Method and apparatus for SS block index and timing indication in wireless systems

A base station (BS) comprising:

• a processor configured to generate sets of higher-layer configuration information for a user equipment (UE);
• and
• a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit, to the UE, the sets of higher-layer configuration information and receive, from the UE, reports based on the sets of higher-layer configuration information, wherein:
• when configuring the UE for mobility measurement on synchronization signal (SS) and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) (SS/PBCH) blocks, the processor is configured to generate one of the sets of higher-layer configuration information to indicate a first set of SS/PBCH blocks configured for the mobility measurement for reporting of mobility measurement quantities for the first set of SS/PBCH blocks;
• and
• when configuring the UE for receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), the processor is configured to:
• generate another of the sets of higher-layer configuration information to indicate a second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks configured for the UE, wherein the other set of higher-layer configuration information indicates the second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks to rate match around, wherein the sets of higher layer configuration information for the second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks are based on a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap indicates whether a SS/PBCH block is transmitted or not, and wherein a length of the bitmap equals a maximum number of SS/PBCH blocks of a frequency band;
• and
• transmit, via the transceiver, the PDSCH with rate matching around a SS/PBCH block included in the second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks.

A method of operating a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving, from a base station (BS), sets of higher-layer configuration information;
• based on identifying that the UE is configured for mobility measurement on synchronization signal (SS) and physical broadcast channel (PBCH) (SS/PBCH) blocks:
• identifying, based on one of the sets of higher-layer configuration information, a first set of SS/PBCH blocks configured for the mobility measurement;
• and
• measuring and reporting mobility measurement quantities for the first set of SS/PBCH blocks;
• and
• based on identifying that the UE is configured for receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH):
• identifying, based on another of the sets of higher-layer configuration information, a second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks configured for the UE, wherein the other set of higher-layer configuration information indicates the second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks to rate match around, wherein the sets of higher layer configuration information for the second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks are based on a bitmap, wherein each bit of the bitmap indicates whether a SS/PBCH block is transmitted or not, and wherein a length of the bitmap equals a maximum number of SS/PBCH blocks of a frequency band;
• and
• receiving the PDSCH with rate matching around a SS/PBCH block included in the second set of more than one SS/PBCH blocks.