Method and apparatus for synchronization signals and PBCH block enhancement

A base station (BS) for transmitting signals in a wireless communication system, the BS comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• determine resources in downlink channels to transmit an enhanced synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (eSS/PBCH) block to a user equipment (UE);
• and
• generate the eSS/PBCH block comprising multiple consecutive symbols based on the determined resources, wherein each of the multiple consecutive symbols includes at least one of an enhanced primary synchronization signal (ePSS), an enhanced secondary synchronization signal (eSSS), or an enhanced PBCH (ePBCH);
• and
• a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit, to the UE, the eSS/PBCH block over the downlink channels, wherein each of multiple consecutive symbols of the eSS/PBCH block is transmitted using a same antenna port for the transceiver.

A method of a user equipment (UE) for receiving signals in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving an enhanced synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (eSS/PBCH) block comprising multiple consecutive symbols over downlink channels, wherein each of the multiple consecutive symbols of the eSS/PBCH block is received from a same antenna port of the BS;
• determining resources in the downlink channels to receive the eSS/PBCH block from the BS;
• and
• determining the eSS/PBCH block comprising the multiple consecutive symbols based on the determined resources, wherein each of the multiple consecutive symbols includes at least one of an enhanced primary synchronization signal (ePSS), an enhanced secondary synchronization signal (eSSS), or an enhanced PBCH (ePBCH).