Channel structure for a cellular internet of things system

An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• means for receiving a first synchronization signal from a first cell on a common synchronization channel of the first cell, wherein the first synchronization signal is a waveform known to the UE prior to receiving the first synchronization signal;
• means for estimating a symbol time of the first synchronization signal;
• means for determining a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) symbol time of the first cell based on the estimated symbol time of the first synchronization signal;
• means for receiving a PBCH signal based at least in part on the PBCH symbol time;
• and
• means for determining a physical layer identification (ID) of the first cell based on the received PBCH signal.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a processor;
• memory in electronic communication with the processor;
• and
• instructions stored in the memory;
• wherein the instructions are executable by the processor to:
• receive a first synchronization signal from a first cell on a common synchronization channel of the first cell, wherein the first synchronization signal is a waveform known to the UE prior to receiving the first synchronization signal;
• estimate a symbol time of the first synchronization signal;
• determine a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) symbol time of the first cell based on the estimated symbol time of the first synchronization signal;
• receive a PBCH signal based at least in part on the PBCH symbol time;
• and
• determine a physical layer identification (ID) of the first cell based on the received PBCH signal.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), the code comprising instructions executable to:

• receive a first synchronization signal from a first cell on a common synchronization channel of the first cell, wherein the first synchronization signal is a waveform known to the UE prior to receiving the first synchronization signal;
• estimate a symbol time of the first synchronization signal;
• determine a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) symbol time of the first cell based on the estimated symbol time of the first synchronization signal;
• receive a PBCH signal based at least in part on the PBCH symbol time;
• and
• determine a physical layer identification (ID) of the first cell based on the received PBCH signal.