Wireless device, network node and method performed thereby

Abstract

A method, a system (10), a network node (16) and a wireless device (22) for beam selection priority in a wireless communication system are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device (22) is provided. The wireless device (22) is provided with different beam indications for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal. The wireless device (22) includes a processing circuit (84) configured to receive a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, the first signal type having a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular to beam selection priority in wireless communication systems. Background Art

[0002] In wireless communication systems, wireless devices (WDs) operating at high carrier frequencies typically utilize flat panel antennas with high directivity. A WD may be equipped with several such panels, each of which can receive from a limited set of directions. In contrast, WD antennas for lower carrier frequencies are typically omnidirectional, meaning that one antenna can receive transmissions from all directions. One such antenna panel can also receive from multiple directions using a specific beam.

[0003] Motivated by high carrier frequencies, beamforming at base stations is becoming increasingly common in modern communications. Since antenna element size is proportional to the carrier wavelength, antennas become smaller as carrier frequencies become higher, making it possible to deploy antenna arrays with many antenna elements. Such large antenna arrays enable base stations to generate narrow and highly directional beams.

[0004] In a scenario with a highly directional antenna at the base station and an antenna panel at the WD, Figure 1 The situation in may happen. Figure 1 Two directional beams 1 and 2 are shown transmitted by base station 3. In this example, if WD 4 selects the correct Rx beam, then WD 4 can reliably receive the signal. Therefore, base station 3 cannot safely change the transmit beam without notifying WD 4.

[0005] To solve this problem, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has introduced beam indication for New Radio (NR). The beam indication is transmitted from the base station to the WD, and at a certain point in time, the base station and the WD update their beams, for example, from beam 1 to beam 2.

[0006] In 3GPP, beam indication is defined as a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship. The beam indication tells the WD that it can receive the signal in the new beam in the same way that it received the previous reference signal. The WD can assume that the signal in the new beam has the same QCL characteristics as the previous reference signal. In the following, we will use the term beam indication to describe these QCL relationships.

[0007] In addition, the WD may receive different beam indications for different signals. For example, the WD may be provided with one beam indication for receiving a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and another beam indication for a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0008] Currently, a base station can transmit two or more signals to a WD simultaneously. These two signals may come from different directions, and the base station can provide different beam indications to the WD for receiving the two or more signals. Due to its hardware limitations, the WD may not be able to follow the two beam indications. This will result in not being able to receive one or all of the signals with sufficient quality.

[0009] Therefore, there may be a need to provide measures that can ensure that the base station can flexibly transmit one or more signals to the WD, which in turn can receive one or more signals with sufficient signal quality in a reliable and easy manner. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, systems, and devices for beam selection priority in a wireless communication system.

[0011] If the WD is provided with a number of conflicting beam indications for receiving two or more channels, the WD should apply the beam indication based on the priority of the channels. As an example, the base station can make the reception of the PDSCH prior to the measurement of the CSI-RS. If the WD is provided with beam indications for the PDSCH and the CSI-RS and cannot follow both indications simultaneously, the WD can follow the suggestion of the network node and use the beam indication for the PDSCH.

[0012] Beam indications can also be provided for the uplink, where the WD is provided with beams for transmitting uplink signals, such as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) or a sounding reference signal (SRS). If these beam indications are conflicting, the WD will first apply the beam indication to the signal with the highest priority.

[0013] Some embodiments enable the network to ensure that the most important signals can be received without introducing explicit signaling restrictions, which would adversely affect the scheduling flexibility of the network. In addition, since the WD can apply the beam indication according to the priority of the corresponding signal, the WD can receive, in a reliable and easy manner, a signal with a higher priority than another signal or a signal with the highest priority appropriately.

[0014] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device is provided. The wireless device is provided with different beam indications for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal. The wireless device includes a processing circuit configured to receive a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications. The first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal.

[0015] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi - co - location QCL relationship. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, if a wireless device is provided with different beam indications simultaneously, receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving only the first signal of the first signal type with a higher priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) and a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), and receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving a PDCCH with a higher priority than the PDSCH. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, there are only two beam indications.

[0016] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuit is further configured to receive different beam indications, and the received beam indication corresponds to a wireless device provided with different beam indications. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuit is configured to apply the beam indication to a signal type with a higher priority. Receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications is at least partially based on applying the beam indication. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in the wireless communication standard. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are received. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the higher priority of the first signal type is the highest priority.

[0017] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first signal is a downlink signal, and the second signal is another downlink signal. The different beam indications are for downlink signals. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the different beam indications are in conflict. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the different beam indications are in conflict at least partially based on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving the first signal and the second signal.

[0018] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, if simultaneously receiving the first signal and the second signal results in a communication signal quality lower than a predefined threshold, the different beam indications are in conflict. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to monitoring at least one resource associated with the first signal while restricting the monitoring of at least one resource associated with the second signal.

[0019] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a wireless device is provided. The wireless device is provided with different beam indications for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal. A first signal of a first signal type is received on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications. The first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal.

[0020] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, if the wireless device is provided with different beam indications simultaneously, receiving the first signal of the first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving only the first signal of the first signal type with a higher priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). Receiving the first signal of the first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving a PDCCH with a higher priority than the PDSCH. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, there are only two beam indications.

[0021] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are received. Receiving the beam indications corresponds to the wireless device being provided with different beam indications. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the beam indication for the signal type with a higher priority is applied. Receiving the first signal of the first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications is at least partially based on applying the beam indication.

[0022] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are received. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the higher priority of the first signal type is the highest priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal, where the different beam indications are for downlink signals.

[0023] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict based at least in part on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving a first signal and a second signal. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict if simultaneously receiving the first signal and the second signal results in a communication signal quality below a predefined threshold. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to monitoring at least one resource associated with the first signal while restricting monitoring of at least one resource associated with the second signal.

[0024] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a network node is provided. The network node includes processing circuitry configured to provide different beam indications to a wireless device for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal has a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, and wherein the first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal.

[0025] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are provided to the wireless device simultaneously and the wireless device is made to receive only the first signal of the first signal type having a higher priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) at the wireless device, and the PDCCH has a higher priority than the PDSCH. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, there are only two beam indications.

[0026] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the processing circuitry is configured to signal the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the higher priority of the first signal type is the highest priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal. The different beam indications are for downlink signals. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict.

[0027] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict based at least in part on different tuning parameters associated with different beam indications for receiving a first signal and a second signal. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict if receiving the first signal and the second signal simultaneously at a wireless device results in a communication signal quality below a predefined threshold.

[0028] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method performed by a network node is provided. Different beam indications are provided to a wireless device for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal. The first signal has a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications. The first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal.

[0029] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are provided to the wireless device simultaneously and the wireless device is made to receive only the first signal of the first signal type having a higher priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the different beam indications include two beam indications for receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) simultaneously at the wireless device, and the PDCCH has a higher priority than the PDSCH. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, there are only two beam indications. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard.

[0030] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, a processing circuit is configured to signal the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the higher priority of the first signal type is the highest priority. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal. The different beam indications are for downlink signals. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict based at least in part on different tuning parameters associated with different beam indications for receiving the first signal and the second signal. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, different beam indications are in conflict if receiving the first signal and the second signal simultaneously at a wireless device results in a communication signal quality below a predefined threshold.

[0031] According to one or more embodiments, a system including a wireless device and a network node is provided, both the wireless device and the network node having been described above. According to one or more embodiments, a method for the system is provided. According to one or more embodiments, a computer program includes program code which, when executed by a processing circuit, causes the wireless device to perform the above method. According to one or more embodiments, a computer program includes program code which, when executed by a processing circuit, causes the network node to perform the above method. According to one or more embodiments, a computer-readable medium is provided, the computer-readable medium including a computer program of one or more of the above embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and their attendant advantages and features will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] Figure 1 Illustrates multi-beam transmission and reception in a wireless communication system;

[0034] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing an exemplary network architecture of a communication system connected to a host computer via an intermediate network in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the host computer communicating with a wireless device via a network node through at least a partially wireless connection;

[0036] Figure 4 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0037] Figure 5 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0038] Figure 6 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0039] Figure 7 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device for executing a client application at the wireless device;

[0040] Figure 8 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device for receiving user data at the wireless device;

[0041] Figure 9 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device, for receiving user data from the wireless device at the host computer;

[0042] Figure 10 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method implemented in a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the communication system including a host computer, a network node, and a wireless device, for receiving user data at the host computer;

[0043] Figure 11 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 12 is a flowchart of another exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0045] Figure 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0046] Figure 14 is a flowchart of another exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 15 is a flowchart of yet another exemplary process in a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0048] Figure 16 is a flowchart of yet another exemplary process in a network node according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed Description

[0049] Before describing the exemplary embodiments in detail, it should be noted that the embodiments mainly lie in the combination of device components and processing steps related to beam selection priority in a wireless communication system. Therefore, components have been represented in the figures by conventional symbols where appropriate, so as to show only those specific details relevant to understanding the embodiments, lest the present disclosure be obscured by details that would be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art benefiting from the description herein. Throughout this description, like numerals represent like elements.

[0050] As used herein, relational terms such as "first" and "second", "top" and "bottom" may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element, and do not necessarily require or imply any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are also intended to include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises / comprising" and / or "includes / including" when used herein specify the presence of the stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and / or groups thereof.

[0051] In the embodiments described herein, connection terms such as "communicating with" may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be achieved, for example, by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, wireless telecommunication signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that multiple components may interoperate and that modifications and variations are possible for achieving electrical and data communication.

[0052] In some embodiments described herein, the terms "coupled", "connected", etc. may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily direct, and may include wired and / or wireless connections.

[0053] The term "network node" as used herein can be any type of network node included in a radio network, which can further include any one of the following: base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g-node B (gNB), evolved node B (eNB or eNodeB), node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node (such as MSR BS), multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), relay node, donor node controlling the relay, radio access point (AP), transmission point, transmission node, remote radio unit (RRU), remote radio head (RRH), core network node (e.g., mobility management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, coordination node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), external node (e.g., third-party node, node external to the current network), node in a distributed antenna system (DAS), spectrum access system (SAS) node, element management system (EMS), etc. The network node can also include a test device. The term "radio node" as used herein can also be used to denote a wireless device (WD) such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

[0054] In some embodiments, the non-restrictive terms wireless device (WD) or user equipment (UE) can be used interchangeably. The WD herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another WD via radio signals, such as a wireless device (WD). The WD can also be a radio communication device, target device, device-to-device (D2D) WD, machine type WD or WD capable of machine-to-machine communication (M2M), low-cost and / or low-complexity WD, sensor equipped with a WD, tablet, mobile terminal, smart phone, laptop embedded device (LEE), laptop-mounted device (LME), USB dongle, customer premise equipment (CPE), Internet of Things (IoT) device or narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) device, etc.

[0055] Similarly, in some embodiments, the general term "radio network node" is used. It can be any kind of radio network node, which can include any one of the following: base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller RNC, evolved node B (eNB), node B, gNB, multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), relay node, access point, radio access point, remote radio unit (RRU), remote radio head (RRH).

[0056] Note that although terms from a specific wireless system such as, for example, 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) may be used in this disclosure, this should not be taken as limiting the scope of the disclosure to the above-mentioned system. Other wireless systems, including but not limited to Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered in this disclosure.

[0057] Further note that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and / or network nodes. In other words, it is envisioned that the functions of the network nodes and wireless devices described herein are not limited to being performed by a single physical device and can in fact be distributed among several physical devices.

[0058] Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure pertains. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly rigid sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0059] As described above, conventionally, a base station such as a network node may transmit two or more signals to a WD simultaneously. These two signals may come from different directions, and the base station may provide different beam indications to the WD for receiving the two or more signals. Due to its hardware limitations, the WD may not be able to follow the two beam indications. This will result in one or all of the signals not being received with sufficient quality.

[0060] Embodiments described herein overcome these deficiencies by establishing a priority for the type of signal to be transmitted on a beam. The embodiments provide for applying the selected signal type to a transmission on one of a plurality of beams indicated by a network node (NN) to a wireless device (WD). In one embodiment, if the WD is provided with different beam indications simultaneously, the WD will apply the beam indication to the channel / signal with the highest priority. In one or more embodiments, each beam indication is associated with a corresponding signal and / or channel, and each signal and / or channel is associated with a corresponding priority, an example of which is shown in Table 1.

[0061] Table 1

[0062] Channel / Signal Priority (1 is the highest) PDCCH 1 PDSCH 2 CSI-RS 3

[0063] Priorities can be predefined in a wireless communication standard and / or can be signaled to the WD. In another embodiment, if the WD is provided with beam indications for simultaneously receiving a PDSCH (e.g., a first signal and / or channel) and a CSI-RS (e.g., a second signal), the WD applies the beam indications to the PDSCH, such as to receive the PDSCH indicated by the applied beam indications. In this example, the WD can receive only the PDSCH (e.g., a first signal and / or channel) having a higher priority (e.g., 2) than the CSI-RS (e.g., a second signal and / or channel). In one or more embodiments, receiving a first signal (e.g., a signal in a PDCCH) of a first signal type (PDCCH) on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications can optionally correspond to monitoring at least one resource associated with the first signal, while restricting monitoring of at least one resource associated with a second signal (e.g., a signal in a PDSCH). In one or more examples, the signal and / or channel is a downlink signal and / or a downlink channel.

[0064] In one or more embodiments, different beam indications can optionally be in conflict. For example, different beam indications can be in conflict at least partially based on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving a first signal (e.g., a signal in a PDCCH) and a second signal (e.g., a signal in a PDSCH), such that, for example, due to the WD potentially being unable to tune to both for simultaneous reception, the WD may substantially have to tune to either the PDCCH or the PDSCH. In another example, different beam indications are in conflict if simultaneously receiving a first signal (e.g., a signal in a PDCCH) and a second signal (e.g., a CSI-RS) results in a communication signal quality below a predefined threshold.

[0065] In the absence of any beam indications, there are also signals that the WD will receive or transmit, such as a synchronization sequence block (SSB). In this case, the WD will autonomously determine its beam for reception or transmission. Such a channel / signal can be included in a priority list and assigned a priority. An example of such a list is shown in Table 2:

[0066] Table 2

[0067] Channel / Signal Priority (1 is the highest) PDCCH 1 SSB 2 PDSCH 3 CSI-RS 4

[0068] If the WD attempts to receive the PDSCH and perform measurements on the SSB simultaneously, and the WD wishes to apply another beam to receive the SSB compared to the beam that the WD will use to receive the PDSCH, the WD is allowed to select, according to the order in a priority table (such as Table 2), the beam that it autonomously selects to perform measurements on the SSB to also receive the PDSCH. In another embodiment, the beam indication is provided as a QCL indication. Note that Tables 1 and 2 are merely examples, and the implementation is not limited to the arrangements shown in Tables 1 and 2. Other implementations are envisioned such that other priority tables can be established and used.

[0069] Returning to the drawings, where like reference identifiers refer to like elements, Figure 2 FIG. shows a schematic diagram of a communication system according to an embodiment, including a communication system 10, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which includes an access network 12 (such as a radio access network) and a core network 14. The access network 12 includes a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (collectively referred to as the plurality of network nodes 16), such as NB, eNB, gNB, or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (collectively referred to as the coverage areas 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 via a wired or wireless connection 20. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in the coverage area 18a is configured to be wirelessly connected to the corresponding network node 16c, or paged by the corresponding network node 16c. A second WD 22b in the coverage area 18b can be wirelessly connected to the corresponding network node 16a. Although a plurality of WDs 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as the wireless devices 22) are shown in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to cases where the only WD 22 is in the coverage area or where the only WD 22 is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two WDs 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more WDs 22 and network nodes 16.

[0070] The communication system 10 itself can be connected to a host computer 24, which can be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a stand-alone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server, or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 24 can be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or can be operated by or on behalf of a service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 can extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24, or can extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 can be one or a combination of more than one of a public, private, or managed network. The intermediate network 30, if any, can be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 can include two or more subnets (not shown).

[0071] Figure 2 The communication system as a whole is capable of enabling connectivity between one of the connected WDs 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity can be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected WDs 22a, 22b are configured to use the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30, and possibly additional infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries to transmit data and / or signaling via the OTT connection. The OTT connection can be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are not aware of the routing of the uplink and downlink communications. For example, the network node 16 may not be informed or need to be informed about the past routing of incoming downlink communications having data originating from the host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to the connected WD 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 does not need to know the future routing of outgoing uplink communications originating from the WD 22a towards the host computer 24.

[0072] The network node 16 is configured to include a beam selection unit 32, which is configured to select a first transmission beam from a plurality of transmission beams on which to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority. The wireless device 22 is configured to include a radio interface 82, which is configured to receive a signal of a signal type on a beam, the signal type having the highest priority in an ordered list of signal types stored at the WD.

[0073] According to an embodiment, reference will now be made to Figure 2Describe an example implementation of the WD 22, network node 16, and host computer 24 discussed in the previous paragraphs. In the communication system 10, the host computer 24 includes hardware (HW) 38, which includes a communication interface 40 configured to establish and maintain a wired or wireless connection with interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 also includes a processing circuit 42, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. The processing circuit 42 may include a processor 44 and a memory 46. In particular, in addition to traditional processors and memories, the processing circuit 42 may include integrated circuits for processing and / or control, such as one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (field programmable gate arrays) and / or ASICs (application specific integrated circuits) suitable for executing instructions. The processor 44 may also be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 46, which may include any type of volatile or non-volatile memory, such as cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (random access memory) and / or ROM (read only memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (erasable programmable read only memory).

[0074] The processing circuit 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein, and / or configured to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by the host computer 24. The processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing the functions of the host computer 24 described herein. The host computer 24 includes a memory 46 configured to store data, programming software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and / or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and / or the processing circuit 42, cause the processor 44 and / or the processing circuit 42 to perform the processes described herein for the host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

[0075] The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuit 42. The software 48 includes the host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide services to a remote user, such as the WD 22 connected via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the WD 22 and the host computer 24. When providing services to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data transmitted using the OTT connection 52. "User data" may be the data and information described herein for implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured to provide control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuit 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to, and / or receive from the network node 16 and / or the wireless device 22.

[0076] The communication system 10 also includes a network node 16, which is provided in the telecommunication system 10 and includes hardware 58 that enables it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the WD 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 with a wired or wireless connection for establishing and maintaining interfaces to different communication devices of the communication system 10, and a radio interface 62 for establishing and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 to the WD 22 located in the coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate the connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct, or it may be through the core network 14 of the communication system 10 and / or through one or more intermediate networks 30 external to the communication system 10.

[0077] In the illustrated embodiment, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes a processing circuit 68. The processing circuit 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to conventional processors and memories, the processing circuit 68 may include integrated circuits for processing and / or control, such as, for example, one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) suitable for executing instructions. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 72, which may include any type of volatile or non-volatile memory, such as, for example, cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

[0078] Therefore, the network node 16 also has software 74, which is internally stored in, for example, the memory 72, or stored in an external memory (e.g., a database) accessible to the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 can be executable by the processing circuit 68. The processing circuit 68 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein, and / or configured to cause such methods and / or processes to be executed, for example, by the network node 16. The processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing the functions of the network node 16 described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programming software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 can include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and / or the processing circuit 68, cause the processor 70 and / or the processing circuit 68 to execute the processes described herein for the network node 16. For example, the processing circuit 68 of the network node 16 can include a beam selection unit 32, which is configured to select a first transmission beam from a plurality of transmission beams on which to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority.

[0079] The communication system 10 further includes the WD 22 that has been mentioned. The WD 22 can have hardware 80, which can include a radio interface 82 configured to establish and maintain a wireless connection 64 with the network node 16 serving the coverage area 18 where the WD 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 can be formed as or can include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers.

[0080] The hardware 80 of the WD 22 can also include a processing circuit 84. The processing circuit 84 can include a processor 86 and a memory 88. In particular, in addition to conventional processors and memories, the processing circuit 84 can include integrated circuits for processing and / or control, such as one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) suitable for executing instructions. The processor 84 can also be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 88, which can include any type of volatile or non-volatile memory, such as cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

[0081] Accordingly, WD 22 further includes software 90, which is stored in a memory 88, such as at WD 22, or in an external memory (e.g., a database) accessible by WD 22. The software 90 can be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 can include a client application 92. The client application 92 can be operable to provide services to a human or non-human user via WD22 with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, a running host application 50 can communicate with a running client application 92 via an OTT connection 52 that terminates at WD 22 and the host computer 24. When providing services to a user, the client application 92 can receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 can transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 can interact with the user to generate the user data it provides.

[0082] The processing circuitry 84 can be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein, and / or configured to cause such methods and / or processes to be performed, for example, by WD 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing the functions of WD 22 described herein. WD 22 includes a memory 88, which is configured to store data, programming software code, and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and / or the client application 92 can include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and / or the processing circuitry 84, cause the processor 86 and / or the processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described herein for WD 22. The radio interface 82 of WD 22 can be configured to receive signals of a signal type on a beam, which signal type has the highest priority in an ordered list of signal types stored at WD. For example, the processing circuitry 84 can include a radio interface unit 85, which is configured to receive a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, such as the first signal type having a higher priority than a second signal type of a second signal.

[0083] In some embodiments, the internal workings of the network node 16, WD 22, and the host computer 24 can be as Figure 3 shown, and independently, the surrounding network topology can be Figure 2 the network topology of.

[0084] In Figure 3In the figure, the OTT connection 52 has been abstractly drawn to show the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16 without explicitly mentioning any intermediate devices and the exact routing of messages through these devices. The network infrastructure can determine the routing, and it can be configured to hide the routing from the WD 22 or from the service provider operating the host computer 24 or from both. When the OTT connection 52 is active, the network infrastructure can further make decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., based on network reconfiguration or load balancing considerations).

[0085] The wireless connection 64 between the WD 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of the OTT services provided to the WD 22 using the OTT connection 52, where the wireless connection 64 forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments can improve the data rate, latency, and / or power consumption, and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user wait time, relaxed file size limitations, better responsiveness, extended battery life, etc.

[0086] In some embodiments, a measurement process may be provided for the purpose of monitoring the data rate, latency, and other factors improved by one or more embodiments. There may also be optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and the WD 22 in response to changes in the measurement results. The measurement process and / or network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the WD 22 or in both. In an embodiment, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or associated with the communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement process by providing values of the monitored quantities illustrated above or by providing other physical quantity values from which the software 48, 90 can calculate or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguration of the OTT connection 52 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing, etc.; the reconfiguration need not affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such processes and functionality may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, the measurement may involve proprietary WD signaling to facilitate the measurement by the host computer 24 of throughput, propagation time, latency, etc. In some embodiments, the measurement may be implemented in a scenario where the software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted using the OTT connection 52 while it monitors the propagation time, errors, etc., and the messages are in particular empty messages or "dummy" messages.

[0087] Although Figure 2 and Figure 3Shows various "units", such as beam selection unit 32 within respective processors, but it is contemplated that these units can be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units can be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

[0088] Figure 4 Is a block diagram of an alternative host computer 24, which can be implemented at least in part by software modules containing software that is executable by a processor to perform the functions described herein. The host computer 24 includes a communication interface module 41 configured to establish and maintain a wired or wireless connection to interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 10. A memory module 47 is configured to store data, programming software code, and / or other information described herein.

[0089] Figure 5 Is a block diagram of an alternative network node 16, which can be implemented at least in part by software modules containing software that is executable by a processor to perform the functions described herein. The network node 16 includes a radio interface module 63 configured to establish and maintain at least a wireless connection 64 to the WD 22 located in the coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The network node 16 further includes a communication interface module 61 configured to establish and maintain a wired or wireless connection to interfaces of different communication devices of the communication system 10. The communication interface module 61 can also be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. A memory module 73 is configured to store data, programming software code, and / or other information described herein. A beam selection module 33 is configured to select a first transmission beam among a plurality of transmission beams on which to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority.

[0090] Figure 6 Is a block diagram of an alternative wireless device 22, which can be implemented at least in part by software modules containing software that is executable by a processor to perform the functions described herein. The WD 22 includes a radio interface module 83 configured to establish and maintain a wireless connection 64 to the network node 16 serving the coverage area 18 in which the WD 22 is currently located. A memory module 89 is configured to store data, programming software code, and / or other information described herein. The radio interface module 83 is configured to receive a signal of a signal type on a beam that has the highest priority in an ordered list of signal types stored at the WD.

[0091] Figure 7 Is shown in a communication system according to one embodiment, such as, for exampleFigure 2 and Figure 3 The flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system (such as the communication system), where the communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figure 3 In the first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block S100). In an optional sub-step of the first step, the host computer 24 provides user data by executing a host application (such as, for example, host application 50) (block S102). In the second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission to carry the user data to the WD 22 (block S104). In an optional third step, according to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 16 transmits the user data that was carried in the transmission initiated by the host computer 24 to the WD 22 (block S106). In an optional fourth step, the WD 22 executes a client application associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24, such as, for example, client application 114 (block S108).

[0092] Figure 8 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system (such as, for example Figure 2 the communication system), where the communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3 In an optional first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (block S110). In an optional sub-step (not shown), the host computer 24 provides user data by executing a host application (such as, for example, host application 50). In the second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission to carry the user data to the WD 22 (block S112). According to the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the transmission may pass through the network node 16. In an optional third step, the WD 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (block S114).

[0093] Figure 9 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a communication system (such as, for example Figure 2 the communication system), where the communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a WD 22, which may be those described with reference to Figure 2 and Figure 3Those described. In an optional first step of the method, WD 22 receives input data provided by host computer 24 (block S116). In an optional sub-step of the first step, WD 22 executes client application 114 that provides user data in response to the received input data provided by host computer 24 (block S118). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, WD 22 provides user data (block S120). In an optional sub-step of the second step, WD 22 provides user data by executing a client application (such as, for example, client application 114) (block S122). When providing user data, the executed client application 114 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the particular manner in which user data is provided, in an optional third sub-step, WD 22 may initiate transmission of the user data to host computer 24 (block S124). In a fourth step of the method, host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from WD 22 in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (block S126).

[0094] Figure 10 is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary method implemented in a communication system (such as, for example Figure 2 the communication system). The communication system may include host computer 24, network node 16, and WD 22, which may be those referred to Figure 2 and Figure 3 described. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, network node 16 receives user data from WD 22 (block S128). In an optional second step, network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to host computer 24 (block S130). In a third step, host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by network node 16 (block S132).

[0095] Figure 11is a flowchart of an exemplary process in network node 16 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks and / or functions performed by network node 16 may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16, such as by beam selection unit 32 in processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, etc. The process includes selecting, via beam selection module 33, a first transmission beam from among a plurality of transmission beams on which to transmit a signal type having the highest reception priority (block S134). The process further includes transmitting, via radio interface 62, a signal of the signal type having the highest reception priority using the selected first transmission beam (block S136). In some embodiments, the network node is further configured to indicate to the WD the signal type having the highest priority and is configured to indicate to the WD the selected first transmission beam and transmit a signal of the signal type having the highest priority using the first transmission beam. This indication of the selected first beam may be provided as a quasi co-location indication. In some embodiments, the network node is further configured to select a second transmission beam on which to transmit a signal type having the second highest reception priority. In some embodiments, the network node generates a plurality of signal types including the signal type having the highest reception priority, and wherein the network node is further configured to establish a priority order for each of the plurality of signal types.

[0096] Figure 12 is a flowchart of another exemplary process in a network node according to the principles of the present disclosure. One or more blocks and / or functions performed by network node 16 may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16, such as by beam selection unit 32 in processing circuitry 68, processor 70, radio interface 62, etc. In one or more embodiments, network node 16 is configured to provide (block S138), such as via one or more of processing circuitry 68, processor 70, and radio interface 62, different beam indications to wireless device 22 for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal has a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications and wherein the first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal.

[0097] According to one or more embodiments, each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi co-location QCL relationship. According to one or more embodiments, different beam indications are provided to wireless device 22 simultaneously and the wireless device 22 is made to receive only the first signal of the first signal type having a higher priority. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel PDCCH and a physical downlink shared channel PDSCH at the wireless device, and the PDCCH has a higher priority than the PDSCH.

[0098] According to one or more embodiments, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard. According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuit 68 is configured to signal the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal. According to one or more embodiments, the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal, and different beam indications are for the downlink signals. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications are in conflict. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications are in conflict at least in part based on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving the first signal and the second signal. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications are in conflict if receiving the first signal and the second signal simultaneously at the wireless device results in a communication signal quality lower than a predefined threshold.

[0099] Figure 13 is a flowchart of an exemplary process in the wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks and / or functions performed by the wireless device 22 may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as by the radio interface unit 85, the processing circuit 84, the processor 86, the radio interface 82, etc. The process includes storing an ordered list of prioritized signal types (block S140). The process further includes receiving, via the radio interface 82, a signal of a signal type that has the highest priority in the ordered list of signal types stored at the WD 22 on a beam (block S142). Optionally, the WD 22 may also be configured to receive a beam indication from a network node, the beam indication indicating the beam through which the WD 22 receives the signal. In some embodiments, if the WD 22 receives indications for more than one beam at a time, the WD 22 is configured to apply the signal with the highest priority to the first of the more than one beams. In some embodiments, the signal with the highest priority is the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH. In some embodiments, if the WD 22 receives beam indications for simultaneously receiving the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH and the channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, the WD applies the beam indication to the PDSCH. In some embodiments, the ordered list of signal types includes SSB.

[0100] Figure 14is a flowchart of another exemplary process in the wireless device 22 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. One or more of the blocks and / or functions performed by the wireless device 22 may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as by the radio interface unit 85, the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, the radio interface 82, etc. In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 is configured to receive (block S144) a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, such as via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82, where the first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of a second signal.

[0101] According to one or more embodiments, each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship. According to one or more embodiments, if the wireless device is provided with different beam indications simultaneously, receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving only the first signal of the first signal type having a higher priority. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), and receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving a PDCCH having a higher priority than the PDSCH.

[0102] According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is further configured to receive different beam indications, where receiving the beam indications corresponds to the wireless device 22 being provided with different beam indications. According to one or more embodiments, the processing circuitry 68 is configured to apply the beam indications to the signal type having the highest priority, where receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications is at least partially based on applying the beam indications. According to one or more embodiments, the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard.

[0103] According to one or more embodiments, corresponding priorities of signal types of a first signal and a second signal are received. According to one or more embodiments, the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal, where different beam indications are for the downlink signals. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications are in conflict. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications are in conflict at least in part based on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving the first signal and the second signal. According to one or more embodiments, the different beam indications are in conflict if receiving the first signal and the second signal simultaneously results in a communication signal quality below a predefined threshold. According to one or more embodiments, receiving the first signal of the first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to monitoring at least one resource associated with the first signal while restricting monitoring of at least one resource associated with the second signal.

[0104] Figure 15 is a flowchart of yet another exemplary process in the wireless device 22 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. One or more blocks and / or functions performed by the wireless device 22 may be performed by one or more elements of the wireless device 22, such as by the radio interface unit 85, the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, the radio interface 82, and the like. In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 receives (block S144) different beam indications, as described herein, such as via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82. For example, in one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 receives different beam indications, such as via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82, where the received beam indication corresponds to the wireless device 22 being provided with the different beam indications, as described herein.

[0105] In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 applies (block S148) beam indication to a signal type having a higher priority, such as described herein, via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82. For example, in one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 applies beam indication to a signal type having a higher priority via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82, wherein receiving a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications is at least partially based on applying the beam indication, such as described herein. In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 monitors (block S150) at least one resource associated with a first signal having a higher priority, such as described herein. For example, in one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 monitors at least one resource associated with the first signal via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82 while restricting monitoring of at least one resource associated with a second signal, such as described herein.

[0106] In one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 receives (block S152) a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, such as described herein, via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82. For example, in one or more embodiments, the wireless device 22 receives a first signal of a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications via one or more of the processing circuitry 84, the processor 86, and the radio interface 82, wherein the first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of a second signal, such as described herein.

[0107] Figure 16 It is a flowchart of yet another exemplary process in the network node 16 in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure. One or more blocks and / or functions performed by the network node 16 may be performed by one or more elements of the network node 16, such as by the beam selection unit 32 in the processing circuitry 68, the processor 70, the radio interface 62, etc. In one or more embodiments, the network node 16 optionally signals (block S154) the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal, such as described herein, via one or more of the processing circuitry 68, the processor 70, and the radio interface 62.

[0108] In one or more embodiments, a network node 16 provides (block S156), via one or more of processing circuitry 68, a processor 70, and a radio interface 62, different beam indications to a wireless device for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal, as described herein. For example, in one or more embodiments, a network node 16 provides, via one or more of processing circuitry 68, a processor 70, and a radio interface 62, different beam indications to a wireless device (22) for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal has a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, and the first signal type has a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal, as described herein. In one or more embodiments, a network node 16 transmits (block S158), via one or more of processing circuitry 68, a processor 70, and a radio interface 62, the first signal and the second signal to the wireless device, as described herein.

[0109] Example

[0110] Example A1. A network node 16, configured to communicate with a wireless device 22 (WD 22), the network node 16 configured to and / or including a radio interface 62 and / or including processing circuitry 68, is configured to:

[0111] Select a first transmission beam from a plurality of transmission beams on which to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority; and

[0112] Use the selected first transmission beam to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority.

[0113] Example A2. The network node 16 of Example A1, wherein the network node 16 is further configured to indicate to the WD 22 the signal type having the highest priority, and is configured to indicate to the WD 22 the selected first transmission beam, using the transmission beam to transmit a signal of the signal type having the highest priority.

[0114] Example A3. The network node of Example A2, wherein the indication of the selected first transmission beam is provided as a quasi - co - located QCL indication.

[0115] Example A4. The network node 16 of Example A1, wherein the network node 16 is further configured to select a second transmission beam on which to transmit a signal of a signal type having the second - highest reception priority.

[0116] Example A5. The network node 16 of Example A1, wherein the network node 16 generates a plurality of signal types including the signal type having the highest reception priority, and wherein the network node 16 is further configured to establish a priority order for each of the plurality of signals.

[0117] Example A6. The network node 16 of Example A5, where the priority order of signal types is the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) with the highest priority, the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) with the second highest priority, and the Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS) with a priority lower than that of the PDSCH.

[0118] Example B1. The communication system 10 including a host computer 24, where the host computer 24 includes:

[0119] A processing circuit 42 configured to provide user data; and

[0120] A communication interface 40 configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a wireless device 22 (WD22).

[0121] The cellular network includes a network node 16 having a radio interface 62 and a processing circuit 68, where the network node 16 is configured to:

[0122] Select a first transmission beam from a plurality of transmission beams and transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority thereon; and

[0123] Use the selected first transmission beam to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority.

[0124] Example B2. The communication system 10 of Example B1, further including a network node 16.

[0125] Example B3. The communication system 10 of Example B2, further including a WD 22, where the WD 22 is configured to communicate with the network node 16.

[0126] Example B4. The communication system 10 of Example B3, where:

[0127] The processing circuit 68 of the host computer 24 is configured to execute a host application 50 to provide user data; and the WD 22 includes a processing circuit configured to execute a client application 92 associated with the host application 50.

[0128] Example C1. A method implemented in a network node 16, the method including:

[0129] Select a first transmission beam from a plurality of transmission beams and transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority thereon; and use the selected first transmission beam to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority.

[0130] Example C2. The method of Example C1 further includes instructing WD 22 of the signal type with the highest priority, and instructing WD 22 of the selected first transmission beam, and using the first transmission beam to transmit a signal of the signal type with the highest priority.

[0131] Example C3. The method of Example C2, wherein the indication of the selected first transmission beam is provided as a quasi - co - located QCL indication.

[0132] Example C4. The method of Example C1 further includes: selecting a second transmission beam and transmitting a signal of the signal type with the second - highest reception priority on the second transmission beam.

[0133] Example C5. The method of Example C1 further includes establishing a priority order for each of a plurality of signal types, the plurality of signal types including the signal type with the highest reception priority.

[0134] Example C6. The method of Example C5, wherein the priority order of the signal types is the physical downlink control channel PDCCH with the highest priority, the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH with the second - highest priority, and the channel state information reference signal CSI - RS with a priority lower than that of PDSCH.

[0135] Example D1. A method implemented in a communication system 10 including a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a wireless device 22 (WD 22), the method including:

[0136] At the host computer 24, providing user data; and

[0137] At the host computer 24, initiating a transmission of the user data to the WD22 via a cellular network including the network node 16, wherein the network node 16 is configured to:

[0138] Select a first transmission beam from a plurality of transmission beams and transmit a signal of the signal type with the highest reception priority thereon; and

[0139] Use the selected first transmission beam to transmit a signal of the signal type with the highest reception priority.

[0140] Example D2. The method of Example D1 further includes: at the network node 16, transmitting the user data.

[0141] Example D3. The method of Example D2, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer 24 by executing a host application 50, and the method further includes: at the WD 22, executing a client application 92 associated with the host application 50.

[0142] Example E1. The wireless device 22 (WD 22) is configured to communicate with the network node 16. The WD 22 is configured to and / or includes a radio interface 82 and / or a processing circuit 84, and is configured to:

[0143] Store an ordered list of prioritized signal types; and

[0144] Receive a signal of a signal type on a beam, where the signal type has the highest priority in the ordered list of prioritized signal types stored at the WD 22.

[0145] Example E2. The WD 22 of Example E1, wherein the WD 22 is further configured to receive a beam indication from the network node 16, and the beam indication indicates the beam through which the WD 22 receives the signal.

[0146] Example E3. The WD 22 of Example E2, wherein if the WD 22 receives indications of more than one beam at a time, the WD 22 is configured to apply the signal with the highest priority to the first of the more than one beam.

[0147] Example E4. The WD 22 of Example E1, wherein the signal with the highest priority is the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH.

[0148] Example E5. The WD 22 of Example E1, wherein if the WD 22 receives a beam indication for simultaneously receiving the physical downlink shared channel PDSCH and the channel state information reference signal CSI-RS, the WD 22 applies the beam indication to the PDSCH.

[0149] Example E6. The WD 22 of Example E1, wherein the ordered list of signal types includes the synchronization sequence block SSB.

[0150] Example F1. A communication system 10 including a host computer 24, the host computer 24 including:

[0151] A processing circuit 42, configured to provide user data; and

[0152] A communication interface 40, configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a wireless device 22 (WD22),

[0153] The WD 22 is configured to and / or includes a radio interface 82 and / or a processing circuit 84, and is configured to:

[0154] Store an ordered list of prioritized signal types; and

[0155] Receive a signal of a signal type on the indicated beam, where the signal type has the highest priority in the ordered list of signal types stored at the WD 22.

[0156] Example F2. The communication system of Example F1 further includes WD 22.

[0157] Example F3. The communication system of Example F2, wherein the cellular network further includes a network node configured to communicate with WD 22.

[0158] Example F4. The communication system of Example F2 or F3, wherein:

[0159] The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 is configured to execute a host application 50 to provide user data; and the processing circuitry 84 of the WD is configured to execute a client application 92 associated with the host application 50.

[0160] Example G1. A method implemented in a wireless device 22 (WD 22), the method comprising:

[0161] Storing an ordered list of prioritized signal types; and

[0162] Receiving a signal of a signal type on the indicated beam, the signal type having the highest priority in the ordered list of signal types stored at WD 22.

[0163] Example G2. The method of Example G1, further comprising receiving a beam indication from a network node 16, the beam indication indicating the beam through which WD22 receives the signal.

[0164] Example G3. The method of Example G2, wherein if WD 22 receives indications of more than one beam at a time, WD 22 applies the signal with the highest priority to the first of the more than one beam.

[0165] Embodiment G4. The method of Example G1, wherein the signal with the highest priority is a Physical Downlink Shared Channel PDSCH.

[0166] Embodiment G5. The method of Example G1, wherein if WD 22 receives a beam indication for simultaneously receiving a Physical Downlink Shared Channel PDSCH and a Channel State Information Reference Signal CSI-RS, WD 22 applies the beam indication to the PDSCH.

[0167] Example G6. The method of Example G1, wherein the ordered list of signal types includes a Synchronization Sequence Block SSB.

[0168] Example H1. A method implemented in a communication system 10 including a host computer 24, a network node 16, and a wireless device 22 (WD 22), the method comprising:

[0169] At the host 24, providing user data; and

[0170] At host 24, a transmission of user data to WD 22 is initiated via a cellular network including network node 16, where WD 22

[0171] stores an ordered list of prioritized signal types; and

[0172] receives a signal of a signal type on the indicated beam, the signal type having the highest priority in the ordered list of signal types stored at WD 22.

[0173] The method of Example H2. Example 35 further includes: at WD 22, receiving user data from network node 16.

[0174] Example I1. Network node 16 includes:

[0175] a storage module 73 configured to store a plurality of beam indications; and

[0176] a beam selection module 33 configured to select a first transmission beam from among a plurality of transmission beams through which to transmit a signal of a signal type having the highest reception priority.

[0177] Example I2. Wireless device 22 includes:

[0178] a memory module 89 configured to store an ordered list of prioritized signal types

[0179] a radio interface module 83 configured to receive a signal of a signal type on a beam, the signal type having the highest priority in the ordered list of signal types stored at WD 22.

[0180] As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, and / or a computer program product. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment, or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects, all of which are generally referred to herein as a "circuit" or "module". Additionally, the present disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer-usable storage medium having computer-executable program code embodied in the medium. Any suitable tangible computer-readable medium may be utilized, including a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an electronic storage device, an optical storage device, or a magnetic storage device.

[0181] Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowcharts illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, apparatus, and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowcharts illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowcharts illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (thereby creating a special purpose computer), a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or one or more block diagrams blocks.

[0182] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or one or more block diagrams blocks.

[0183] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or one or more block diagrams blocks.

[0184] It should be understood that the functions / acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, depending on the functionality / act involved, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order. Although some of the figures in the communication paths include arrows to show a primary direction of communication, it should be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to that depicted by the arrows.

[0185] The computer program code for performing the operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as or C++. However, the computer program code for performing the operations of the present disclosure may also be written in a conventional procedural programming language, such as the "C" programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the remote computer may establish a connection to an external computer (e.g., through the Internet using an Internet service provider).

[0186] In combination with the above description and the accompanying drawings, many different embodiments have been disclosed herein. It will be understood that a literal description and illustration of every combination and sub-combination of these embodiments would be overly repetitive and confusing. Accordingly, all embodiments may be combined in any manner and / or combination, and this specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and sub-combinations of the embodiments described herein, and the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims for any such combination or sub-combination.

[0187] Those skilled in the art will understand that the embodiments described herein are not limited to the embodiments specifically shown and described above. Additionally, unless the contrary is mentioned above, it should be noted that all of the figures in the drawings are not drawn to scale. Various modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings.

Claims

1. A wireless device (22), the wireless device (22) being provided with different beam indications for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal from a network node (16), the wireless device (22) comprising: processing circuitry (84) configured to receive the first signal of a first signal type from the network node (16) on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, the first signal type having a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal; wherein if the wireless device (22) is provided with the different beam indications simultaneously, receiving the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving only the first signal of the first signal type having the higher priority.

2. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1, wherein each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi-co-location (QCL) relationship.

3. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) from the network node (16); and receiving the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving the PDCCH having a higher priority than the PDSCH from the network node (16).

4. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing circuitry (84) is further configured to receive the different beam indications from the network node (16), the receiving of the beam indications corresponding to the wireless device (22) being provided with different beam indications.

5. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the processing circuitry (84) is configured to apply the beam indication to the signal type having the higher priority, and receiving the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications is at least partially based on applying the beam indication.

6. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard.

7. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are received from the network node (16).

8. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal, and the different beam indications are for the downlink signals.

9. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict.

10. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict, at least in part based on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving the first signal and the second signal.

11. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict if receiving the first signal and the second signal simultaneously results in a communication signal quality lower than a predefined threshold.

12. The wireless device (22) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein receiving the first signal of the first signal type on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to monitoring at least one resource associated with the first signal, while restricting monitoring of at least one resource associated with the second signal.

13. A method performed by a wireless device (22), the wireless device (22) being provided with different beam indications for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal from a network node (16), the method comprising: Receiving (S144) the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications, the first signal type having a higher priority than the second signal type of the second signal; Wherein if the wireless device is provided with the different beam indications simultaneously, receiving (S144) the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving only the first signal of the first signal type having the higher priority.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi - co - location (QCL) relationship.

15. The method according to any one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) from the network node (16); and Receiving (S144) the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to receiving the PDCCH having a higher priority than the PDSCH from the network node (16).

16. The method according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising receiving (S146) the different beam indications from the network node (16), the receiving (S146) the beam indications corresponding to the wireless device (22) being provided with different beam indications.

17. The method according to claim 13 or 14, further comprising applying the beam indications to (S148) the signal type having the higher priority, and receiving (S152) the first signal of the first signal type from the network node (16) on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications is at least in part based on applying the beam indications.

18. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein corresponding priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard.

19. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein corresponding priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are received from the network node (16).

20. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the first signal is a downlink signal, and the second signal is another downlink signal, and the different beam indication is for the downlink signal.

21. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict.

22. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict at least partially based on different tuning parameters associated with the different beam indications for receiving the first signal and the second signal from the network node (16).

23. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict if receiving the first signal and the second signal from the network node (16) simultaneously results in a communication signal quality lower than a predefined threshold.

24. The method according to claim 13 or 14, wherein receiving (S144) the first signal of the first signal type on the beam indicated by one of the beam indications corresponds to monitoring (S150) at least one resource associated with the first signal, while restricting monitoring of at least one resource associated with the second signal.

25. A network node (16), comprising: a processing circuit (68), configured to: provide different beam indications to a wireless device (22) for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal from the network node (16), the first signal having a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, and the first signal type having a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal; wherein the different beam indications are provided to the wireless device (22) simultaneously and the wireless device (22) is made to receive only the first signal of the first signal type having the higher priority from the network node (16).

26. The network node (16) according to claim 25, wherein each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi - co - location (QCL) relationship.

27. The network node (16) according to any one of claims 25 or 26, wherein the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) at the wireless device (22) from the network node (16); and the PDCCH has a higher priority than the PDSCH.

28. The network node (16) according to claim 25 or 26, wherein corresponding priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard.

29. The network node (16) according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the processing circuit (68) is configured to signal to the wireless device (22) the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal.

30. The network node (16) according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal, and the different beam indications are for the downlink signals.

31. The network node (16) according to claim 25 or 26, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict.

32. A method performed by a network node (16), comprising: providing (S138) different beam indications to a wireless device (22) for receiving at least a first signal and a second signal from the network node (16), the first signal having a first signal type on a beam indicated by one of the beam indications, the first signal type having a higher priority than a second signal type of the second signal; wherein the different beam indications are provided to the wireless device (22) simultaneously and the wireless device (22) is made to receive only the first signal of the first signal type having the higher priority from the network node (16).

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein each beam indication indicates a spatial quasi co-location (QCL) relationship.

34. The method according to any one of claims 32 or 33, wherein the different beam indications include two beam indications for simultaneously receiving a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) at the wireless device (22) from the network node (16); and the PDCCH has a higher priority than the PDSCH.

35. The method according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal are predefined in a wireless communication standard.

36. The method according to claim 32 or 33, further comprising signaling (S154) to the wireless device (22) the respective priorities of the signal types of the first signal and the second signal.

37. The method according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the first signal is a downlink signal and the second signal is another downlink signal, and the different beam indications are for the downlink signals.

38. The method according to claim 32 or 33, wherein the different beam indications are in conflict.

39. A system comprising a wireless device (22) according to any one of claims 1 to 12 and a network node (16) according to any one of claims 25 to 31.

40. A method in a system comprising a wireless device (22) and a network node (16), the method comprising the steps of any one of claims 13 - 24 and 32 - 38.

41. A computer program product comprising program code to be executed by a processing circuit (84) of a wireless device (22), whereby execution of the program code causes the wireless device (22) to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

42. A computer program product comprising program code to be executed by a processing circuit (68) of a network node (16), whereby execution of the program code causes the network node (16) to perform the method according to any one of claims 32 to 38.

43. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon program code to be executed by a processing circuit (84) of a wireless device (22), whereby execution of the program code causes the wireless device (22) to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

44. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon program code to be executed by a processing circuit (68) of a network node (16), whereby execution of the program code causes the network node (16) to perform the method according to any one of claims 32 to 38.

45. A wireless device (22) comprising: a processing circuit (84), and a memory containing program code executable by the processing circuit (84), wherein execution of the program code by the processing circuit (84) causes the wireless device (22) to perform the method according to any one of claims 13 to 24.

46. A network node (16) comprising: a processing circuit (68), and a memory containing program code executable by the processing circuit (68), wherein execution of the program code by the processing circuit (68) causes the network node (16) to perform the method according to any one of claims 32 to 38.

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