of the second PBCH payload may be scrambled by first scrambling unit 304 using a first scrambling sequence that may be less than or equal to the m number of bits. CRC unit 306 may generate a CRC that is attached to the second PBCH payload, thereby increasing the size of the second PBCH payload. Second encoding unit 308 may perform encoding over the m-bits of second PBCH payload + CRC such that multiple bit streams may be output to rate-matching unit 310. Rate-matching unit 310 may perform repetition coding, where each of the bit-streams may be repeated a predetermined number of times to generate a larger number of bits. The repetition rate may be greater than or less than sixteen times but is generally a high number of repeats since the information elements of the second PBCH payload contain vital information the UE needs to operate within the network. The second scrambling unit 312 may scramble the bits output by rate-matching unit 310 with a scrambling sequence less than or equal to those number of bits. Modulation unit 314 may perform modulation (e.g., QPSK, QAM, etc.) over the bits output by the second scrambling unit 312 to obtain (using the QPSK example) QPSK symbols. Resource mapping unit 318 may map the second PBCH payload to a second set of resources that are separate from the DMRS resources to which the DMRS + first PBCH payload are mapped.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 3B, baseband chip 202b may be implemented such that first PBCH payload unit 216a is separate from DMRS unit 222a, and hence, scrambling unit 328 of FIG. 3 A is omitted from the implementation shown in FIG. 3B. In FIG. 3B, first PBCH payload unit 216a may include, e.g., first PBCH payload generator unit 350, first encoding unit 352, first rate-matching unit 354, first scrambling unit 356, and first modulation unit 358. Second PBCH payload unit 220a may include one or more of, e.g., a second PBCH payload generator unit 302, a second scrambling unit 304 (which corresponds to first scrambling unit 304 in FIG. 3A), a CRC unit 306, a second encoding unit 308, a second rate-matching unit 310 (which corresponds to ratematching unit 310 in FIG. 3 A), a third scrambling unit 312 (which corresponds to second scrambling unit 312 in FIG. 3 A), and a second modulation unit 314 (which corresponds to modulation unit 314 in FIG. 3 A). DMRS unit 222a may include one or more of, e.g., an initial seed unit 320 and a PN sequence generator unit 322.

[0078] Referring to FIG. 3B, first PBCH payload generator unit 350 may generate n bits of a first PBCH payload that may include, among other things, one or more information elements selected from a first subset 375 of MIB data. The n bits of the first PBCH payload may be input to first encoding unit 352. First encoding unit 352 may encode the n bits of first subset 375 using, e.g., the same or similar Walsh encoding, bipolar Walsh encoding, or other encoding techniques described above in connection with first encoding unit 324 of FIG. 3A. Additionally and/or alternatively, first encoding unit 352 may perform encoding using (n,k) linear encoding, where k is the size of the encoded information bit, n is the number of encoded bits, and the encoding rate is kin. By way of example and not limitation, for (32, k) linear encoding, where 3 < k < 11, the code block may be encoded as shown below in Equation (5):

where z = 0, 1, 31, c_k is the first PBCH payload, d_t is the encoded bits, and M>,k represents the basis sequences as defined in the Table 700 depicted in FIG. 7.

[0079] First rate-matching unit 354 may perform repetition coding, where each of the bitstreams may be repeated a predetermined number of times to generate a larger number of bits. The repetition rate may be greater than or less than sixteen times but is generally a high number of repeats since the information elements of the second PBCH payload contain vital information the UE needs to operate within the network. First scrambling unit 356 may scramble the bits output by first rate-matching unit 354 with a scrambling sequence less than or equal to those number of bits. First modulation unit 358 may perform modulation (e.g., QPSK, QAM, etc.) over the bits output by the first scrambling unit 356 to obtain (using the QPSK example) QPSK symbols. Resource mapping unit 318 may map the first PBCH payload to a first set of resources that are separate from the DMRS resources to which the DMRS is mapped and from a second set of resources to which the second PBCH payload is mapped.

[0080] Still referring to FIG. 3B, the subunits of second PBCH payload unit 220a and DMRS unit 222a that share the same item number as its counterpart subunit in FIG. 3A may perform the same or similar operations in generating the second PBCH payload and DMRS, respectively, and will not be repeated here for conciseness. Resource mapping unit 318 may map the second PBCH payload to a second set of resources that are separate from the first set of resources associated with the first PBCH payload and the DMRS resources associated with the DMRS. For the DMRS, resource mapping unit 318 may map the DMRS-to-DMRS resources within the PBCH.

[0081] Compared with known solutions in which the information elements of a MIB are all delivered in the same PBCH payload, the techniques described above in connection with FIGs. 3 A and 3B may be used to increase the spatial and time diversity of the system, while at the same time increasing the spectral efficiency and overall performance of the system.

[0082] Referring to FIG. 3C, baseband chip 202b of FIG. 2B may include a first set of units configured to decode RF samples transmitted by a first base station, a second set of units configured to decode RF samples transmitted by a second base station, and a third set of units configured to take advantage of spatial and/or time diversity to perform decoding of RF samples from one or both of the first base station and/or the second base station. More specifically, the first set of units, which are configured to decode signals from the first station, may include, e.g., despreading unit 301a, channel estimation unit 303a, demodulation unit 307a, descrambling unit 309a, and/or derate matching unit 311a. The second set of units, which are configured to decode signals from the second station, may include, e.g., despreading unit 301b, channel estimation unit 303b, demodulation unit 307b, descrambling unit 309b, and/or de-rate matching unit 31 lb. The third set of units may include, e.g., combining unit 305, combining unit 313, memory 315, channel decoding unit 317, CRC unit 319, and descrambling unit 321. In the following description, the first PBCH payloads transmitted by the first base station and the second base station may be the same or different. Similarly, the second PBCH payloads transmitted by the first and second base stations may be the same or different.

[0083] To begin, despreading unit 301a may receive a first DMRS/first PBCH payload transmitted over the PBCH by the first base station, and despreading unit 301b may receive a second DMRS/first PBCH payload transmitted over the PBCH by the second base station. The first PBCH payloads transmitted by the first and second base stations may be the same or different. The first DMRS/first PBCH payload and the second DMRS + first PBCH may be generated by their respective base stations using the techniques described above in connection with FIG. 3 A, for example. The first DMRS/first PBCH payload and the second DMRS/first PBCH payload may be despread by their respective despreading units 301a, 301b. These signals may be despread by removing the PN sequence modulation to obtain the first DMRS/first PBCH payload and second DMRS/first PBCH payload, which may be used by channel estimation units 303a, 303b, respectively, to perform channel estimation.

[0084] Channel estimation unit 303a may generate a first set of first PBCH payload hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload transmitted by the first base station based on the channel estimation of the first DMRS/first PBCH payload. Channel estimation unit 303b may generate a second set of first PBCH payload hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload transmitted by the second base station based on the channel estimation of the second DMRS + first PBCH payload. Information associated with the first DMRS/first PBCH payload and the second DMRS/first PBCH payload, as well as associated channel estimation information, may be input into combining unit 305. The first DMRS/first PBCH payload and the associated channel estimation information may also be input into first demodulation unit 307a. The second DMRS + first PBCH payload and the associated channel estimation information may also be input into second demodulation unit 307b.

[0085] Combining unit 305 may combine the results outputted by channel estimation units 303a, 303b for the first and second base stations. When the first PBCH payloads transmitted by the first and second base stations are identical in the same frame, combining unit 305 may perform full combining of the Walsh codes of the two signals. However, when a portion(s) (e.g., one or more variable information elements) of the first PBCH payloads transmitted by different base stations is the same in the same frame, combining unit 305 may combine identical portion(s) the Walsh codes from the received first PBCH payloads. For example, assume each of the first PBCH payloads are encoded using a bi-polar Walsh code

and both payloads include a 2-bit LSB of SFN, and that only the first PBCH payload received from the second base station also includes a 1-bit intraFreqReselection. Here, combining unit 305 may combine the 2-bit LSB of SFN using noncoherent combining, e.g., such as power combining.

[0086] For ease of the following description, the first set of units and the third set of units will be described in connection with the signals being decoded for the first base station. The corresponding units in the second set of units (configured to decode signals from the second base station) may perform the same or similar operations, and hence, will not be individually described for conciseness.

[0087] Demodulation unit 307a may receive an RF sample that includes the second PBCH payload transmitted by the first base station. Moreover, demodulation unit 307a may receive channel estimation information associated with a first hypothesis for the first PBCH payload from channel estimation unit 303a. The first hypothesis may be the highest probability hypothesis, for example. Then, demodulation unit 307a may use the channel estimation information associated with the first hypothesis of the first PBCH payload to demodulate the RF sample with the second PBCH payload received from the first base station. Descrambling unit 309a and de-rate matching unit 311a may descramble and de-rate match the demodulated RF sample, respectively. After the descrambling, the RF sample with the second PBCH payload may be input into combining unit 313. Similarly, descrambling unit 311b may input the RF sample that includes the second PBCH payload received from the second base station after those corresponding units perform demodulation, descrambling, and de-rate matching of that RF sample.

[0088] In scenarios in which the second PBCH payloads of the first and second base stations are the same, combining unit 313 may combine the RF samples from the first and second base stations, thereby taking advantage of spatial diversity, which may increase the probability of proper decoding. In some embodiments, combining unit 313 may receive one or more RF samples maintained by memory 315 to combine with the new combined RF sample to take advantage of time diversity, which may also increase the probability of proper decoding. In some other embodiments, when the second PBCH payloads of the first and second base stations are different, the second PBCH payloads may not be combined. However, combining unit 313 may combine one or more of maintained RF samples from memory 315 when those maintained RF sample(s) are identical to the second PBCH payload with which it is being combined.

[0089] Channel decoding may be performed by channel decoding unit 317 after the combining or attempted combining. Then, CRC unit 319 may perform a CRC check of the RF sample to determine whether the first hypothesis of the first PBCH payloads is the correct hypothesis. When the CRC check does not pass, the operation may begin again at demodulation unit 307a using the second hypothesis of the first PBCH payload. These operations may repeat until the CRC check passes. Then, another descrambling unit 321 may perform descrambling after the CRC check. The first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload for each of the first and second base stations may then be output to other units of baseband chip 202b for subsequent acquisition/cell reselection procedures once the CRC check passes.

[0090] FIG. 4A illustrates a flowchart of a first exemplary method 400 of wireless communication, according to embodiments of the disclosure. Exemplary method 400 may be performed by an apparatus for wireless communication, e.g., such as access node 104, apparatus 200, baseband chip 202a, first PBCH payload unit 216a, second PBCH payload unit 220a, DMRS unit 222a, and/or node 500. Method 400 may include steps 402-408 as described below. It is to be appreciated that some of the steps may be optional, and some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG. 4A.

[0091] At 402, the apparatus may generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. In one example, referring to FIG. 3 A, first PBCH payload generator unit 324 may generate n bits of a first PBCH payload that may include, among other things, one or more information elements selected from a first subset 375 of MIB data. The information elements included in first subset 375 of MIB data may be referred to as “variable” information elements, though they may only change from time-to-time or base station-to-base station. In another example, referring to FIG. 3B, first PBCH payload generator unit 350 may generate n bits of a first PBCH payload that may include, among other things, one or more information elements selected from a first subset 375 of MIB data.

[0092] At 404, the apparatus may generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. For example, referring to FIGs. 3 A and 3B, second PBCH payload generator unit 302 may generate m bits of a second PBCH payload that may include, among other things, one or more information elements selected from a second subset 380 of MIB data. The information elements included in second subset 380 of MIB data may be referred to as “static” information elements, though they may change from time-to-time or base station-to-base station.

[0093] At 406, the apparatus may encode the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload separately. In one example, referring to FIG. 3 A, first encoding unit 326 may encode the n bits of first subset 375 using, e.g., Walsh encoding, bipolar Walsh encoding, or any other type of encoding. Second encoding unit 308 may perform encoding over the m-bits of second PBCH payload + CRC such that multiple bit streams may be output. In another example, referring to FIG. 3B, the n bits of the first PBCH payload may be input to first encoding unit 352. First encoding unit 352 may encode the n bits of first subset 375 using, e.g., the same or similar Walsh encoding, bipolar Walsh encoding, or other encoding techniques described above in connection with first encoding unit 324 of FIG. 3A. Additionally and/or alternatively, first encoding unit 352 may perform encoding using (n,k) linear encoding, where k is the size of the encoded information bit, n is the number of encoded bits, and the encoding rate is kin. Second encoding unit 308 may perform encoding over the m-bits of second PBCH payload + CRC such that multiple bit streams may be output.

[0094] At 408, the apparatus may map the first PBCH payload to a first set of resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of resources. In one example, referring to FIG. 3 A, resource mapping unit 318 may map the DMRS/first PBCH payload to DMRS resources for transmission over the PBCH and the second PBCH payload to a second set of resources other than the DMRS resources for transmission over the PBCH. In another example, referring to FIG. 3B, resource mapping unit 318 may map the first PBCH payload to a first set of resources other than the DMRS resource and the second PBCH payload to a second set of resources other than the first set of resources. [0095] FIG. 4B illustrates a flowchart of a second exemplary method 401 of wireless communication, according to embodiments of the disclosure. Exemplary method 401 may be performed by an apparatus for wireless communication, e.g., such as UE 102, apparatus 201, baseband chip 202b, first PBCH payload unit 216b, second PBCH payload unit 220b, DMRS unit 222b, and/or node 500. Method 401 may include steps 410-428 as described below. It is to be appreciated that some of the steps may be optional, and some of the steps may be performed simultaneously, or in a different order than shown in FIG. 4B.

[0096] At 410, the apparatus may perform channel estimation. For example, referring to FIG. 3C, channel estimation unit 303a may perform channel estimation of the first DMRS/first PBCH payload received from the first base station.

[0097] At 412, the apparatus may generate a set of hypothes(es) associated with the first PBCH payload. For example, channel estimation unit 303a may generate a first set of first PBCH payload hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload transmitted by the first base station based on the channel estimation of the first DMRS/first PBCH payload.

[0098] At 414, the apparatus may be configured to perform demodulation of an RF sample that includes a second PBCH payload. For example, referring to FIG. 3C, demodulation unit 307a may be configured to demodulation unit 307a may receive an RF sample that includes the second PBCH payload transmitted by the first base station. Moreover, demodulation unit 307a may receive channel estimation information associated with a first hypothesis for the first PBCH payload from channel estimation unit 303a. The first hypothesis may be the highest probability hypothesis, for example. Then, demodulation unit 307a may use the channel estimation information associated with the first hypothesis of the first PBCH payload to demodulate the RF sample with the second PBCH payload received from the first base station.

[0099] At 416, the apparatus may determine whether the second PBCH payloads received from the first and second base station are the same and/or determine whether the second PBCH payload is the same as one of the second PBCH payloads maintained from a previous RF sample. When it is determined (at 416) that the second PBCH payloads can be combined, then the operation moves to 418. For example, referring to FIG. 3C, combining unit 313 may be configured to combine identical second PBCH payloads from different base stations or with a previous second PBCH payload maintained in memory 315. Otherwise, when it is determined (at 416) that the second PBCH payloads cannot be combined, the operation may move to 420. At 420, the apparatus may perform decoding of the RF sample using one of the hypotheses of the first PBCH payload. [0100] At 422, the apparatus may perform a CRC check of the RF sample. For example, referring to FIG. 3C, CRC unit 319 may perform a CRC check of the RF sample to determine whether the first hypothesis of the first PBCH payloads is the correct hypothesis. When the CRC check does not pass (at 424), the operation may begin again at 428, where the next hypothesis of the first PBCH payload determined by the channel estimation unit is selected. These operations may repeat until the CRC check passes. Otherwise, when the CRC check passes (at 424), the operation may move to 426, where the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload are output for further acquisition/reselection procedures, and may be performed using the MIB data from the first and second PBCH payloads.

[0101] In various aspects of the present disclosure, the functions described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded as instructions or code on a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage media may be any available media that can be accessed by a computing device, such as node 500 in FIG. 5. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, HDD, such as magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, Flash drive, SSD, or any other medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a processing system, such as a mobile device or a computer. Disk and disc, as used herein, includes CD, laser disc, optical disc, digital video disc (DVD), and floppy disk where disks usually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce data optically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media. [0102] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The apparatus may include a first PBCH payload unit configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The apparatus may further include a second PBCH payload unit configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The apparatus may further include a first encoding unit configured to encode the first PBCH payload using a first set of PBCH resources. The apparatus may further include a second encoding unit configured to encode the second PBCH payload. The second encoding unit may be separate from the first encoding unit. The apparatus may further include a resource mapping unit configured to map the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

[0103] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a scrambling unit configured to scramble the first PBCH payload with a DMRS. In some embodiments, the first set of PBCH resources may include a set of DMRS resources.

[0104] In some embodiments, the first encoding unit may be configured to encode the first PBCH payload using a Walsh cover sequence. In some embodiments, the scrambling unit may be configured to scramble the first PBCH payload with the DMRS by inserting the Walsh cover sequence of the first PBCH payload into a PN sequence of the DMRS.

[0105] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a DMRS generation unit configured to generate the DMRS.

[0106] In some embodiments, the at least one variable information bit includes a base station status identifier. In some embodiments, the first PBCH payload may include a first set of LSBs of an SFN or a second set of bits of a base station status identifier.

[0107] In some embodiments, the base station status identifier may include one or more of a cell barred information identifier or an intracell frequency reselection information identifier.

[0108] In some embodiments, the at least one static information bit may include one or more of an SFN information bit, a subcarrier spacing information bit, an SSB offset information bit, or a SIB information bit.

[0109] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a UE is disclosed. The apparatus may include a receiver configured to receive a first DMRS that includes a first PBCH payload from a first base station. The first PBCH payload may include a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data includes at least one variable information bit. The receiver may be further configured to receive a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station. The second PBCH payload may include a second subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The apparatus may further include a first channel estimation unit configured to generate a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS. The apparatus may further include a first demodulation unit configured to demodulate the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload. [0110] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a decoding unit configured to decode the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an error correction unit configured to perform an error correction check of the first PBCH sample.

[OHl] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an output unit configured to output the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload when the error correction check passes.

[0112] In some embodiments, the receiver may be further configured to receive a second DMRS that includes a third PBCH payload from a second base station, the third PBCH payload including the first subset of MIB data. In some embodiments, the receiver may be further configured to receive a second PBCH sample that includes a fourth PBCH payload from the second base station, the fourth PBCH payload including the second subset of MIB data. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a second channel estimation unit configured to generate a second set of hypotheses associated with a third PBCH payload of the second DMRS by performing channel estimation of the second DMRS. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a second demodulation unit configured to demodulate the second PBCH sample based on the second set of hypotheses.

[0113] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a combining unit configured to receive the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample after demodulating. In some embodiments, the combining unit may be further configured to determine whether the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample can be combined based on the second PBCH payload and the fourth PBCH payload. In some embodiments, the combining unit may be further configured to generate a combined PBCH sample of the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample.

[0114] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a combining unit configured to obtain, from a memory, a second PBCH sample associated with the first base station. In some embodiments, the second PBCH sample including a third PBCH payload that includes the second subset of MIB data. In some embodiments, the combining unit may be further configured to determine whether the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample can be combined based on the first PBCH payload and the third PBCH payload. In some embodiments, the combining unit may be further configured to generate a combined signal of the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample. [0115] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include a decoding unit configured to decode the combined signal based on one or more of the first set of hypotheses or the second set of hypotheses. In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an error correction unit configured to perform an error correction check of the combined signal.

[0116] In some embodiments, the apparatus may further include an output unit configured to output the first PBCH payload and the third PBCH payload associated with the first base station and the second PBCH payload and the fourth PBCH payload when the error correction check of the combined signal passes.

[0117] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to perform operations associated with MIB transmission. The at least one processor may be configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to encode the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload separately. The at least one processor may be further configured to map the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

[0118] In some embodiments, the at least one processor may be further configured to scramble the first PBCH payload with a DMRS. In some embodiments, the first set of PBCH resources may be a set of DMRS resources.

[0119] In some embodiments, the first PBCH payload may be encoded using a Walsh cover sequence. In some embodiments, the first PBCH payload may be scrambled with the DMRS by inserting the Walsh cover sequence of the first PBCH payload into a PN sequence of the DMRS.

[0120] In some embodiments, the at least one variable information bit includes a base station status identifier. In some embodiments, the first PBCH payload may include a first set of LSBs of a system frame number and a second set of bits of a base station status identifier.

[0121] In some embodiments, the base station status identifier may include one or more of a cell barred information identifier or an intracell frequency reselection information identifier. In some embodiments, at least one static information bit may include one or more of an SFN information bit, a subcarrier spacing information bit, an SSB offset information bit, or a SIB information bit.

[0122] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The method may include generating, using a first PBCH payload unit, a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The method may further include generating, using a second PBCH payload unit, a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may be different than the first subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The method may further include encoding, using a first encoding unit, the first PBCH payload using a first set of PBCH resources. The method may further include encoding, using a second encoding unit, the second PBCH payload. The second encoding unit may be separate from the first encoding unit. The method may further include mapping, using a resource mapping unit, the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

[0123] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus for wireless communication of a UE is disclosed. The apparatus may include a memory, and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to perform operations associated with wireless communication. The at least one processor may be configured to receive a first DMRS that includes a first PBCH payload from a first base station. The first PBCH payload may include a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to receive a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station. The second PBCH payload may include a second subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The at least one processor may be further configured to generate a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS. The at least one processor may be further configured to demodulate the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.

[0124] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method of wireless communication of a BS is disclosed. The method may include receiving, using a receiver, a first DMRS that includes a first PBCH payload from a first base station. The first PBCH payload including a first subset of MIB data. The first subset of MIB data may include at least one variable information bit. The method may include receiving, using a receiver, a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station, the second PBCH payload including a second subset of MIB data. The second subset of MIB data may include at least one static information bit. The method may further include generating, using a first channel estimation unit, a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS. The method may further include demodulating, using a first demodulation unit, the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload. [0125] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so reveal the general nature of the present disclosure that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present disclosure. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

[0126] Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.

[0127] The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present disclosure and the appended claims in any way.

[0128] Various functional blocks, modules, and steps are disclosed above. The particular arrangements provided are illustrative and without limitation. Accordingly, the functional blocks, modules, and steps may be re-ordered or combined in different ways than in the examples provided above. Likewise, certain embodiments include only a subset of the functional blocks, modules, and steps, and any such subset is permitted.

[0129] The breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

- 33 - WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An apparatus for wireless communication of a base station, comprising: a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload unit configured to generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of master information block (MIB) data, the first subset of MIB data including at least one variable information bit; a second PBCH payload unit configured to generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data, the second subset of MIB data being different than the first subset of MIB data, and the second subset of MIB data including at least one static information bit; a first encoding unit configured to encode the first PBCH payload using a first set of PBCH resources; a second encoding unit configured to encode the second PBCH payload, the second encoding unit being separate from the first encoding unit; and a resource mapping unit configured to map the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a scrambling unit configured to scramble the first PBCH payload with a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), wherein the first set of PBCH resources are a set of DMRS resources.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: the first encoding unit is configured to encode the first PBCH payload using a Walsh cover sequence, and the scrambling unit is configured to scramble the first PBCH payload with the DMRS by inserting the Walsh cover sequence of the first PBCH payload into a pseudo-random number (PN) sequence of the DMRS.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a DMRS generation unit configured to generate the DMRS.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the at least one variable information bit includes a base station status identifier, and - 34 - the first PBCH payload includes a first set of least significant bits (LSBs) of a system frame number or a second set of bits of a base station status identifier.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base station status identifier includes one or more of a cell barred information identifier or an intracell frequency reselection information identifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one static information bit includes one or more of a system frame number (SFN) information bit, a subcarrier spacing information bit, a synchronization signal block (SSB) offset information bit, or a system information block (SIB) information bit.

8. An apparatus for wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), comprising: a receiver configured to: receive a first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) that includes a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload from a first base station, the first PBCH payload including a first subset of master information block (MIB) data, the first subset of MIB data including at least one variable information bit; and receive a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station, the second PBCH payload including a second subset of MIB data, the second subset of MIB data including at least one static information bit; a first channel estimation unit configured to generate a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS; and a first demodulation unit configured to demodulate the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a decoding unit configured to decode the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses; and an error correction unit configured to perform an error correction check of the first PBCH sample.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising: an output unit configured to output the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload when the error correction check passes.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the receiver is further configured to: receive a second DMRS that includes a third PBCH payload from a second base station, the third PBCH payload including the first subset of MIB data; and receive a second PBCH sample that includes a fourth PBCH payload from the second base station, the fourth PBCH payload including the second subset of MIB data, the apparatus further comprising: a second channel estimation unit configured to generate a second set of hypotheses associated with a third PBCH payload of the second DMRS by performing channel estimation of the second DMRS; and a second demodulation unit configured to demodulate the second PBCH sample based on the second set of hypotheses.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a combining unit configured to: receive the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample after demodulating; determine whether the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample can be combined based on the second PBCH payload and the fourth PBCH payload; and generate a combined PBCH sample of the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a combining unit configured to: obtain, from a memory, a second PBCH sample associated with the first base station, the second PBCH sample including a third PBCH payload that includes the second subset of MIB data; determine whether the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample can be combined based on the first PBCH payload and the third PBCH payload; and generate a combined signal of the first PBCH sample and the second PBCH sample.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 or 13, further comprising: a decoding unit configured to decode the combined signal based on one or more of the first set of hypotheses or the second set of hypotheses; and an error correction unit configured to perform an error correction check of the combined signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising: an output unit configured to output the first PBCH payload and the third PBCH payload associated with the first base station and the second PBCH payload and the fourth PBCH payload when the error correction check of the combined signal passes.

16. An apparatus for wireless communication of a base station, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to: generate a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of master information block (MIB) data, the first subset of MIB data including at least one variable information bit; generate a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data, the second subset of MIB data being different than the first subset of MIB data, and the second subset of MIB data including at least one static information bit; encode the first PBCH payload and the second PBCH payload separately; and map the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: scramble the first PBCH payload with a demodulation reference signal (DMRS), wherein the first set of PBCH resources are a set of DMRS resources.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein: the first PBCH payload is encoded using a Walsh cover sequence, and the first PBCH payload is scrambled with the DMRS by inserting the Walsh cover sequence of the first PBCH payload into a pseudo-random number (PN) sequence of the DMRS.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: the at least one variable information bit includes a base station status identifier, and the first PBCH payload includes a first set of least significant bits (LSBs) of a system frame number or a second set of bits of a base station status identifier. - 37 -

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein: the base station status identifier includes one or more of a cell barred information identifier or an intracell frequency reselection information identifier, and at least one static information bit includes one or more of a system frame number (SFN) information bit, a subcarrier spacing information bit, a synchronization signal block (SSB) offset information bit, or a system information block (SIB) information bit.

21. A method of wireless communication of a base station, comprising: generating, using a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload unit, a first PBCH payload that includes a first subset of master information block (MIB) data, the first subset of MIB data including at least one variable information bit; generating, using a second PBCH payload unit, a second PBCH payload that includes a second subset of the MIB data, the second subset of MIB data being different than the first subset of MIB data, and the second subset of MIB data including at least one static information bit; encoding, using a first encoding unit, the first PBCH payload using a first set of PBCH resources; encoding, using a second encoding unit, the second PBCH payload, the second encoding unit being separate from the first encoding unit; and mapping, using a resource mapping unit, the first PBCH payload to a first set of PBCH resources and the second PBCH payload to a second set of PBCH resources.

22. An apparatus for wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to: receive a first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) that includes a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload from a first base station, the first PBCH payload including a first subset of master information block (MIB) data, the first subset of MIB data including at least one variable information bit; and receive a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station, the second PBCH payload including a second subset of MIB data, the second subset of MIB data including at least one static information bit; - 38 - generate a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS; and demodulate the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.

23. A method of wireless communication of a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, using a receiver, a first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) that includes a first physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload from a first base station, the first PBCH payload including a first subset of master information block (MIB) data, the first subset of MIB data including at least one variable information bit; receiving, using a receiver, a first PBCH sample that includes a second PBCH payload from the first base station, the second PBCH payload including a second subset of MIB data, the second subset of MIB data including at least one static information bit; generating, using a first channel estimation unit, a first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload by performing channel estimation of the first DMRS; and demodulating, using a first demodulation unit, the first PBCH sample based on the first set of hypotheses associated with the first PBCH payload.