Method and apparatus for improving coverage in wireless communication system

1 . A method performed by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

receiving a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) including a MAC control element (CE), the MAC CE indicating at least one target cell configuration and a timing advance value; and

performing a primary cell (PCell) change to a target cell based on the at least one target cell configuration; and

based on the timing advance value being indicated by the MAC CE, transmitting a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the target cell using a configured grant, while skipping a random access procedure towards the target cell.

2 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein the MAC PDU further includes a MAC header that indicates whether a message authentication code for integrity (MAC-I) for the MAC CE is included in the MAC PDU.

3 . The method of claim 2 ,

wherein the MAC-I is determined by a MAC entity of the terminal.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising performing, by a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity of the terminal, an integrity verification for the MAC-I.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a UE information request message; and

transmitting a UE information response message including capability information indicating whether the UE supports processing of the MAC PDU.

6 . A method performed by a base station in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

generating a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) including a MAC control element (CE), the MAC CE indicating at least one target cell configuration and a timing advance value; and

transmitting the MAC PDU including the MAC CE,

wherein the at least one target cell configuration is associated with a target cell to which a primary cell (PCell) change is performed, and

wherein the timing advance value indicated by the MAC CE is associated with a transmission of a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the target cell using a configured grant, while a random access procedure towards the target cell is skipped.

7 . The method of claim 6 ,

wherein the MAC PDU further includes a MAC header that indicates whether a message authentication code for integrity (MAC-I) for the MAC CE is included in the MAC PDU.

8 . The method of claim 7 ,

wherein the MAC-I is generated by a MAC entity of the base station.

9 . The method of claim 7 ,

wherein the MAC-I is generated by a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity of the base station.

10 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

transmitting a UE information request message; and

receiving a UE information response message including capability information indicating whether the UE supports processing of the MAC PDU.

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

a transceiver; and

a controller configured to:

receive, via the transceiver, a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) including a MAC control element (CE), the MAC CE indicating at least one target cell configuration and a timing advance value,

perform a primary cell (PCell) change to a target cell based on the at least one target cell configuration, and

based on the timing advance value being indicated by the MAC CE, transmit, via the transceiver, a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the target cell using a configured grant, while skipping a random access procedure towards the target cell.

12 . The UE of claim 11 ,

wherein the MAC PDU further includes a MAC header that indicates whether a message authentication code for integrity (MAC-I) for the MAC CE is included in the MAC PDU.

13 . The UE of claim 12 ,

wherein the MAC-I is determined by a MAC entity of the terminal.

14 . The UE of claim 12 ,

wherein the controller is further configured to perform, by a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity of the terminal, an integrity verification for the MAC-I.

15 . The UE of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive, via the transceiver, a UE information request message, and

transmit, via the transceiver, a UE information response message including capability information indicating whether the UE supports processing of the MAC PDU.

16 . A base station in a wireless communication system, the base station comprising:

a transceiver; and

a controller configured to:

generate a medium access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU) including a MAC control element (CE), the MAC CE indicating at least one target cell configuration and a timing advance value, and

transmit, via the transceiver, the MAC PDU including the MAC CE,

wherein the at least one target cell configuration is associated with a target cell to which a primary cell (PCell) change is performed, and

wherein the timing advance value indicated by the MAC CE is associated with a transmission of a radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration complete message to the target cell using a configured grant, while a random access procedure towards the target cell is skipped.

17 . The base station of claim 16 ,

wherein the MAC PDU further includes a MAC header that indicates whether a message authentication code for integrity (MAC-I) for the MAC CE is included in the MAC PDU.

18 . The base station of claim 17 ,

wherein the MAC-I is generated by a MAC entity of the base station.

19 . The base station of claim 17 ,

wherein the MAC-I is generated by a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) entity of the base station.

20 . The base station of claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit, via the transceiver, a UE information request message, and

receive, via the transceiver, a UE information response message including capability information indicating whether the UE supports processing of the MAC PDU.