Transmit beamforming

A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a processor in a network entity capable to establish a communication connection with a user equipment (UE), configure the processor to:

• transmit a primary synchronization signal (xPSS) and a beamforming reference signal (xBRS) using transmit beamforming sweeping;
• receive, from the UE, an identifier associated with one or more beamforming patterns for a downlink signal;
• receive, from the user equipment, an uplink transmission of a first physical random access channel (PRACH) transmitted using beamforming sweeping;
• identify at least one beamforming pattern in the uplink transmission of the physical random access channel;
• and
• transmit to the UE a signal comprising an identifier associated with the at least one beamforming pattern in the uplink transmission, wherein the signal comprising the identifier associated with the at least one beamforming pattern in the uplink transmission enables the UE to select a beamforming pattern for uplink transmission;
• repeatedly transmit a primary synchronization signal (xPSS) and a beamforming reference signal (xBRS) using transmit beamforming sweeping on a periodic basis based at least in part on radio resource control (RRC) signaling from a primary cell (PCell);
• receive, from the UE, the first PRACH via a omnidirectional antenna;
• in response to the first PRACH, transmit to the UE a timing advance and a Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) for data transmission from the UE;
• receive, from the user equipment, a physical uplink shared control channel (PUSCH) which contains a request for a beamformed PRACH transmission;
• in response to the request for a beamformed PRACH transmission, transmit a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) to the UE;
• receive, from the user equipment, the beamformed PRACH transmission;
• and
• determine, from the beamformed PRACH transmission, a suitable transmission beam for uplink transmission from the UE.

An apparatus of a user equipment (UE) capable to establish a communication connection with a network entity, the user equipment comprising processing circuitry to:

• receive, from a network entity, a primary synchronization signal (xPSS) and a beamforming reference signal (xBRS) transmitted using beamforming sweeping;
• identify at least one suitable transmission beamforming pattern from the network entity;
• transmit, to the network entity, an identifier associated with the at least one suitable beamforming pattern for a downlink signal;
• transmit, to the network entity, an uplink transmission of a first physical random access channel (PRACH) transmitted using beamforming sweeping;
• receive, from the network entity, a signal comprising an identifier associated with the at least one suitable beamforming pattern in the uplink transmission;
• use the at least one suitable beamforming pattern in subsequent communication with the network entity;
• transmit, to the network entity, the first physical random access channel (PRACH) via a omnidirectional antenna;
• receive, from the network entity, a timing advance and Cell Radio Network Temporary Identifier (C-RNTI) for data transmission from the UE;
• transmit, to the network entity, a physical uplink shared control channel (PUSCH) which contains a request for a beamformed PRACH transmission;
• receive, from the network entity, a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH);
• transmit, to the network entity, the beamformed PRACH transmission;
• and
• receive, from the network entity, a suitable transmission beam for uplink transmission from the UE to the network entity.