Regional and narrow band common reference signal (CRS) for user equipment (UE) relays

An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

• at least one processor, and
• memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
• determine a minimum amount of narrowband resources for transmission of a common reference signal (CRS) in a subframe to at least one User Equipment (UE) configured for wideband operation, based, at least in part, on one or more channels to be transmitted in the subframe, wherein the minimum amount of narrowband resources for transmission of the CRS is required by the at least one UE to perform one or more functions relating to the one or more channels and the one or more functions comprise measuring channel quality based on the narrowband resources;
• and
• transmit the CRS using the determined narrowband resources.

A method of wireless communications by a User Equipment (UE) configured for wideband operation, the method comprising:

• receiving a common reference signal (CRS) in a subframe;
• determining a minimum amount of narrowband resources used for transmission of the CRS in the subframe based, at least in part, on one or more functions the UE is to perform with reference to one or more channels received in the subframe, wherein the minimum amount of the narrowband resources for transmission of the CRS is required for performing the one or more functions with reference to the one or more channels and the one or more functions comprise measuring channel quality based on the narrowband resources;
• and
• processing the subframe based on the determination.

An apparatus for wireless communications configured for wideband operation, comprising:

• means for receiving a common reference signal (CRS) in a subframe;
• means for determining an amount of narrowband resources used for transmission of the received CRS in the subframe based, at least in part, on one or more functions a UE is to perform with reference to one or more channels received in the subframe, wherein the minimum amount of the narrowband resources for transmission of the CRS is required for performing the one or more functions with reference to the one or more channels and the one or more functions comprise measuring channel quality based on the narrowband resources;
• and
• means for processing the subframe based on the determination.

An apparatus for wireless communications configured for wideband operation, comprising:

• at least one processor, and
• memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the apparatus to:
• receive a common reference signal (CRS) in a subframe;
• determine a minimum amount of narrowband resources used for transmission of the received CRS in the subframe based, at least in part, on one or more functions a UE is to perform with reference to one or more channels received in the subframe, wherein the minimum amount of the narrowband resources for transmission of the CRS is required for performing the one or more functions with reference to the one or more channels and the one or more functions comprise measuring channel quality based on the narrowband resources;
• and
• process the subframe based on the determination.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon which, when executed by one or more processors, performs an operation for wireless communications by a User Equipment (UE) configured for wideband operation, the operation comprising:

• receiving a common reference signal (CRS) in a subframe;
• determining a minimum amount of narrowband resources used for transmission of the received CRS in the subframe based, at least in part, on one or more functions a UE is to perform with reference to one or more channels received in the subframe, wherein the minimum amount of the narrowband resources for transmission of the CRS is required for performing the one or more functions with reference to the one or more channels and the one or more functions comprise measuring channel quality based on the narrowband resources;
• and
• processing the subframe based on the determination.