Method and apparatus for ss/pbch block frequency location indication

A user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the UE comprising:

• a transceiver configured to receive, from a base station (BS), a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block including the PBCH using a first frequency location (GSCN-Current) over downlink channels, GSCN-Current being based on a set of predefined synchronization rasters that is determined by a global synchronization channel number (GSCN);
• and
• a processor operably connected to the transceiver, the processor configured to:
• decode a PBCH included in the received SS/PBCH block;
• identify content of the decoded PBCH;
• determine a configuration for at least one of:
• the SS/PBCH block that is associated with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including scheduling information for remaining minimum system information (RMSI) on the GSCN-Current;
• or
• the SS/PBCH block that is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current;
• and
• determine, when the SS/PBCH block is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, the configuration to include at least one of:
• a frequency range in which no other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the frequency range determined based on the GSCN;
• or
• a second frequency location on which other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the GSCN-Current determined based on the GSCN.

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

• receiving, from a base station (BS), a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block including the PBCH using a first frequency location (GSCN-Current) over downlink channels, GSCN-Current being based on a set of predefined synchronization rasters that is determined by a global synchronization channel number (GSCN);
• decoding a PBCH included in the received SS/PBCH block;
• identifying content of the decoded PBCH;
• determining a configuration for at least one of:
• the SS/PBCH block that is associated with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including scheduling information for remaining minimum system information (RMSI) on the GSCN-Current;
• or
• the SS/PBCH block that is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current;
• and
• determining, when the SS/PBCH block is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, the configuration to include at least one of:
• a frequency range in which no other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the frequency range determined based on the GSCN;
• or
• a second frequency location on which other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the GSCN-Current determined based on the GSCN.