EP4732604A1 - Power-control operation for multi-transmission reception point (multi-trp) - Google Patents

Abstract

Example embodiments of the present disclosure are related to power-control operation for multi-TRP. A method comprises: receiving, by a first apparatus and from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

Description

POWER-CONTROL OPERATION FOR MULTI-TRANSMISSION RECEPTION POINT (MULTI-TRP)

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of Fl application No. 20245178, filed February 16, 2024, the content of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

[0002] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for power-control operation for multi-transmission reception point (multi-TRP).

BACKGROUND

[0003] New Radio Physical Uplink Shared Channel (NR PUSCH) power control is based on a combination of open-loop power control and closed-loop power control. The open-loop power control includes support for fractional path-loss compensation, where the terminal device estimates the UL pathloss based on DL measurements and sets the transmit power accordingly. The closed-loop power control is based on explicit transmit power-control (TPC) commands provided by the network.

[0004] To determine the PUSCH transmission power, the terminal device is indicated or determines closed-loop parameters (closed-loop index, TPC command) and open-loop parameters (pathloss reference RS, pO, alpha). The TPC command is carried in the downlink control information (DCI) scheduling the PUSCH transmission. Also, TPC command (and corresponding closed-loop index) can be carried jointly to multiple UEs by means of group-common DCI using DCI format 2-2. Further enhancements are needed in the multi-TRP scenario.

SUMMARY

[0005] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; determine a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and transmit the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

[0006] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions i that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0007] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, by a first apparatus and from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

[0008] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, by a second apparatus and to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0009] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; means for determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and means for transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

[0010] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0011] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0012] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0013] It is to be understood that the Summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling flow of power-control operation in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates an example communication environment for power-control for multi- TRP in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 6 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] Principle of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0024] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0025] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0026] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0027] As used herein, “at least one of the following: <a list of two or more elements>” and “at least one of <a list of two or more elements>” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0028] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[0029] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and/or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and/or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and/ or combinations thereof.

[0030] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:

(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry) and (b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):

(i) a combination of analog and/or digital hardware circuit(s) with software/firmware and

(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and

(c) hardware ci rcuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor(s) or a portion of a microprocessor(s), that requires software (e.g., firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0031] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and/or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0032] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as New Radio (NR), Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE- Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-loT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and/or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0033] As used herein, the term “network device” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non-terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the next-hop IAB node.

[0034] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehiclemounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an I nternet of Things (loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., a robot and/or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and/or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and/or industrial wireless networks, and the like. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0035] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and/or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0036] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a plurality of communication devices, including a terminal device 110 and a network device 120, can communicate with each other. In the example of FIG. 1 , the terminal device 110 may be a UE and the network device 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the network device 120 may be called a cell.

[0037] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the terminal device 110 operating as a UE and the network device 120 operating as a base station. However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0038] In some example embodiments, a link from the network device 120 to the terminal device 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), while a link from the terminal device 110 to the network device 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the network device 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the terminal device 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the network device 120 is a RX device (or a receiver).

[0039] In some example embodiments, the network device 120 may support both DL and UL communication with respect to the terminal device 110. The network device 120 may thus be referred to as a transmission reception point (TRP) or a transmission reception node. In some cases, there may be one or more other network entities communicating with the terminal device 110, such as reception-only points (RxPs) 130-1 , 130-2 (collectively or individually referred to as RxPs 130). The RxPs 130 support only UL reception from the terminal device 110. A RxP may also referred to as reception-only node, UL-only TRP, UL-only node. The RxP(s) 130 are deployed for balancing coverage, throughput, or load between DL and UL. In the muti-TRP scenario, the network device 12 may sometimes be referred to as a main TRP.

[0040] It would be appreciated that a TRP/node/RxP may correspond to or be replaced or identified by one or more of: a Control Resource Set Pool Index (CORESETPoollndex), PCI (physical cell identifier), DL reference signal(s) (such as Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), Channel State Information-Reference signal (CSI-RS)), UL reference signal resource(s) or resource set (such as Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) resource set, or demodulation reference signal resource), transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state(s), TRP ID, node ID, RxP ID, or RRH (remote radio head).

[0041] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1 G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G), and the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and/or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any proper wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and/or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0042] It is to be understood that the number of devices and their connections shown in FIG. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitation. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of devices configured to implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100. It is noted that although illustrated as a base station, the network device 120 may be another device than a base station. Although illustrated as a UE, the terminal device 110 may be another device than a UE.

[0043] For UL power control, some of the main power control parameters that the PUSCH transmission power depends on are:

• closed-loop index (also known as PC adjustment state),

• TPC command (fb.f.c, absolute or accumulative TPC command),

• pathloss reference RS (reference signal),

• pO (also denoted as PO_UE_PUSCH),

• alpha (for partial of full path-loss compensation), • DETLA_TF (i.e., A_TFA/;C(i)), also sometimes referred to as power adjustment component. This term essentially models how the required received power varies when the number of information BPRE (bits per resource element) changes due to different modulation schemes and channel-coding rates.

[0044] Specifically, the PUSCH power is determined based on the following. If a UE transmits a PUSCH on active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c using parameter set configuration with index j and PUSCH power control adjustment state with index I, the UE determines the PUSCH transmission power PpuscH,&,/,c(t/ in PUSCH transmission occasion i as:

[dBm],

[0045] SRS power control is somewhat similar to PUSCH power control. Specifically, the SRS transmission power is determined based on the following. If a UE transmits SRS based on a configuration by SRS-ResourceSet on active UL BWP b of carrier / of serving cell c using SRS power control adjustment state with index I, the UE determines the SRS transmission power ^sRs,b,/,c( q_s, in SRS transmission occasion i as: S_{RS b fc}(i,q_s,l) = mini ,

[0046] Finally, the PUCCH transmission power is determined based on the following. If a UE transmits a PUCCH on active UL BWP b of carrier / in the primary cell c using PUCCH power control adjustment state with index I , the UE determines the PUCCH transmission power ^{i n} PUCCH transmission occasion i as:

[dBm],

[0047] It is noted that the path-loss (PL) refers to the pathloss component/parameter, and is defined as follows: PL_b f _C(c[_d) = referenceSignalPower - higher layer filtered RSRP, where referenceSignalPower is provided by higher layers and RSRP is defined in [7, TS 38.215] for the reference serving cell and the higher layer filter configuration provided by QuantityConfig is defined in [12, TS 38.331] for the reference serving cell.

[0048] In the random access procedure, a UE may determine a transmission power, e.g., a physical random access channel (PRACH) transmission power. The UE determines a transmission power for a physical random access channel (PRACH), ^on active UL BWP b of carrier / of serving cell c based on DL RS for serving cell c in transmission occasion i as: where P_CMAx,f,c(t) ^{is the} UE configured maximum output power defined in [8-1 , TS 38.101-1], [8- 2, TS 38.101-2] and [8-3, TS 38.101-3] for carrier f of serving cell c within transmission occasion i , PRACHtargetj,c is the PRACH target reception power PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER provided by higher layers [11 , TS 38.321] for the active UL BWP b of carrier f of serving cell c, and PL_{b f c} is a pathloss for the active UL BWP b of carrier f based on the DL RS associated with the PRACH transmission on the active DL BWP of serving cell c and calculated by the UE in dB as referenceSignalPower - higher layer filtered RSRP in dBm, where RSRP is defined in [7, TS 38.215] and the higher layer filter configuration is defined in [12, TS 38.331]. If the active DL BWP is the initial DL BWP and for SS/PBCH block and CORESET multiplexing pattern 2 or 3, as described in clause 13, the UE determines PL_{b f c} based on the SS/PBCH block associated with the PRACH transmission.

[0049] If a PRACH transmission from a UE is not in response to a detection of a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) order by the UE, or is in response to a detection of a PDCCH order by the UE that triggers a contention based random access procedure, or is associated with a link recovery procedure where a corresponding index q_new is associated with a SS/PBCH block, as described in clause 6, referenceSignalPower is provided by ss-PBCH-BlockPower.

[0050] If a PRACH transmission from a UE is in response to a detection of a PDCCH order by the UE that triggers a contention-free random access procedure and depending on the DL RS that the DM-RS of the PDCCH order is quasi-collocated with as described in clause 10.1 , referenceSignalPower is provided by ss-PBCH-BlockPower or, if the UE is configured resources for a periodic CSI-RS reception or the PRACH transmission is associated with a link recovery procedure where a corresponding index q_new is associated with a periodic CSI-RS configuration as described in clause 6, referenceSignalPower is obtained by ss-PBCH-BlockPower and powerControlOffsetSS where powerControlOffsetSS provides an offset of CSI-RS transmission power relative to SS/PBCH block transmission power [6, TS 38.214], If powerControlOffsetSS is not provided to the UE, the UE assumes an offset of 0 dB. If the active TCI state for the PDCCH that provides the PDCCH order includes two RS, the UE expects that one RS is configured with qcl-Type set to 'typeD' and the UE uses the one RS when applying a value provided by powerControlOffsetSS.

[0051] In the multi-TRP scenarios, under the two-TA for multi-TRP objective in Rel-18, a cross- TRP PDCCH order was agreed and specified. For the cross-TRP PDCCH order, one TRP can trigger, through PDCCH order, PRACH towards another TRP (or same TRP). This is at least supported for intercell case as well as intra-cell case. One additional PRACH configuration is supported for each configured additionalPCI. It also supports indication of additionalPCI in the PDCCH order. The PRACH is triggered towards servingCell PCI or active additionalPCI, and no triggering towards inactive additionalPCI. In some cases, only CFRA (contention free random access) is assumed.

[0052] In the 3GPP RAN plenary #102 the 5G NR rel. 19 MIMO work item (RP-234007) has been approved. The item 5 on the list is as follows in Table 1 , where sTRP refers to “single TRP” and “mTRP” refers to “multi-TRP”.

Table 1

[0053] As previously indicated, Rel-19 will specify power control enhancements for scenario with RxP (s) / UL-only TRP(s) / UL-only node(s).

[0054] It is noted that legacy power control operations include pathloss (PL) measurement on the downlink, which refers to PL_{b f c} in the determination of the PRACH transmission power,

[0055] Considering one or multiple RxPs are involved, the DL path-loss (PL) measurement would be based on the TRP (e.g., g NB) transmission as no DL reference signal can be transmitted from the RxPs. Thus, it is not possible to measure or obtain the path-loss between the RxPs and the UEs based on DL measurements. In other words, UL-only nodes cannot transmit reference signals for PL measurement at the UE side. PL for gNB/ main TRP and PL for an RxP (/UL-only node) would be different and thus PL of the gNB cannot be applied for UL PC towards an RxP.

[0056] Considering the above scenarios, or similar scenarios, example embodiments of the present invention focus on the random access transmission power determination. The example embodiments of the present disclosure propose some enhancements of power-control operation for multi-TRP, to enable accurate determination of random access transmission power (e.g., PRACH transmission power) considering that such transmission could be towards an UL-only node without DL or towards a network device with DL.

[0057] Through this solution, the transmission power for random access to a network entity may be determined and controlled by another network entity, and the terminal device may not need to estimate the path-loss to that (latter) network entity and can calculate accurate transmission power for the random access transmission. In some cases, it can especially achieve accurate random access transmission power determination for scenarios with UL-only / receive-only nodes. The proposed solutions can cover the PDCCH ordered PRACH and UE-triggered PRACH, and could be applicable for CFRA (contention-free random access) and CBRA (contention-based random access).

[0058] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0059] FIG. 2 illustrates a signaling flow 300 of CSI reporting in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purposes of discussion, the signaling flow 200 will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1 . The signaling flow 200 may involve a first apparatus 201 , a second apparatus 202, and a third apparatus 203.

[0060] The first apparatus 201 may be or may be comprised in the terminal device 110 in FIG.

1 , e.g., UE. The second apparatus 202 may be or may be comprised in a TRP which supports both DL and UL, such as the network device 120 in FIG. 1 , e.g., gNB. The third apparatus 203 may be or may be comprised in a RxP 130 in FIG. 1 (also referred to as UL-only point or UL-only node).

[0061] In the signaling flow 200, the second apparatus 202 transmits (205), to the first apparatus 201 , first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus 203. The first apparatus 201 receives (210) the first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus 203.

[0062] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus 203 may be corresponding or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus 203 and the first apparatus 201.

[0063] As there is DL communication from the second apparatus 202 to the first apparatus 201 , the second apparatus 202 may provide information related to the path-loss between the third apparatus 203 and the first apparatus 201. It is especially beneficial if the third apparatus 203 is an UL-only node because in this case the first apparatus 201 may not be able to perform DL measurement to determine the path-loss between the third apparatus 203 and the first apparatus 201.

[0064] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor for the third apparatus 203 may include a power value offset (or referred to as “power value gap” or “path-loss gap” or “pathloss offset” or simply “pathloss”) or a power scaling factor (or referred to as “path-loss factor”) to be applied to a DL path-loss between the second apparatus 202 and the first apparatus 201. In this case, the first apparatus 201 may determine the DL path-loss between the second apparatus 202 and the first apparatus 201 , and then determine the transmission power for the random access message towards the third apparatus 203 based on the power adjustment factor. In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor or the power value corresponds to or is a function of open-loop or closed-loop power control parameter(s), such as power adjustment state, P0 (nominal power level), alpha, (absolute) pathloss, etc.

[0065] In some example embodiments, the first indication information may be obtained through a PDCCH order from the second apparatus 202. That is, the PDCCH order from the second apparatus 202 may at least include the first indication information.

[0066] In some example embodiments, the first indication information may be transmitted in a PDCCH different from the PDCCH order. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 201 may fetch the first indication information from the existing or reserved bits/fields or even new bits/fields in the PDCCH order. In some example embodiments, the first indication information may be transmitted through a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), which may be a new MAC CE on Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). In some example embodiments, the first indication information may be transmitted through a MAC random access response (RAR).

[0067] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 201 may further receive, from the second apparatus 202, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus 202. The indication of the power adjustment factor or the power value and the indication of the transmitting of random access messages towards a different apparatus may be indicated using separate indication information/ways or using same indication/information way. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 201 may receive the PDCCH order which is indicative of whether a PRACH transmission (triggered by the PDCCH order) is towards a second TRP/node that is different from a first TRP or node that has sent the PDCCH order. Such a PDCCH order may be referred to as a cross-TRP PDCCH order.

[0068] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 201 may be further indicated the second apparatus 202 with an identity of the third apparatus 203 towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, and/or an indication of whether the third apparatus 203 is a reception-only point (RxP) or a reception-only TRP. In some example embodiments, the indication of the identity of the third apparatus 203 and/or the indication of the RxP may be comprised in the second indication information, or in the first indication information. [0069] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 201 may be further indicated by the second apparatus 202 with a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, and/or a power control loop identifier. One or more of those indications may be comprised in the second indication information received from the second apparatus 202. In some examples, the pathloss configuration may correspond to a pathloss offset/gap/factor configuration or to absolute pathloss configuration, and this may be indicated via RRC, MAC CE or DCI. In some examples, a pathloss configuration may be associated to an TCI state. In some examples, the TCI (transmission configuration indicator) state may be joint or uplink TCI state. In some examples, the power control loop may correspond to open loop or closed loop or any other loop.

[0070] In some example embodiments, the first indication information and the second indication information may be communicated using separate indication information/ways or using same indication/information way. In some example embodiments, the first indication information may be associated to or corresponds to the second indication information or vice versa. For example, the TCI state may comprise or be associated to a pathloss configuration or pathloss loop.

[0071] In some example embodiments, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI), e.g., over the DCI format 1_0 or any other suitable format. The DCI may further be indicative of whether a PRACH transmission is towards the second TRP/node that’s different from a first TRP/node that has sent the PDCCH order and/or is indicative of whether the second TRP is a receive-only node/TRP and/or the identity of the second TRP. In some example embodiments, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried through or using one or more of the following ways in the DCI.

[0072] In some examples, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried through a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field (referred to as “PRACH association indicator field”). For example, if this field, in the PDCCH order, indicates a physCellld that is different that the physCellld associated with the cell of the PDCCH order reception, the first apparatus 201 may determine that a PRACH transmission is triggered towards the second TRP/node that is different from a first TRP/node that has sent the PDCCH order.

[0073] In some examples, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried using a SSB index. Some SSB index(es) may be configured to correspond to or be associated with the second TRP (i.e., the third apparatus), that is, the receive-UL TRP node. It is noted that the SSB index may or may not be corresponding to actual SSB transmission. It is noted that the SSB index may be contained/indicated in the PDCCH order. [0074] In some examples, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried using a PRACH mask index. Some PRACH mask index(es) may be configured to correspond to or be associated with the second TRP (i.e., the third apparatus) that is an UL-only TRP node. It is noted that the PRACH mask index(es) may be contained/indicated in the PDCCH order.

[0075] In some examples, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried using a random-access preamble index. Some of the preamble(s) (or preamble index(es)) may be configured to correspond to or be associated with the second TRP (i.e., the third apparatus) that is an UL-only TRP node. It is noted that the preamble index(es) may be contained/indicated in the PDCCH order.

[0076] In some examples, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried using a cell indicator field.

[0077] In some examples, the first indication information and/or the second indication information may be obtained or carried using one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI. For example, separate indication/field from the above, through new or existing/reserved bits, which indicates that a PRACH transmission is towards a second TRP and/or that second TRP is an UL-only node. It is noted that the bits/fields may be contained/indicated in the PDCCH order.

[0078] The first apparatus 201 determines (215) a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0079] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 201 may apply the legacy method to calculate the UL transmission power to the third apparatus 203, by integrating the power adjustment factor or the power value to adjust the DL path-loss used in the legacy method. Thus, the determination of the transmission power for a random access message may further based on the UE configured maximum output power P_CMA ,C(0 > the PRACH target reception power PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER provided by higher layers P_RACHtarget,f,c’ and the DL path-loss PL_{b fiC} between the second apparatus 202 and the first apparatus 201.

[0080] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 201 determines (based on the above) to use the indicated power value offset which is in form of pathloss gap, and the path-loss gap is indicated by the second apparatus 202, the first apparatus 201 may use the following equation to calculate the transmission power: where G_{PL bif c} is the power value offset, PL_{b fiC} represents the DL path-loss between the first apparatus 201 and the second apparatus 202. The definitions of P_RACH,b,f,c(i)> PcMAx,f,c(i)> and PL_bf _C are the same as discussed above. It would be appreciated that the power value offset may be indicated to be added to the DL path-loss PL_{b fiC}.

[0081] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 201 determines (based on the above) to use the indicated power scaling factor, which is in form of path-loss factor, and if the path-loss factor was indicated, the first apparatus 201 uses the following equation to calculate the transmission power: where F_PL,b,f,c ^is the power scaling factor which is applied to the DL path-loss PL_{b fiC}. The definitions of P_RACH,b,f,c(.i PcMAx,f,c(.i andPL_{b c} are the same as discussed above.

[0082] In some example embodiments, if the absolute power value for the third apparatus 203 is indicated by the second apparatus 202, then the first apparatus 201 may determine the transmission power for the random access message towards the third apparatus 203 based on the direct power value. For example, the power value offset or the power scaling factor may be absorbed into the PREAMBLE_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER parameter with a wider range in the RACH-ConfigGeneric information element. For example, the power value indicated by the second apparatus 202 may be used to replace the result of (PL_{b fiC} - G_PLibifiC) or the result of (PL_bf _C ■ F_PL,b,f,c) ⁱⁿ the above equations.

[0083] With the transmission power determined, the first apparatus 201 transmits (220) the random access message towards the third apparatus 203 based on the determined transmission power. The third apparatus 203 receives (225) the random access message from the first apparatus 201. In some example embodiments, the random access message (or random access channel) may comprise a physical random access channel (PRACH), which may be referred to as a PRACH transmission or a random access preamble. In some example embodiments, the random access message (or random access channel) may comprise PUSCH corresponding to Msg-3 (for 4-step RACH procedure) or to MsgA (for 2-step RACH procedure). In some example embodiments, the random access message (or random access channel) may comprise PUCCH in response to Msg-4 (for 4-step RACH procedure) or to Msg-B (for 2-step RACH procedure). The random access message may be any other message that is transmitted in a random access procedure towards a network entity.

[0084] In some example embodiments, the transmission of the random access message may be based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier (e.g., the identified pathloss configuration), the pathloss loop identifier (e.g., the identified pathloss loop), the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier (e.g., the identified timing advance loop or group), or the power control loop identifier (e.g., the identified power control loop), which are indicated in the second indication information as discussed above.

[0085] FIG. 3 illustrates the random access procedure in the environment 100 of FIG. 1 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown, the network device 120 transmits a cross-TRP PDCCH order in DL to the terminal device 110. The PDCCH order triggers a PRACH transmission towards a node (e.g., the RxP 130-1) that is different from the network device 120 that has sent the PDCCH order. The PDCCH order may also indicate a power adjustment factor or a power value for the RxP 130-1. Upon reception of the PDCCH order, the terminal device 110 determines a transmission power based on the indicated power adjustment factor or the indicated power value, and initiates a PRACH transmission towards the RxP 130-1 based on the determined transmission power.

[0086] In some example embodiments, the random access message may be based on CFRA or CBRA. In the contention-free random access, a random access resource specific to the first apparatus 201 may be configured for transmitting the random access message, e.g., via a PDCCH order. In the contention-based random access, the first apparatus may trigger the random access transmission, and the transmission of the random access message may be contention-based. As such, it may be faced with collision with the random access transmissions of other terminal devices. The proposed solutions cover PDCCH ordered PRACH and UE-triggered PRACH, and could be applicable for CFRA and CBRA.

[0087] In some example embodiments, in the CFRA, the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting a random access message. The first apparatus 201 may then use the random access resource to transmit the random access message.

[0088] In some example embodiments, in the CBRA and/or UE-triggered PRACH, at least some PRACH/ RACH resources or configurations, such as preambles or time/frequency allocation or RACH occasions etc., may be associated with a receive-only node or with a TRP in general. Such association may be provided through higher layer signaling (such as RRC, or System Information Block) or though MAC CE (or even through DCI). The first apparatus 201 may obtain an association between random access resources and apparatuses to which the random access messages are to be transmitted. Then, when the first apparatus 201 determines to transmit a PRACH transmission towards or associated with an receive-only node, which may be reflected through the selected preamble or PRACH resource of RACH occasions etc., the first apparatus 201 may determine a random access resource associated with the third apparatus 203 (i.e., the receive- only node) based on the obtained association. The first apparatus 201 may determine the PRACH transmission power based at least partially on an indicated power and then transmit the random access message towards the third apparatus 203 based on the determined random access resource and the determined transmission power.

[0089] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 201 keeps the neighbor TRP (including UL-only TRP) list and corresponding parameter set, the first apparatus 201 may choose the RACH parameter set towards /corresponding to the UL-only TRP for CBRA.

[0090] FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an example method 400 implemented at a first device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 400 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 201 in FIG. 2, which may be or may be comprised in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1 .

[0091] At block 410, the first apparatus 201 receives, from a second apparatus (which may be or may be comprised in the network device 120 in FIG. 2), first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus.

[0092] At block 420, the first apparatus 201 determines a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0093] At block 430, the first apparatus 201 transmits the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

[0094] In some example embodiments, receiving the first indication information comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, the PDCCH order at least comprising the first indication information.

[0095] In some example embodiments, the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting the random access message.

[0096] In some example embodiments, transmitting the random access message comprises: obtaining an association between random access resources and apparatuses to which the random access messages are to be transmitted; determining a random access resource associated with the third apparatus based on the obtained association; and transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined random access resource and the determined transmission power.

[0097] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is transmitted in at least one of the following: a PDCCH different from a PDCCH order, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a MAC random access response (RAR).

[0098] In some example embodiments, the method 400 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus, an identity of the third apparatus towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, an indication of whether the third apparatus is a reception- only point, a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, or a power control loop identifier.

[0099] In some example embodiments, the transmission of the random access message is based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier, the pathloss loop identifier, the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier, or the power control loop identifier.

[0100] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is associated to or corresponds to the second indication information.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the first indication information and/or the second indication information is obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI) using at least one of the following: a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field, a SSB index, a PRACH mask index, a random access preamble index, a cell indicator field, one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI.

[0102] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus is corresponding or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0103] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor comprises: a power value offset or a power scaling factor to be applied to a downlink path-loss between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0104] In some example embodiments, the random access message comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH), and/or wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on contention-free random access or contention-based random access.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device. In some example embodiments, the second apparatus is or is comprised in a transmission reception point (TRP), and/or wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a reception-only point (RxP).

[0106] FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of an example method 500 implemented at a second device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 500 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 202 in FIG. 2, which may be or may be comprised in the network device 120 in FIG. 1.

[0107] At block 510, the second apparatus 202 transmits, to a first apparatus (which may be or may be comprised in the terminal device 110 in FIG. 1), first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0108] In some example embodiments, transmitting the first indication information comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, the PDCCH order at least comprising the first indication information.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting the random access message.

[0110] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is transmitted in at least one of the following: a PDCCH different from a PDCCH order, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a MAC random access response (RAR).

[0111] In some example embodiments, the method 500 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus, an identity of the third apparatus towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, an indication of whether the third apparatus is a reception-only point, a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, or a power control loop identifier.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the transmission of the random access message is based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier, the pathloss loop identifier, the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier, or the power control loop identifier.

[0113] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is associated to or corresponds to the second indication information.

[0114] In some example embodiments, the first indication information and/or the second indication information is obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI) using at least one of the following: a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field, a SSB index, a PRACH mask index, a random access preamble index, a cell indicator field, one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus is corresponding to or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0116] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor comprises: a power value offset or a power scaling factor to be applied to a downlink path-loss between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the random access message comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH), and/or wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on contention-free random access or contention-based random access.

[0118] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and/or wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a transmission reception point (TRP), and/or wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a reception-only point (RxP).

[0119] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 400 (for example, the first apparatus 201 in FIG. 2) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 201 in FIG. 2.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; means for determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and means for transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

[0121] In some example embodiments, the means for receiving the first indication information comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, the PDCCH order at least comprising the first indication information.

[0122] In some example embodiments, the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting the random access message.

[0123] In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the random access message comprises: means for obtaining an association between random access resources and apparatuses to which the random access messages are to be transmitted; means for determining a random access resource associated with the third apparatus based on the obtained association; and means for transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined random access resource and the determined transmission power.

[0124] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is transmitted in at least one of the following: a PDCCH different from a PDCCH order, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a MAC random access response (RAR).

[0125] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus, an identity of the third apparatus towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, an indication of whether the third apparatus is a reception-only point, a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, or a power control loop identifier.

[0126] In some example embodiments, the transmission of the random access message is based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier, the pathloss loop identifier, the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier, or the power control loop identifier.

[0127] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is associated to or corresponds to the second indication information.

[0128] In some example embodiments, the first indication information and/or the second indication information is obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI) using at least one of the following: a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field, a SSB index, a PRACH mask index, a random access preamble index, a cell indicator field, one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI.

[0129] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus is corresponding or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0130] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor comprises: a power value offset or a power scaling factor to be applied to a downlink path-loss between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0131] In some example embodiments, the random access message comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH), and/or wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on contention-free random access or contention-based random access.

[0132] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and/or wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a transmission reception point (TRP), and/or wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a reception-only point (RxP).

[0133] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 400 or the first apparatus 201 . In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the first apparatus.

[0134] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 500 (for example, the second apparatus 202 in FIG. 2) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 500. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 202 in FIG. 2.

[0135] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0136] In some example embodiments, the means for transmitting the first indication information comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, the PDCCH order at least comprising the first indication information.

[0137] In some example embodiments, the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting the random access message.

[0138] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is transmitted in at least one of the following: a PDCCH different from a PDCCH order, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a MAC random access response (RAR).

[0139] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus, an identity of the third apparatus towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, an indication of whether the third apparatus is a reception-only point, a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, or a power control loop identifier.

[0140] In some example embodiments, the transmission of the random access message is based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier, the pathloss loop identifier, the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier, or the power control loop identifier.

[0141] In some example embodiments, the first indication information is associated to or corresponds to the second indication information.

[0142] In some example embodiments, the first indication information and/or the second indication information is obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI) using at least one of the following: a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field, a SSB index, a PRACH mask index, a random access preamble index, a cell indicator field, one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI.

[0143] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus is corresponding to or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0144] In some example embodiments, the power adjustment factor comprises: a power value offset or a power scaling factor to be applied to a downlink path-loss between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the random access message comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH), and/or wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on contention-free random access or contention-based random access.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and/or wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a transmission reception point (TRP), and/or wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a reception-only point (RxP).

[0147] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises means for performing other operations in some example embodiments of the method 500 or the second apparatus 202. In some example embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the performance of the second apparatus.

[0148] FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a device 600 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 600 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 201 or the second apparatus 202 as shown in FIG. 2, or the terminal device 110 or the network device 120 as shown in FIG. 1 . As illustrated, the device 600 includes one or more processors 610, one or more memories 620 coupled to the processor 610, and one or more communication modules 640 coupled to the processor 610.

[0149] The communication module 640 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 640 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 640 may include at least one antenna. [0150] The processor 610 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 600 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0151] The memory 620 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 624, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and/or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 622 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0152] A computer program 630 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 610. The instructions of the program 630 may include instructions for performing operations/acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 630 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 624. The processor 610 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 630 into the RAM 622.

[0153] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 630 so that the device 600 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 2 to FIG. 5. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the program 630 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 600 (such as in the memory 620) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 600. The device 600 may load the program 630 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 622 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0155] FIG. 7 shows an example of the computer readable medium 700 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 700 has the program 630 stored thereon.

[0156] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as nonlimiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0157] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non- transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0158] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program code, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions/operations specified in the flowcharts and/or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0159] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0160] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.

[0161] Further, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, although several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0162] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims or any of the below embodiments.

[0163] Embodiment 1 : A method comprising: receiving, by a first apparatus and from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

[0164] Embodiment 2: A method comprising: transmitting, by a second apparatus and to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0165] Embodiment 3: A first apparatus comprising: means for receiving, from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; means for determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and means for transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power. [0166] Embodiment 4: A second apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

[0167] Embodiment 5: A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of embodiment 1 or the method of embodiment 2.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1 . A first apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; determine a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and transmit the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, the PDCCH order at least comprising the first indication information.

3. The first apparatus of claim 2, wherein the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting the random access message.

4. The first apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first apparatus is caused to: obtain an association between random access resources and apparatuses to which the random access messages are to be transmitted; determine a random access resource associated with the third apparatus based on the obtained association; and transmit the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined random access resource and the determined transmission power.

5. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first indication information is transmitted in at least one of the following: a PDCCH different from a PDCCH order, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a MAC random access response (RAR).

6. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to: receive, from the second apparatus, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus, an identity of the third apparatus towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, an indication of whether the third apparatus is a reception-only point, a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, or a power control loop identifier.

7. The first apparatus of claim 6, wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier, the pathloss loop identifier, the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier, or the power control loop identifier.

8. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first indication information is associated to or corresponds to the second indication information.

9. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first indication information and/or the second indication information is obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI) using at least one of the following: a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field, a SSB index, a PRACH mask index, a random access preamble index, a cell indicator field, one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI.

10. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus is corresponding or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus and the first apparatus.

11 . The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the power adjustment factor comprises: a power value offset or a power scaling factor to be applied to a downlink path-loss between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

12. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11 , wherein the random access message comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH), and/or wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on contention-free random access or contention-based random access.

13. The first apparatus of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and/or wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a transmission reception point (TRP), and/or wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a reception-only point (RxP).

14. A second apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus, to cause the first apparatus to transmit a random access message towards the third apparatus based on a transmission power that is determined based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value.

15. The second apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the first apparatus, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) order, the PDCCH order at least comprising the first indication information.

16. The second apparatus of claim 15, wherein the PDCCH order further comprises a random access resource for transmitting the random access message.

17. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 16, wherein the first indication information is transmitted in at least one of the following: a PDCCH different from a PDCCH order, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE), or a MAC random access response (RAR).

18. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 17, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to: transmit, to the first apparatus, second indication information, the second indication information indicating at least one of the following: transmitting a random access message towards an apparatus that is different from the second apparatus, an identity of the third apparatus towards which the random access message is to be transmitted, an indication of whether the third apparatus is a reception-only point, a pathloss configuration identifier, a pathloss loop identifier, a transmission configuration indicator state, a timing advance loop or group identifier, or a power control loop identifier.

19. The second apparatus of claim 18, wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on or according to or associated with at least one of the following: the pathloss configuration identifier, the pathloss loop identifier, the transmission configuration indicator state, the timing advance loop or group identifier, or the power control loop identifier.

20. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 19, wherein the first indication information is associated to or corresponds to the second indication information.

21 . The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 20, wherein the first indication information and/or the second indication information is obtained or carried in downlink control information (DCI) using at least one of the following: a physical random access channel (PRACH) association indicator field, a SSB index, a PRACH mask index, a random access preamble index, a cell indicator field, one or more reserved bits in the DCI, or one or more new bits in the DCI.

22. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 21, wherein the power adjustment factor or the power value for the third apparatus is corresponding to or related to a path-loss between the third apparatus and the first apparatus.

23. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 22, wherein the power adjustment factor comprises: a power value offset or a power scaling factor to be applied to a downlink path-loss between the second apparatus and the first apparatus.

24. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 23, wherein the random access message comprises a physical random access channel (PRACH), and/or wherein the transmission of the random access message is based on contention-free random access or contention-based random access.

25. The second apparatus of any of claims 14 to 24, wherein the first apparatus is or is comprised in a terminal device, and/or wherein the second apparatus is or is comprised in a transmission reception point (TRP), and/or wherein the third apparatus is or is comprised in a reception-only point (RxP).

26. A method comprising: receiving, by a first apparatus and from a second apparatus, first indication information indicating a power adjustment factor or a power value for a third apparatus; determining a transmission power for a random access message based at least in part on the power adjustment factor or the power value; and transmitting the random access message towards the third apparatus based on the determined transmission power.