Antenna configuration selection for user equipment

Abstract

Wireless communications systems and methods related to wireless communications in a system are provided. A user equipment (UE) can determine a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies. The UE can determine a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received with one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies. The UE can select a first antenna configuration of the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths. After selecting the first antenna configuration, the UE can communicate with a base station in one or more channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

Description

[0001] Cross-reference to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority and benefit to U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 301,417, filed April 1, 2021, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 005,034, filed April 3, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as described below and for all applicable purposes. Technical Field

[0003] This disclosure relates to wireless communication systems and methods. Specific embodiments can implement and provide techniques for allowing communication devices (e.g., user equipment (UE)) to select the optimal antenna configuration for the antenna panel used by the UE. Background Technology

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, and broadcasting. These systems can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Wireless multiple access communication systems may include multiple base stations (BSs), each supporting communication for multiple communication devices simultaneously, which may also be referred to as user equipment (UEs).

[0005] To meet the growing demand for mobile broadband connectivity, wireless communication technologies are evolving from Long Term Evolution (LTE) to Next Generation New Radio (NR), often referred to as fifth generation (5G). For example, NR is designed to provide lower latency, higher bandwidth or throughput, and greater reliability compared to LTE. NR is designed to operate across a wide range of spectrum bands, from low-frequency bands below approximately 1 gigahertz (GHz) and mid-frequency bands from approximately 1 GHz to approximately 6 GHz to high-frequency bands such as millimeter wave (mmW) bands. NR can also operate across different spectrum types, from licensed spectrum to unlicensed and shared spectrum. Spectrum sharing allows operators to opportunistically aggregate spectrum to dynamically support high-bandwidth services. Spectrum sharing can extend the benefits of NR technology to operating entities that may not have access to licensed spectrum.

[0006] The UE (e.g., a customer front-end equipment (CPE)) may include an antenna panel that can be oriented in different spatial directions based on different antenna configurations. The UE can configure the antenna panel to a specific antenna configuration and transmit communication signals based on that configuration. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The following outlines some aspects of this disclosure to provide a basic understanding of the techniques discussed. This overview is not a general summary of all anticipated aspects of this disclosure, and is neither intended to identify key or essential elements of all aspects of this disclosure, nor to depict the scope of any or all aspects of this disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of this disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

[0008] In one aspect of this disclosure, a wireless communication method includes: determining, by a user equipment (UE), a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; determining, by the UE, a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; selecting a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and communicating with a base station (BS) in the at least one of the channel frequencies, by the UE, based on the first antenna configuration.

[0009] In one aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus includes: a memory; and a processor configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the apparatus to: determine a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; determine a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; select a first antenna configuration of the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and communicate with a base station (BS) in the at least one of the channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

[0010] In one aspect of this disclosure, a computer-readable medium has program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: code for causing a user equipment (UE) to determine a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; code for causing the UE to determine a set of signal strengths for at least one channel frequency received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations; code for causing the UE to select a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and code for causing the UE to communicate with a base station (BS) in the at least one channel frequency among the channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

[0011] In one aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus includes: units for determining a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; units for determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; units for selecting a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and units for communicating with a base station (BS) in the at least one of the channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

[0012] Other aspects, features, and embodiments of this disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the following description of specific exemplary aspects in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. While features of this disclosure may be discussed with reference to the specific embodiments and drawings below, all embodiments of this disclosure may include one or more advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of these features may also be used in accordance with various aspects of this disclosure discussed herein. Similarly, while exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as embodiments of an apparatus, system, or method, it should be understood that these exemplary embodiments may be implemented in a variety of apparatuses, systems, and methods. Attached Figure Description

[0013] Figure 1 A wireless communication network according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown.

[0014] Figure 2 An example user equipment (UE) is shown in accordance with one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0015] Figure 3 A block diagram of a UE based on one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown.

[0016] Figure 4 A block diagram of a base station (BS) according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown.

[0017] Figure 5 A flowchart is shown of a communication method for storing measurement results in a database, according to one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0018] Figure 6 A flowchart is shown of a communication method for establishing a connection to a network and processing de-configuration commands, according to one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0019] Figure 7A flowchart is shown of a communication method for entering and exiting an antenna configuration selection mode according to one or more aspects of this disclosure.

[0020] Figure 8 A flowchart is shown of a communication method for transmitting communication signals based on an optimal antenna configuration, according to one or more aspects of this disclosure. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The specific embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are intended to describe various configurations, and not to represent the only configuration in which the concepts described herein can be practiced. The specific details included are intended to provide a thorough understanding of the various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts can be implemented without these specific details. In some cases, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring these concepts.

[0022] This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication systems, also known as wireless communication networks. In various embodiments, the techniques and apparatus described can be used in wireless communication networks such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, Single Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks, LTE networks, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) networks, 5G or New Radio (NR) networks, and other communication networks. As described herein, the terms "network" and "system" are used interchangeably.

[0023] OFDMA networks can implement radio technologies such as Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.20, and flash-OFDM. UTRA, E-UTRA, and GSM are part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS). Specifically, Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a version of UMTS that uses E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, GSM, UMTS, and LTE are described in documents from an organization called the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), while cdma2000 is described in documents from an organization called 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2). These different radio technologies and standards are either known or under development. For example, the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a collaborative effort among groups of telecommunications associations aimed at defining globally applicable third-generation (3G) mobile phone specifications. 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) is a 3GPP initiative aimed at improving the UMTS mobile phone standard. 3GPP defines specifications for next-generation mobile networks, mobile systems, and mobile devices. This disclosure relates to the evolution of wireless technologies such as LTE, 4G, 5G, and NR, which share access to the radio spectrum between networks using various new and different radio access technologies or radio air interfaces.

[0024] In particular, 5G networks take into account a variety of different deployments, different spectrums, and different services and devices, which can be implemented using a unified air interface based on OFDM. To achieve these goals, in addition to developing new radio technologies for 5G NR networks, further enhancements to LTE and LTE-A are also considered. 5G NR will be able to scale to provide coverage for: (1) coverage with ultra-high density (e.g., approximately 1 meganodes / km). 2 (1) Massive Internet of Things (IoT) with ultra-low complexity (e.g., tens of bits per second), ultra-low energy (e.g., battery life of more than 10 years), and deep coverage with the ability to reach challenging locations; (2) Mission-critical controls with strong security to protect sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information, ultra-high reliability (e.g., approximately 99.9999% reliability), ultra-low latency (e.g., approximately 1 ms), and users with wide range of mobility or lack thereof; and (3) Enhanced mobile broadband, including extremely high capacity (e.g., approximately 10 Tbps / km). 2 Extremely high data rates (e.g., multi-Gbps rates, user experience rates of over 100Mbps), and deep awareness leveraging advanced discovery and optimization.

[0025] 5G NR can be implemented using optimized OFDM-based waveforms that: utilize scalable digital schemes (numerology) and transmission time intervals (TTI); have a general, flexible framework for effectively multiplexing services and features through dynamic, low-latency Time Division Duplex (TDD) / Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) designs; and leverage advanced wireless technologies such as massive MIMO, robust millimeter-wave (mmW) transmission, advanced channel coding, and device-centric mobility. The scalability of the digital schemes in 5G-NR, with scaling of subcarrier spacing (SCS), can effectively operate across a wide variety of spectrums and deployments for diverse services. For example, in various outdoor and macro coverage deployments with FDD / TDD implementations below 3 GHz, the SCS can appear at 15 kHz, for example, in bandwidths (BW) of 5, 10, 20 MHz, etc. For other various outdoor and small-cell coverage deployments with TDD above 3 GHz, the SCS can appear at 30 kHz in an 80 / 100 MHz BW. For various other indoor broadband implementations, SCS can appear at 60 kHz on a 160 MHz BW by using TDD on the unlicensed portion of the 5 GHz band. Finally, for various deployments involving transmission using mmW components with TDD at 28 GHz, SCS can appear at 120 kHz on a 500 MHz BW.

[0026] 5G NR's scalable digital scheme enables scalable TTIs for various latency and Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. For example, shorter TTIs can be used for low latency and high reliability, while longer TTIs can be used for higher spectral efficiency. Long and short TTIs are efficiently multiplexed to allow transmission to begin at symbol boundaries. 5G-NR also considers self-contained integrated subframe designs that incorporate UL / downlink scheduling information, data, and acknowledgments within the same subframe. These self-contained integrated subframes support communication in unlicensed or contention-based shared spectrum, in adaptive UL / downlink configurations where the adaptive UL / downlink can be flexibly configured on a per-cell basis to dynamically switch between UL and downlink to meet current service demands.

[0027] Various other aspects and features of this disclosure are further described below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein can be implemented in a variety of forms, and any particular structure, function, or both disclosed herein are illustrative rather than limiting. Based on the teachings herein, a person skilled in the art will understand that the aspects disclosed herein can be implemented independently of any other aspects, and two or more of these aspects can be combined in various ways. For example, any number of aspects or examples described herein can be used to implement an apparatus or practice a method. Furthermore, in addition to one or more aspects described herein, other structures, functions, or structures and functions can be used to implement such an apparatus or practice such a method. For example, a method can be implemented as part of a system, device, apparatus, and / or as instructions stored on a computer-readable medium for execution on a processor or computer. Moreover, an aspect may include at least one element of the claims.

[0028] In some aspects, each of the BS and UE may have an antenna panel (also referred to as a motorized rotatable antenna panel, panel, or antenna array) and may apply beamforming technology to communicate with each other. The antenna panel may be in the form of a single panel, multiple panels, or a motorized rotatable panel. Each antenna panel may include multiple antenna ports or elements with vertical dimensions and / or multiple antenna ports or elements with horizontal dimensions. The UE can form a beam in an angular direction by weighting the signal phase and amplitude at the antenna elements. The antenna panel may be associated with multiple antenna configurations. Antenna configurations may include parameters that control the antenna panel or are associated with the antenna panel. For example, an antenna configuration may include a set of orientations (e.g., angles) of the antenna panel, a set of channel frequencies for transmitting communication signals based on the panel orientation, etc.

[0029] This disclosure provides techniques for selecting the optimal antenna configuration from multiple antenna configurations for transmitting communication signals. For example, a UE can select the optimal antenna configuration from multiple antenna configurations and transmit communication signals to a BS based on the optimal antenna configuration. The optimal antenna configuration can refer to a high-quality antenna configuration, for example, where the optimal antenna configuration can be associated with the highest received signal power among a set of beams measured at the UE. The mechanisms used to determine the antenna configuration are described in more detail here.

[0030] Figure 1A wireless communication network 100 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is illustrated. Network 100 may be a 5G network. Network 100 includes multiple base stations (BSs) 105 (labeled 105a, 105b, 105c, 105d, 105e, and 105f, respectively) and other network entities. BS 105 may be a station communicating with UE 115 and may also be referred to as an evolved Node B (eNB), a next-generation eNB (gNB), an access point, etc. Each BS 105 may provide communication coverage for a specific geographic area. In 3GPP, the term "cell" may refer to this specific geographic coverage area of ​​BS 105 and / or the BS subsystem serving that coverage area, depending on the context in which the term is used.

[0031] BS 105 can provide communication coverage for macro cells or small cells (e.g., pico cells or femto cells) and / or other types of cells. Macro cells typically cover a relatively large geographic area (e.g., a radius of several kilometers) and can allow unrestricted access for UEs with service subscriptions to network providers. Small cells, such as pico cells, typically cover a relatively small geographic area and can allow unrestricted access for UEs with service subscriptions to network providers. Small cells, such as femto cells, also typically cover a relatively small geographic area (e.g., a home) and, in addition to unrestricted access, can provide restricted access through UEs associated with that femto cell (e.g., UEs in a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG), UEs of users in a home, etc.). A BS used for macro cells can be called a macro BS. A BS used for small cells can be called a small cell BS, pico BS, femto BS, or home BS. Figure 1 In the examples shown, BS 105d and 105e can be conventional macro BSs, while BS 105a-105c can be macro BSs enabled using one of three-dimensional (3D) MIMO, full-dimensional (FD) MIMO, or massive MIMO. BS 105a-105c can leverage their high-dimensional MIMO capabilities to utilize 3D beamforming, either elevation beamforming or azimuth beamforming, to increase coverage and capacity. BS 105f can be a small cell BS, which can be a home node or a portable access point. BS 105 can support one or more (e.g., two, three, four, etc.) cells.

[0032] Network 100 can support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, BSs can have similar frame timings, and transmissions from different BSs can be roughly aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, BSs can have different frame timings, and transmissions from different BSs may not be aligned in time.

[0033] UE 115 is distributed throughout the wireless network 100, and each UE 115 can be stationary or mobile. UE 115 can also be referred to as a terminal, mobile station, subscriber unit, station, etc. UE 115 can be a cellular phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless modem, wireless communication device, handheld device, tablet, laptop, cordless phone, wireless local loop (WLL) station, customer front-end equipment (CPE), etc. In one aspect, UE 115 can be a device including a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC). In another aspect, UE 115 can be a device without a UICC. In some aspects, UE 115 without a UICC can also be referred to as an IoT device or Internet of Things (IoE) device. UE 115a-115d are examples of mobile smartphone-type devices used for accessing network 100. UE 115 can also be a machine specifically configured for connected communications, including machine-type communication (MTC), enhanced MTC (eMTC), narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), etc. UE 115e-115h are examples of various machines configured for communication to access network 100. UE 115i-115k are examples of vehicles equipped with wireless communication devices configured for communication to access network 100. UE 115 can communicate with any type of BS, whether it is a macro BS, a small cell BS, etc. Figure 1 In the diagram, the lightning bolt symbol (e.g., a communication link) indicates radio transmissions between UE 115 and serving BS 105 (serving BS 105 is a BS designated to serve UE 115 on the downlink (DL) and / or uplink (UL), expected transmissions between BSs, backhaul transmissions between BSs, and sidelink communications between UE 115.

[0034] In operation, BS 105a-105c can use 3D beamforming and coordinated spatial technologies (such as CoMP or multi-connectivity) to serve UE 115a and 115b. Macro BS 105d can perform backhaul communication with BS 105a-105c and small cell BS 105f. Macro BS 105d can also transmit multicast services subscribed to and received by UE 115c and 115d. Such multicast services may include mobile TV or streaming video, or may include other services for providing community information, such as weather emergencies or alerts, such as Amber Alerts or Gray Alerts.

[0035] BS 105 can also communicate with the core network. The core network can provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. At least some of the BS 105s (e.g., examples of gNBs or Access Node Controllers (ANCs)) can interface with the core network via backhaul links (e.g., NG-C, NG-U, etc.) and can perform radio configuration and scheduling for communication with UE 115. In various examples, BS 105s can communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via the core network) via backhaul links (e.g., X1, X2, etc.), which can be wired or wireless communication links.

[0036] Network 100 can also support mission-critical communication with ultra-reliable and redundant links for mission-critical devices such as UE 115e, which may be a drone. Redundant communication links with UE 115e may include links from macro BSs 105d and 105e, and links from small cell BS 105f. Other machine-type devices (such as UE 115f (e.g., a thermometer), UE 115g (e.g., a smart meter), and UE 115h (e.g., a wearable device)) can communicate directly with BSs (such as small cell BS 105f and macro BS 105e) via network 100, or in a multi-step size configuration by communicating with another user device (such as UE 115f, which transmits temperature measurement information to smart meter UE 115g, and then reports it to the network via small cell BS 105f) that relays its information to the network. Network 100 can also provide additional network efficiency through dynamic, low-latency TDD / FDD communications (such as vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications between UEs 115i-115k, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications between UEs 115i, 115j, or 115k and other UEs 115, and / or vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications between UEs 115i, 115j, or 115k and BS 105).

[0037] In some implementations, network 100 utilizes OFDM-based waveforms for communication. OFDM-based systems can divide the system bandwidth (BW) into multiple (K) orthogonal subcarriers, which are often referred to as subcarriers, tones, bins, etc. Each subcarrier can be modulated with data. In some instances, the signal strength control (SCS) between adjacent subcarriers can be fixed, and the total number of subcarriers (K) can depend on the system BW. The system BW can also be divided into subbands. In other instances, the duration of the SCS and / or time interval (TTI) can be scalable.

[0038] In some respects, BS 105 can assign or schedule transmission resources (e.g., in the form of time-frequency resource blocks (RBs)) for DL ​​and UL transmissions in network 100. DL refers to the transmission direction from BS 105 to UE 115, while UL refers to the transmission direction from UE 115 to BS 105. Communication can be in the form of radio frames. Radio frames can be divided into multiple subframes or time slots, for example, about 10. Each time slot can be further divided into mini-time slots. In FDD mode, simultaneous UL and DL transmissions can occur in different frequency bands. For example, each subframe includes UL subframes in the UL band and DL subframes in the DL band. Subframes can also be referred to as time slots. In TDD mode, UL and DL transmissions occur at different time periods using the same frequency band. For example, a subset of subframes in a radio frame (e.g., DL subframes) can be used for DL ​​transmission, while another subset of subframes in a radio frame (e.g., UL subframes) can be used for UL transmission.

[0039] DL subframes and UL subframes can be further divided into several regions. For example, each DL subframe or UL subframe can have a predefined region for transmitting reference signals, control information, and data. Reference signals are predetermined signals that facilitate communication between BS 105 and UE 115. For example, reference signals can have a specific pilot pattern or structure, where pilot tones can span an operating BW or frequency band, and each pilot tone is located at a predefined time and predefined frequency. For example, BS 105 can transmit a Cell-Specific Reference Signal (CRS) and / or a Channel State Information-Reference Signal (CSI RS) to enable UE 115 to estimate the DL channel. Similarly, UE 115 can transmit a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) to enable BS 105 to estimate the UL channel. Control information can include resource allocation and protocol control. Data can include protocol data and / or operational data. In some aspects, BS 105 and UE 115 can communicate using self-contained subframes. Self-contained subframes can include portions for DL ​​communication and portions for UL communication. Self-contained subframes can be DL-centric or UL-centric. DL-centric subframes may include a longer duration for DL ​​communication than for UL communication. UL-centric subframes may include a longer duration for UL communication compared to the duration used for DL ​​communication.

[0040] In some respects, network 100 may be an NR network deployed on licensed spectrum. BS 105 may transmit synchronization signals (e.g., including a primary synchronization signal (PSS) and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS)) within network 100 to facilitate synchronization. BS 105 may broadcast system information associated with network 100 (e.g., including a primary information block (MIB), remaining system information (RMSI), and other system information (OSI)) to facilitate initial network access. In some instances, BS 105 may broadcast the PSS, SSS, and / or MIB in the form of a synchronization signal block (SSB) on the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), and may broadcast the RMSI and / or OSI on the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH).

[0041] In some respects, UE 115 attempting to access network 100 can perform an initial cell search by detecting the PSS from BS 105. The PSS can synchronize periodic timings and can indicate a physical layer identification value. UE 115 can then receive the SSS. The SSS can synchronize radio frames and can provide a cell identification value, which can be combined with the physical layer identification value to identify the cell. The PSS and SSS can be located in the center portion of the carrier or at any suitable frequency within that carrier.

[0042] After receiving the PSS and SSS, UE 115 can receive the MIB, which may be transmitted on the Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The MIB may include system information for initial network access and scheduling information for the RMSI and / or OSI. After decoding the MIB, UE 115 can receive the RMSI, OSI, and / or one or more System Information Blocks (SIBs). The RMSI and / or OSI may include radio resource control (RRC) information related to the Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure, paging, control resource set (CORESET) for monitoring the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Physical UL Control Channel (PUCCH), Physical UL Shared Channel (PUSCH), power control, and SRS.

[0043] After obtaining the MIB, RMSI, and / or OSI, UE 115 can perform a random access procedure to establish a connection with BS 105. After the connection is established, UE 115 and BS 105 can enter the normal operation phase, where operational data can be exchanged. For example, BS 105 can schedule UE 115 for UL and / or DL ​​communications. BS 105 can send UL and / or DL ​​scheduling permission to UE 115 via PDCCH. The scheduling permission can be sent in the form of DL control information (DCI). BS 105 can send DL communication signals (e.g., carrying data) to UE 115 via PDSCH based on the DL scheduling permission. UE 115 can send UL communication signals to BS 105 via PUSCH and / or PUCCH based on the UL scheduling permission. In some aspects, BS 105 can use HARQ technology to communicate with UE 115 to improve communication reliability, for example, by providing URLLC services.

[0044] In some aspects, network 100 can operate on a system BW or a component carrier (CC) BW. Network 100 can divide the system BW into multiple BWPs (e.g., portions). BS 105 can dynamically assign UE 115 to a specific BWP (e.g., a portion of the system BW). The assigned BWP can be referred to as the active BWP. UE 115 can monitor the active BWP to obtain signaling information from BS 105. BS 105 can schedule UE 115 for UL or DL ​​communication within the active BWP. In some aspects, BS 105 can assign a pair of BWPs within a CC to UE 115 for UL and DL communication. For example, a BWP pair may include one BWP for UL communication and one BWP for DL ​​communication.

[0045] In some respects, network 100 may operate on a shared channel, which may include a shared frequency band or an unlicensed frequency band. For example, network 100 may be an NR-U network operating on an unlicensed frequency band. In this respect, BS 105 and UE 115 may be operated by multiple network operating entities.

[0046] Figure 2 An example UE 200 is shown, representing one or more aspects of this disclosure. UE 200 may be... Figure 1 UE 115 as discussed above. Figure 2 In the example shown, UE 200 includes antenna panel 202 (also referred to as a motorized rotatable antenna panel, panel, or antenna array), host processor 212, and modem device 216. In some aspects of this disclosure, and as... Figure 2As shown, the antenna panel 202, host processor 212, and modem device 216 may be located within the housing 222 of the UE 200. In other aspects of this disclosure, the antenna panel 202 may be located outside the housing 222. In some aspects of this disclosure, the host processor 212 and modem device 216 may be located in a single device (e.g., a system-on-a-chip (SoC) device). In some examples, the host processor 212 is configured to run one or more applications (e.g., at the application layer), such as an operating system and / or other software, on the UE 200.

[0047] like Figure 2 As further shown, antenna panel 202 can be mounted on a rotatable shaft 208 coupled to base 210. Base 210 may include a motor (not shown for illustrative purposes) to rotate the shaft (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise) based on control signals from host processor 212 and / or modem device 216. Base 210 can enable the transmission of signals received from antenna panel 202 (e.g., one or more beams from BS) to host processor 212 and / or modem device 216. Antenna panel 202 can be a directional antenna having a front surface 204 and a line-of-sight direction 206. In some examples, line-of-sight direction 206 is perpendicular to the front surface 204 of antenna panel 202. In some examples, line-of-sight direction 206 may represent the axis of maximum gain of antenna panel 202.

[0048] The host processor 212 can communicate with the base 210 via a first data path 214. In some aspects, the host processor 212 can control the rotation of the antenna panel 202 based on one or more control signals provided to the base 210. For example, one or more control signals can be configured to rotate the shaft 208 (e.g., via a motor in the base 210) to a desired rotational position. Accordingly, one or more control signals can enable the host processor 212 to control the orientation of the antenna panel 202 described herein.

[0049] Modem device 216 can communicate with host processor 212 via a second data path 220. In some aspects of this disclosure, modem device 216 can send (e.g., via the second data path 220) one or more requests to host processor 212 for controlling the orientation of motorized antenna array 202. Host processor 212 can execute the request by sending appropriate control signals to base 210. In some aspects of this disclosure, modem device 216 can send (e.g., via a third data path 218) independently of host processor 212 to base 210 for controlling the orientation of antenna panel 202. In some aspects of this disclosure, modem device 216 can receive and / or transmit wireless communication signals via antenna panel 202 and third data path 218. Accordingly, modem device 216 can process (e.g., measure, decode, etc.) the wireless communication signals received at antenna panel 202.

[0050] BS 105 can send a measurement report request specifying a set of channel frequencies that UE 200 wants to measure. BS 105 can configure this set of channel frequencies by sending a measurement report request specifying this set of channel frequencies. In some examples, BS 105 can send multiple SSBs within a time period, and each SSB can be identified by an SSB index and transmitted via a specific beam radiating in a specific direction. UE 200, among other UEs, can perform cell quality measurements via a reference signal in the specified set of channel frequencies and can determine the signal strength of each detected SSB. Based on these measurements, UE 200 can identify the SSB index with the strongest signal strength. The SSB with the strongest signal strength can be the optimal beam for UE 200. UE 200 can send a measurement report to BS 105 indicating the strongest signal strength.

[0051] As discussed, the antenna panel of UE 200 can be configured with multiple antenna configurations. UE 200 can enter an antenna configuration selection mode to select the optimal antenna configuration. For example, before UE 200 sends a measurement report, UE 200 can select the optimal antenna configuration from multiple antenna configurations for performing measurements and / or sending communication signals to BS105. The antenna configuration may include parameters controlling the antenna panel 202 or associated with the antenna panel 202. For example, the antenna configuration may include a set of orientations (e.g., angles) of the antenna panel, a set of channel frequencies for sending communication signals based on the panel orientation, etc. The main direction of each orientation may be specified by providing three-dimensional spatial coordinates (x, y, and z coordinates) relative to other orientations in that set. In some aspects, UE 200 can scan channel frequencies and perform measurements while the antenna panel is configured with each of one or more of the multiple antenna configurations. UE 200 can determine a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received with each of the multiple antenna configurations for one or more channel frequencies. In some respects, UE 115 can determine the set of signal strengths by using beam scanning operations (e.g., configuring the panel to traverse a set of angular positions and measure the signal strength at each angular position) for each of the one or more antenna configurations in one or more antenna configurations at one or more frequencies.

[0052] In some aspects of this disclosure, UE 200 (e.g., modem device 216) may request that antenna panel 202 be positioned in different orientations, and in each orientation, modem device 216 may scan different beams (also referred to as beam scanning operation) and may determine gain (e.g., signal strength), such as reference signal received power (RSRP) and / or signal-to-interference-noise ratio (SINR) values ​​for that orientation. For example, antenna panel 202 may include multiple antenna elements and thus may have a different set of beams (e.g., beams oriented in different directions) that can be used for the beam scanning operation described above. Each different beam may correspond to a value in a codebook. Accordingly, modem device 216 may search the codebook to identify the different beams of antenna panel 202 and perform beam scanning operation. In some aspects of this disclosure, the UE200 can repeat beam scanning operations for different panel orientations and can select the panel orientation that provides the highest gain based on SINR, RSRP and / or other metrics such as spectral efficiency (SPEFF), reference signal reception quality (RSRQ), and / or relative signal strength indicator (RSSI).

[0053] UE 200 can store measurement results in a database, making them persistent across network connections (e.g., LTE and / or mmW connections). Based on this set of signal strengths, UE 200 can select the optimal antenna configuration from multiple antenna configurations. After selecting the optimal antenna configuration, modem device 216 can trigger the movement of antenna panel 202 to face a spatial direction based on the optimal antenna configuration. Based on the optimal antenna configuration, UE 200 transmits communication signals (e.g., measurement reports) and / or receives communication signals on one or more channel frequencies from the list.

[0054] However, changing the antenna configuration of the UE 200's antenna panel can be time-consuming. The UE 200 may not be able to send measurement reports to BS 105 until the optimal antenna configuration is selected.

[0055] Furthermore, different BSs may have different implementations of measurement reports for mmW-based measurement objects. For example, once UE 200 has established a connection with a network (e.g., an LTE network) and entered network-connected mode, the BS can configure the set of channel frequencies (e.g., mmW channel frequencies). In another example, the BS can configure the set of channel frequencies in response to, for example, traffic load in the LTE network. The BS can expect measurement reports from UE 200 in response to a measurement report request and can set a timer (e.g., two seconds). When the timer expires without receiving a measurement report from UE 200, the BS can infer that UE 200 is unable to perform measurements on the signals in the channel frequencies specified in the measurement report. For example, if UE 200 has not sent a measurement report before the timer expires, the BS can determine that the set of channel frequencies is unavailable to UE 200 based on the specific geographical area where UE 200 is located. From the BS's perspective, the BS can de-configure the set of channel frequencies by sending a command to UE 200 instead of requesting UE 200 to perform measurements when UE 200 is not within mmW coverage. The BS can send a new measurement report specifying a new set of channel frequencies for UE 200 and reset the timer. Different BSs can set their timers to different expiration times.

[0056] Ideally, the antenna configuration selection process should be independent of the behavior of BS 105. For example, if BS 105 deconfigures a set of channel frequencies, it might be desirable for UE 200 to continue performing measurements (even for those deconfigured channel frequencies) to complete the antenna configuration selection mode and select the optimal antenna configuration. Accordingly, the operation of scanning different channel frequencies can be separated from the deconfiguration of channel frequencies. This disclosure provides techniques for selecting the optimal antenna configuration and transmitting communication signals based on the optimal antenna configuration.

[0057] Figure 3 A block diagram of a UE 300 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown. The UE 300 may be... Figure 1 UE 115 and / or discussed above Figure 2 The UE 200 discussed above is an example. As shown in the figure, the UE 300 may include a processor 302, a memory 304, an antenna configuration module 308, a communication module 309, a transceiver 310 including a modem subsystem 312 and a radio frequency (RF) unit 314, and one or more antennas 316. These components may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more buses.

[0058] Processor 302 may include a central processing unit (CPU), a digital signal processor (DSP), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a controller, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) device, another hardware device, a firmware device, or any combination thereof, configured to perform the operations described herein. Processor 302 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0059] Memory 304 may include cache memory (e.g., the cache memory of processor 302), random access memory (RAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory, solid-state memory devices, hard disk drives, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or combinations of different types of memory. In one aspect, memory 304 includes a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 304 may store or have instructions 306 recorded thereon. Instructions 306 may include, when executed by processor 302, causing processor 302 to perform aspects of this document referenced in relation to the present disclosure (e.g., ...). Figure 1 , 2 Instructions relating to the operation of the UE (and aspects of 5-8). Instruction 306 may also be referred to as program code. Program code can be used to cause the wireless communication device to perform these operations, for example, by causing one or more processors (e.g., processor 302) to control or command the wireless communication device to do so. The terms “instruction” and “code” should be interpreted broadly to include any type of computer-readable statement. For example, “instruction” and “code” can refer to one or more programs, routines, subroutines, functions, procedures, etc. “Instruction” and “code” can include a single computer-readable statement or many computer-readable statements.

[0060] Antenna configuration module 308 and / or communication module 309 can be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Antenna configuration module 308 and / or communication module 309 can be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and / or instructions 306 stored in memory 304 and executed by processor 302. In some cases, antenna configuration module 308 and / or communication module 309 can be integrated into modem subsystem 312. Antenna configuration module 308 and / or communication module 309 can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuits) within modem subsystem 312. Antenna configuration module 308 and / or communication module 309 can be used in various aspects of this disclosure (e.g., Figure 1 , 2 (and aspects of 5-8).

[0061] In some aspects, antenna configuration module 308 can be configured to determine multiple antenna configurations for a list of channel frequencies, the list of channel frequencies being stored in a database at the UE. Antenna configuration module 308 can be configured to determine a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received by each of the multiple antenna configurations for one or more channel frequencies in the list. Antenna configuration module 308 can be configured to select a first antenna configuration from the multiple antenna configurations stored in the database based on the set of signal strengths. In some aspects, communication module 309 can be configured to transmit communication signals with a BS (e.g., BS 105) at one or more channel frequencies in the list, based on the first antenna configuration.

[0062] As shown in the figure, transceiver 310 may include modem subsystem 312 and RF unit 314. Transceiver 310 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices such as BS 105 or BS 400. Modem subsystem 312 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data from memory 304, antenna configuration module 308, and / or communication module 309 according to modulation and coding schemes (MCS) (e.g., low-density parity-check (LDPC) coding scheme, turbo coding scheme, convolutional coding scheme, digital beamforming scheme, etc.). RF unit 314 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) modulated / encoded data (e.g., measurement reports, measurement results of signals in one or more channel frequencies) transmitted from modem subsystem 312 (in outgoing transmissions) or from another source (e.g., UE 115, 200 or BS 105, 400). RF unit 314 can be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver 310, modem subsystem 312 and RF unit 314 can be separate devices coupled together at UE 115 to enable UE 115 to communicate with other devices.

[0063] RF unit 314 can provide modulated and / or processed data, such as data packets (or, more generally, data messages containing one or more data packets and other information), to antenna 316 for transmission to one or more other devices. Antenna 316 can also receive data messages transmitted from other devices. Antenna 316 can provide the received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at transceiver 310. Transceiver 310 can provide demodulated and decoded data (e.g., RRC configuration, SSB, SIB, RMSI, reference signals, channel frequency lists, measurement report requests, instructions for deconfiguring one or more channel frequencies, etc.) to antenna configuration module 308 and / or communication module 309 for processing. Antenna 316 can include multiple antennas with similar or different designs to maintain multiple transmission links. For example, antenna 316 can correspond to... Figure 2 The antenna is located in the antenna panel 202. The RF unit 314 can be configured with the antenna 316.

[0064] In some aspects, transceiver 310 can coordinate with antenna configuration module 308 to receive measurement report requests for a specified set of channel frequencies, send measurement reports, and / or receive a set of signals for performing measurements. In some aspects, transceiver 310 can coordinate with communication module 309 to transmit (e.g., receive or transmit) communication signals on one or more channel frequencies in a list, based on one or more antenna configurations.

[0065] In some aspects, UE 300 may include multiple transceivers 310 implementing different radio access technologies (RATs) (e.g., NR and LTE). In one aspect, UE 300 may include a single transceiver 310 implementing multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In another aspect, transceiver 310 may include various components, wherein different combinations of components can implement different RATs.

[0066] Figure 4 A block diagram of a BS 400 according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown. The BS 400 can be as described above. Figure 1 The BS 105 discussed in the figure. As shown, the BS 400 may include a processor 402, a memory 404, a measurement module 408, a communication module 409, a transceiver 410 including a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414, and one or more antennas 416. These components may communicate with each other directly or indirectly, for example, via one or more buses.

[0067] Processor 402 may have various features as a particular type of processor. For example, these may include a CPU, DSP, ASIC, controller, FPGA device, another hardware device, firmware device, or any combination thereof configured to perform the operations described herein. Processor 402 may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0068] Memory 404 may include cache memory (e.g., the cache memory of processor 402), RAM, MRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, solid-state memory devices, one or more hard disk drives, memristor-based arrays, other forms of volatile and non-volatile memory, or combinations of different types of memory. In some aspects, memory 404 may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 404 may store instructions 406. Instructions 406 may include causing processor 402 to perform the operations described herein when executed by processor 402 (e.g., ...). Figure 1 , 2 Instructions 406 (including aspects of 5-8) are also referred to as codes, and can be broadly interpreted as including the instructions mentioned above. Figure 3 Any type of computer-readable statement discussed.

[0069] Measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 can be implemented via hardware, software, or a combination thereof. Measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 can be implemented as a processor, circuitry, and / or instructions 406 stored in memory 404 and executed by processor 402. In some instances, measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 can be integrated within modem subsystem 412. Measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 can be implemented by a combination of software components (e.g., executed by a DSP or general-purpose processor) and hardware components (e.g., logic gates and circuits) within modem subsystem 412. Measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 can be used in various aspects of this disclosure (e.g., Figure 1 , 2 (5-8 in all aspects).

[0070] In some aspects, measurement module 408 can be configured to send a measurement report request to the UE specifying a set of channel frequencies. This set of channel frequencies may include mmW channel frequencies. Measurement module 408 can be configured to start a timer after sending the measurement report request and to determine whether a measurement report is received from the UE before the timer expires. If the timer expires before measurement module 408 receives the measurement report from the UE, BS 105 can determine that the set of channel frequencies specified in the measurement report request is unavailable to the UE. Measurement module 408 can be configured to send an instruction to unconfigure the channel frequencies in the set of channel frequencies. Communication module 409 can be configured to send one or more signals (e.g., SSB, reference signal) to the UE in the set of channel frequencies for measurement by the UE.

[0071] As shown in the figure, transceiver 410 may include a modem subsystem 412 and an RF unit 414. Transceiver 410 may be configured to communicate bidirectionally with other devices, such as UEs (e.g., UE 115, UE 200, and / or UE 300), BSs (e.g., BS 105), and / or another core network element. Modem subsystem 412 may be configured to modulate and / or encode data according to an MCS (e.g., LDPC coding scheme, turbo coding scheme, convolutional coding scheme, digital beamforming scheme, etc.). RF unit 414 may be configured to process (e.g., perform analog-to-digital conversion or digital-to-analog conversion, etc.) modulated / encoded data (e.g., RRC configuration, SSB, channel frequency list, reference signal, measurement report request, instructions for deconfiguring one or more channel frequencies, etc.) transmitted from modem subsystem 412 (on outgoing transmissions) or from another source (e.g., UE 115, 200, or 300). RF unit 414 can be further configured to perform analog beamforming in conjunction with digital beamforming. Although shown as integrated together in transceiver 410, modem subsystem 412 and / or RF unit 414 can be separate devices coupled together at BS 105 to enable BS 105 to communicate with other devices.

[0072] RF unit 414 can provide modulated and / or processed data, such as data packets (or, more generally, data messages containing one or more data packets and other information), to antenna 416 for transmission to one or more other devices. According to some aspects of this disclosure, this may include, for example, sending information to complete attachment to a network and communication with a camped UE 115, UE 200, or UE 300. Antenna 416 can also receive data messages transmitted from other devices and provide the received data messages for processing and / or demodulation at transceiver 410. Transceiver 410 can provide demodulated and decoded data (e.g., measurement reports, measurements of signals in one or more channel frequencies, etc.) to measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 for processing. Antenna 416 may include multiple antennas designed similarly or differently to maintain multiple transmission links.

[0073] In some respects, transceiver 410 can coordinate with measurement module 408 and / or communication module 409 to send measurement report requests, to transmit one or more signals in one or more channel frequencies for UE measurement, and / or to receive communication signals in one or more channel frequencies based on a given antenna configuration.

[0074] In some aspects, the BS 400 may include multiple transceivers 410 implementing different RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In one aspect, the BS 400 may include a single transceiver 410 implementing multiple RATs (e.g., NR and LTE). In another aspect, the transceiver 410 may include various components, wherein different combinations of components can implement different RATs.

[0075] Figure 5 A flowchart of a communication method 500 for storing measurement results to a database according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown. The blocks of method 500 can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuitry, and / or other suitable components) of a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the wireless communication device is a UE (e.g., UE 115, UE 200, and / or UE 300), which can use one or more components, such as... Figure 3 The processor 302, memory 304, antenna configuration module 308, communication module 309, transceiver 310 and / or antenna 316, and / or Figure 2 The antenna panel 202, host processor 212, and / or modem device 216 in the block are used to perform method 500. Method 500 can use a similar... Figure 6 Method 600 Figure 7 Method 700 and / or Figure 8 The method 500 includes several enumeration boxes, as shown in the figure. However, aspects of the method 500 may include additional boxes before, after, and / or between the enumeration boxes. In some aspects, one or more of the enumeration boxes may be omitted or performed in a different order.

[0076] In box 502, method 500 includes: identifying a list of channel frequencies stored in a database at UE 115, via UE 115. The channel frequencies may be mmW channel frequencies. UE 115 may... Figure 3For example, a list of channel frequencies is stored at memory location 304. UE 115 can collect the list of channel frequencies over a period of time. In some aspects, at least one channel frequency in the list is pre-configured. For example, the UE's original equipment manufacturer (OEM) can pre-configure at least one channel frequency in the list. In some aspects, UE 115 can receive a measurement report request from BS 105. The measurement report request can specify a set of channel frequencies for UE 115 to measure and can provide UE 115 with information about channel frequencies of interest based on UE 115's geographic location. UE 115 can insert this set of channel frequencies into a list of channel frequencies stored in a database. Accordingly, the database can store a list of channel frequencies pre-configured and / or indicated as of interest to UE 115 by BS 105 (e.g., via a measurement report request).

[0077] In block 504, method 500 includes: determining, via UE 115, a plurality of antenna configurations of the antenna panel of UE 115. The antenna panel of UE 115 may correspond to... Figure 2 Antenna panel 202. The antenna panel can be, for example, a motorized rotatable antenna panel, a multi-panel panel, or a single-panel panel. Antenna configuration can include parameters that control or are associated with the antenna panel. Antenna configuration can include a set of orientations (e.g., angles) of the antenna panel, a set of channel frequencies for transmitting communication signals based on the panel orientation, etc.

[0078] UE 115 can enter and exit antenna configuration selection mode. In some aspects, when UE 115 is in antenna configuration selection mode, UE 115 can perform... Figure 5 Boxes 506, 508, 510, 512, and / or 514. Regarding, for example... Figure 7 In this regard, a discussion can be found regarding the first trigger for entering the antenna configuration selection mode and the second trigger for exiting the antenna configuration selection mode.

[0079] In block 506, method 500 includes: configuring an antenna panel by the UE 115 based on an antenna configuration among a plurality of antenna configurations. The UE 115 may configure its antenna panel to face a spatial direction based on the antenna configuration to transmit one or more communication signals in one or more channel frequencies.

[0080] In block 508, method 500 includes: performing measurements on one or more channel frequencies from a list, via UE 115, based on an antenna configuration. In some aspects, UE 115 may determine a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received at the antenna panel of UE 115 based on one or more measurements. UE 115 may determine this set of signal strengths using beam scanning operations in one or more channel frequencies based on an antenna configuration used to set the antenna panel. This set of signal strengths may be based on at least one of SINR measurements, RSRP measurements, RSSI, RSRQ, or SPEFF measurements, or combinations thereof, at the corresponding channel frequencies.

[0081] In some respects, UE 115 can establish a connection to the LTE network with the BS. Once the connection is established, UE 115 can enter connected mode in the LTE network. To save power, UE 115 can enter idle mode and can switch between connected mode and idle mode. When UE 115 is in idle mode, UE 115 can perform one or more measurements on the corresponding channel frequency based on the antenna configuration.

[0082] In some respects, UE 115 can establish a connection to the NR network with the BS. Once the connection is established, UE 115 can enter connected mode within the NR network. When UE 115 is connected to the NR network, UE 115 can enter a connected mode discontinuous reception (CDRX) power-down mode, which allows UE 115 to perform signaling-free transitions between sleep and wake states. When the UE is in CDRX power-down mode, UE 115 can perform one or more measurements on the corresponding channel frequency based on the antenna configuration.

[0083] In block 510, method 500 includes: storing one or more measurements for a corresponding channel frequency into a database via UE 115. In some aspects, UE 115 may store the set of signal strengths in the database. Accordingly, the database may store the signal strength of at least one beam received in an antenna configuration for the corresponding channel frequency. UE 115 may later refer to the signal strength information stored in the database.

[0084] In box 512, method 500 includes: determining whether there exists another antenna configuration among a plurality of antenna configurations for setting up an antenna panel. If there exists another antenna configuration among a plurality of antenna configurations to be processed, method 500 may return to box 506, where UE 115 sets up the antenna panel based on the other antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations, such as relative to Figure 2 and / or Figure 3 The place under discussion.

[0085] Conversely, if another antenna configuration among the multiple antenna configurations to be processed does not exist, method 500 can proceed to box 514. In box 514, method 500 includes selecting the optimal antenna configuration from the multiple antenna configurations for the channel frequency list based on one or more measurement results. UE 115 can select the optimal antenna configuration for the channel frequency list based on different statistical results of measurements across different channel frequencies and antenna configurations. The optimal antenna configuration can be used across channel frequencies in the list.

[0086] In some examples, for one or more channel frequencies in a list of channel frequencies, UE 115 can determine a given antenna configuration from among multiple antenna configurations that provides the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency. UE 115 can store in a database the association between a given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency, wherein the association indicates that the given antenna configuration is the optimal antenna configuration for the corresponding channel frequency. Accordingly, the database can store the optimal antenna configuration for a specific channel frequency.

[0087] For example, a first channel frequency may be associated with a first antenna configuration in a database (indicating that the first antenna configuration is the optimal antenna configuration for the first channel frequency), and may differ from the optimal antenna configuration for a list of channel frequencies. UE 115 may need time to determine the given channel frequency for each transmission, and then configure its antenna panel to the optimal antenna configuration for that given channel frequency. In some aspects, UE 115 may select the optimal antenna configuration for a list of channel frequencies, allowing UE 115 to transmit communication signals on one or more channel frequencies in the list based on the optimal antenna configuration.

[0088] In some examples, UE 115 may select an optimal antenna configuration for a list of channel frequencies, wherein the optimal antenna configuration has a maximum number of maximum signal strengths higher than a threshold for the list of channel frequencies. In some examples, UE 115 may select an optimal antenna configuration for a list of channel frequencies, wherein the optimal antenna configuration has the highest signal strength in that set of signal strengths. In some examples, UE 115 may select an optimal antenna configuration for a list of channel frequencies, wherein the optimal antenna configuration has a set of signal strengths higher than a threshold for each of one or more channel frequencies in the list. These examples are not intended to be limiting, and other example techniques for selecting an optimal antenna configuration are within the scope of this disclosure.

[0089] In block 516, method 500 includes: transmitting communication signals with BS 105 via UE 115, based on an optimal antenna configuration, in one or more channel frequencies from a list. For example, UE 115 may configure its antenna panel to face a spatial direction based on the optimal antenna configuration, and transmit communication signals based on the optimal antenna configuration. In block 518, method 500 ends.

[0090] When UE 115 executes boxes 506, 508, 510 and / or 512, for example, BS 105 may send instructions to unconfigure a channel frequency in the channel frequency list. Despite the instructions, UE 115 may continue to execute boxes 506, 508, 510 and / or 512.

[0091] UE 115 can execute method 500 based on various mechanisms. For example, UE 115 can execute method 500 periodically (e.g., weekly) based on client requests, etc.

[0092] Figure 6 A flowchart is shown of a communication method 600 for establishing a connection to a network and processing deconfiguration instructions according to one or more aspects of this disclosure. The blocks of method 600 can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuitry, and / or other suitable components) of a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the wireless communication device is a UE (e.g., UE 115 and / or UE 300), which can utilize one or more components, such as processor 302, memory 304, antenna configuration module 308, communication module 309, transceiver 310, and / or antenna 316, to execute the blocks of method 600. Method 600 can use similar... Figure 5 Method 500 Figure 7 Method 700 and / or Figure 8 Aspects of method 600. As shown in the figure, method 600 includes several enumeration boxes, but aspects of method 600 may include additional boxes before, after, and / or between enumeration boxes. In some aspects, one or more of the enumeration boxes may be omitted or executed in a different order.

[0093] In block 602, method 600 includes: establishing a first connection with an LTE network via UE 115. After establishing the first connection with the LTE network, UE 115 may be in a connection mode associated with the LTE network.

[0094] In block 604, method 600 includes: receiving, via UE 115, a first measurement report request from BS 105 specifying a first set of channel frequencies. The first set of channel frequencies may include mmW channel frequencies. BS 105 may send the first measurement report request to UE 115 based on a trigger. For example, the trigger may be that BS 105 detects that UE 115 has established a connection with an LTE network (e.g., UE 115 is in a connection mode associated with an LTE network).

[0095] In block 606, method 600 includes: inserting a first set of channel frequencies into a list of channel frequencies stored in a database at UE 115, the database storing multiple antenna configurations. The multiple antenna configurations may include, for example, the orientation (e.g., angle) of an antenna panel, which can be used to configure the antenna panel. The database may include a pre-configured set of channel frequencies (e.g., pre-configured by the UE 115's OEM) and / or the first set of channel frequencies. Additionally, after establishing the first connection, BS 105 may send new channel frequencies to UE 115, and UE 115 may insert the new channel frequencies into the database.

[0096] In block 608, method 600 includes: via UE 115, entering an antenna configuration selection mode based on a list of channel frequencies and multiple antenna configurations, to select the optimal antenna configuration among the multiple antenna configurations. In some aspects, when UE 115 is in the antenna configuration selection mode of block 608, UE 115 can perform... Figure 5 Boxes 506, 508, 510, 512 and / or 514 in the text.

[0097] When UE 115 is in antenna configuration selection mode, BS 105 can deconfigure one or more channel frequencies specified in the first measurement report. Modem devices (e.g., Figure 2 The modem device 216 in the BS 105 may have an LTE portion (e.g., in hardware and / or software) associated with an LTE network (e.g., to implement LTE operation) and an NR portion (e.g., in hardware and / or software) associated with an NR network (e.g., to implement NR operation). In some respects, the NR portion of the modem device may remain active after all channel frequencies are deconfigured in BS 105. For example, the NR portion of the modem device may continue to send commands for controlling the rotation of the antenna panel 202 to perform measurements.

[0098] In block 610, method 600 includes determining whether each channel frequency in the first group of channel frequencies is still configured by the network. If so, method 600 may proceed to block 612. In block 612, method 600 includes sending a first measurement report based on the first group of channel frequencies and an optimal antenna configuration to BS 105 via UE 115 in response to a first measurement report request. If, for example, BS 105 maintains the measurement object associated with the measurement report request, BS 105 reconfigures the measurement object associated with the measurement report request within the first connection (e.g., an LTE network), etc., each channel frequency in the first group of channel frequencies can still be configured within the first connection. Alternatively or additionally, when UE 115 is in antenna configuration selection mode, UE 115 can maintain the first group of channel frequencies configured within the first connection by sending one or more measurement reports to BS 105. BS 105 may receive one or more measurement reports and determine not to deconfigure the channel frequencies specified in one or more measurement reports.

[0099] Conversely, if the network has not configured a channel frequency in the first group of channel frequencies, method 600 can return to block 614. If UE 115 receives an instruction to deconfigure a channel frequency in the first group of channel frequencies, UE 115 can determine that the channel frequency has not been configured within the first connection. For example, after receiving an instruction to deconfigure one or more channel frequencies, UE 115 can perform a measurement of the deconfigured channel frequency based on an antenna configuration among multiple antenna configurations and determine one or more signal strengths of at least one beam received with that antenna configuration for the deconfigured channel frequency.

[0100] In box 614, method 600 includes: triggering a radio link failure (RLF) associated with the first connection via UE 115. UE 115 may configure its antenna panel based on an optimal antenna configuration, and may trigger the RLF after configuring the antenna panel. After the RLF, UE 115 may no longer connect to the LTE network. Accordingly, UE 115 may be ready to transmit communication signals based on the optimal antenna configuration.

[0101] In block 616, method 600 includes: establishing a second connection with an LTE network via UE 115. After establishing the second connection with the LTE network, UE 115 may be in a connection mode associated with the LTE network.

[0102] In block 618, method 600 includes: receiving, via UE 115, a second measurement report request from BS 105 specifying a second set of channel frequencies. The second set of channel frequencies may include mmW channel frequencies. BS 105 may send the second measurement report request to UE 115 based on a trigger. For example, the trigger may be that BS 105 detects that UE 115 has established a connection with an LTE network (e.g., UE 115 is in a connection mode associated with an LTE network). UE 115 may perform a set of measurements for each of one or more channel frequencies based on an optimal antenna configuration.

[0103] In block 620, method 600 includes: in response to a second measurement report request, sending a second measurement report based on a second set of channel frequencies and an optimal antenna configuration to BS 105 via UE 115. The second measurement report may be based on the results of that set of measurements. The antenna panel of UE 115 may be oriented in a spatial direction based on the optimal antenna configuration, and UE 115 may send the second measurement report.

[0104] UE 115 can execute method 600 based on various mechanisms. For example, UE 115 can execute method 600 periodically (e.g., weekly) based on client requests.

[0105] UE 115 can enter and / or exit antenna configuration selection mode based on various mechanisms. Figure 7 A flowchart of a communication method 700 for entering and exiting an antenna configuration selection mode according to one or more aspects of this disclosure is shown. The blocks of method 700 can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuitry, and / or other suitable components) of a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the wireless communication device is a UE (e.g., UE 115 and / or UE 300), which can utilize one or more components, such as processor 302, memory 304, antenna configuration module 308, communication module 309, transceiver 310, and / or antenna 316, to execute the blocks of method 700. Method 700 can be adopted with... Figure 5 Method 500 Figure 6 Method 600 and / or Figure 8 Aspects similar to those in method 800. As shown in the figure, method 700 includes multiple enumeration boxes, but aspects of method 700 may include additional boxes before, after, and / or between enumeration boxes. In some aspects, one or more enumeration boxes may be omitted or executed in a different order.

[0106] At box 702, method 700 includes: detecting, via UE 115, a first trigger for entering an antenna configuration selection mode associated with a list of multiple antenna configurations and channel frequencies. The first trigger may include, for example, initial installation of UE 115, output signal from a motion sensor included in UE 115, activation of a physical button on UE 115, activation of a touchscreen button displayed on a display coupled to UE 115, expiration of a reproduction timer (e.g., a timer set by BS 105 for receiving measurement reports), start of a new power cycle at UE 115, insertion of a channel frequency into a database, a threshold number of RLFs at UE 115, or at least a combination thereof. If UE 115 experiences at least a threshold number of RLFs, the current antenna configuration may be suboptimal, and it may be desirable to determine a new optimal antenna configuration and enter the antenna configuration selection mode accordingly.

[0107] In some examples, UE 115 may detect the first trigger in response to, for example, receiving a measurement report request from BS 105, establishing a connection to the LTE network, or a combination thereof. In some examples, UE 115 may be a mobile device with an application that triggers UE 115 to enter antenna configuration selection mode when invoked. The application may be installed on the mobile device by the OEM or may be downloaded to the mobile device by the user.

[0108] In block 704, method 700 includes: entering an antenna configuration selection mode via UE 115 to select the optimal antenna configuration among a plurality of antenna configurations, wherein the UE enters the antenna configuration selection mode in response to detecting a first trigger. In some aspects, in the antenna configuration selection mode, UE 115 may determine a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received at each of the plurality of antenna configurations for one or more channel frequencies in a list of channel frequencies, and may store the set of signal strengths in a database. UE 115 may delete the set of signal strengths from the database in response to detecting the first trigger. In some aspects, when UE 115 is in connected mode in a network (e.g., an LTE network), UE 115 may receive a measurement report request for a specified channel frequency (e.g., mmW channel frequency) from BS 105, and may enter the antenna configuration selection mode in response to receiving the measurement report request.

[0109] In box 706, method 700 includes: detecting a second trigger for exiting the antenna configuration selection mode via UE 115. The second trigger may include, for example, determining that each signal strength based on the corresponding antenna configuration for one or more channel frequencies in the list is greater than a signal quality threshold. In this example, the corresponding antenna configuration may provide very strong signal strength for one or more channel frequencies, and UE 115 may determine that the antenna configuration is the optimal antenna configuration for the list of channel frequencies.

[0110] In block 708, method 700 includes: exiting the antenna configuration selection mode via UE 115 in response to detecting a second trigger. For example, UE 115 may exit the antenna configuration selection mode in response to determining that each signal strength based on the corresponding antenna configuration for one or more channel frequencies in the list is greater than a signal quality threshold.

[0111] Before or after UE 115 enters or exits antenna configuration selection mode, UE 115 may receive an indication of a channel frequency to be inserted into the list. In some aspects, if UE 115 receives an indication of a channel frequency to be inserted into the list before or after UE 115 enters or exits antenna configuration selection mode, then UE 115 may insert the indicated channel frequency into the list and perform a measurement of the indicated channel frequency based on each of one or more of a plurality of antenna configurations.

[0112] In some aspects, if UE 115 receives an indication of a channel frequency to be inserted into a list after UE 115 has entered antenna configuration selection mode, then UE 115 may insert the indicated channel frequency into the list without performing a measurement of the indicated channel frequency while UE 115 is in the current antenna configuration selection mode. The next time UE 115 enters antenna configuration selection mode, UE 115 may perform a measurement of the indicated channel frequency based on each of one or more of a plurality of antenna configurations. In some aspects, if UE 115 receives an indication of a channel frequency to be inserted into a list after UE 115 has exited antenna configuration selection mode, then the insertion of the indicated channel frequency may be an example of the first trigger for entering antenna configuration selection mode.

[0113] Figure 8A flowchart of a communication method 800 for transmitting communication signals based on an optimal antenna configuration, according to one or more aspects of this disclosure, is shown. The blocks of method 800 can be executed by a computing device (e.g., a processor, processing circuitry, and / or other suitable components) of a wireless communication device. In some aspects, the wireless communication device is a UE (e.g., UE 115 and / or UE 300), which can utilize one or more components, such as processor 302, memory 304, antenna configuration module 308, communication module 309, transceiver 310, and / or antenna 316, to execute the blocks of method 800. Method 800 can use similar... Figure 5 Method 500 Figure 6 Method 600 and / or Figure 7 The method 800 includes several enumeration boxes, as shown in the figure. However, aspects of the method 800 may include additional boxes before, after, and / or between the enumeration boxes. In some aspects, one or more of the enumeration boxes may be omitted or executed in a different order.

[0114] In box 802, method 800 includes: determining, via UE 115, multiple antenna configurations for multiple channel frequencies. The multiple channel frequencies may be included in a channel frequency list stored in a database at the UE. The channel frequency list may include zero or more pre-configured channel frequencies (e.g., by the OEM of UE 115) and zero or more channel frequencies specified in a measurement report request from the BS. UE 115 may insert the specified channel frequencies into the channel frequency list stored in the database. UE 115 may modify the channel frequency list stored in the database, inserting additional channel frequencies into the list and / or removing channel frequencies from the list.

[0115] In some aspects, UE 115 can establish a connection to the LTE network with the BS. UE 115 can enter idle mode. When UE 115 is in idle mode, UE 115 can perform a set of measurements on each of one or more channel frequencies from a plurality of channel frequencies based on a first antenna configuration. In some aspects, UE 115 can establish a connection to the NR network with the BS and can enter CDRX power-off mode when the UE is connected to the NR network. When the UE is in CDRX power-off mode, UE 115 can perform a set of measurements on each of one or more channel frequencies from a list based on a first antenna configuration.

[0116] UE 115 can enter an antenna configuration selection mode. When UE 115 is in antenna configuration selection mode, UE 115 can execute blocks 804 and 806. In block 804, method 800 includes: determining, by UE 115, a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received in one or more antenna configurations of a plurality of antenna configurations for at least one channel frequency. UE 115 can determine the set of signal strengths for each of the one or more antenna configurations, in one or more frequencies, using a beam scanning operation.

[0117] In some aspects, UE 115 can determine the set of signal strengths by, for example, setting its antenna panel to face a first spatial direction based on each of one or more antenna configurations in a plurality of antenna configurations, and scanning each of one or more channel frequencies in a list based on each of the one or more antenna configurations. If the antenna panel is a motorized rotatable antenna panel, then the UE can determine the set of signal strengths for at least one beam received at the UE's motorized rotatable antenna panel. If the antenna panel is a multi-panel, the UE can determine the set of signal strengths for at least one beam received at the UE's multiple panels. Each signal strength in the set can be based on at least one of SINR measurements, RSRP measurements, RSSI, RSRQ, or SPEFF measurements, or combinations thereof, at the corresponding channel frequency.

[0118] In some respects, for one or more channel frequencies in a list of channel frequencies, UE 115 can determine a given antenna configuration among multiple antenna configurations that provides the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency, and can store the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency in a database. The association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency can instruct the given antenna configuration to provide the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency relative to other signal strengths associated with other antenna configurations.

[0119] If UE 115 receives an instruction from BS 105 to deconfigure a channel frequency in the group of channel frequencies, then UE 115 may continue to determine the signal strength of the group of at least one beam received with the first antenna configuration for the deconfigured channel frequency.

[0120] In block 806, method 800 includes selecting a first antenna configuration from a plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths. UE 115 may select the first antenna configuration based on different statistical results of measurements across different channel frequencies and antenna configurations. In some aspects, UE 115 may select a specific antenna configuration for each channel frequency and then determine the optimal antenna configuration for all channel frequencies in the channel frequency list. UE 115 may store the association between a specific antenna configuration and its corresponding channel frequency. Accordingly, UE 115 may refer to this information at a later point in time. For example, at a later point in time, UE 115 may determine to scan a subgroup of channel frequencies in the channel frequency list instead of performing a full scan of the channel frequency list. UE 115 may, for example, select a specific antenna configuration corresponding to each channel frequency in this subset and select the optimal antenna configuration associated with the highest signal strength.

[0121] In some aspects, UE 115 may select a first antenna configuration having a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for a list of channel frequencies. In some aspects, UE 115 may select a first antenna configuration having the highest signal strength among this set of signal strengths. In some aspects, UE 115 may select a first antenna configuration having a signal strength among this set of signal strengths higher than a threshold for each of one or more channel frequencies in the list. In some aspects, UE 115 determines this set of signal strengths for at least one beam received by each of one or more antenna configurations for a single channel frequency. UE 115 may select an optimal antenna configuration that provides the highest signal strength for a single channel frequency.

[0122] Although this disclosure describes the UE as including a motorized, rotatable antenna panel, it should be understood that this disclosure can be applied to other scenarios in which the UE 115 performs measurements to select the optimal antenna configuration (e.g., multi-panel configuration). In some aspects, if the multi-panel configuration includes multiple fixed panels, a first set of signal strengths may be associated with a first fixed panel, and a second set of signal strengths may be associated with a second fixed panel. The UE selects an antenna configuration (e.g., the first or second panel) that provides, for example, the highest signal strength for a list of channel frequencies.

[0123] In block 808, method 800 includes: communicating with BS 105 via UE 115, based on a first antenna configuration, in at least one of the channel frequencies. For example, UE 115 may transmit a communication signal (e.g., a measurement report) from block 804 in a channel frequency based on the first antenna configuration. In another example, UE 115 may receive a communication signal (e.g., a measurement report request) from a channel frequency originating from block 804, based on the first antenna configuration.

[0124] While this disclosure provides examples in the context of a UE or CPE operating in LTE and NR FR2 networks, it applies to devices operating in 5G Standalone (SA) mode, 5G Non-Standalone (NSA) mode, 5G NR TDD FR1 (in sub-6GHz), and 5G NR TDD FR2 (in mmW). 5G NSA mode refers to a deployment mode in which control plane operations are performed by LTE signals and data plane operations are performed by 5G. 5G SA mode refers to a deployment mode in which both control plane and data plane operations are performed by 5G.

[0125] In some aspects, a wireless communication method includes: determining, by a user equipment (UE), a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; determining, by the UE, a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; selecting a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and communicating with a base station (BS) in the at least one of the channel frequencies, by the UE, based on the first antenna configuration.

[0126] In some instances, at least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured. In some instances, the method further includes: receiving, via the UE, an instruction from the BS for deconfiguring a channel frequency among the plurality of channel frequencies, wherein determining a set of signal strengths includes, after receiving the instruction, determining the signal strength of at least one beam received with the first antenna configuration for the channel frequency. In some instances, the method further includes: via the UE, configuring an antenna panel of the UE facing a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration. In one instance, determining a set of signal strengths includes: determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received at a motorized rotatable antenna panel of the UE, and configuring the antenna panel includes configuring the motorized rotatable antenna panel based on the first antenna configuration. In one instance, determining a set of signal strengths includes determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received at multiple panels of the UE, and configuring the antenna panel includes configuring the multiple panels based on the first antenna configuration. In one example, the method further includes: after configuring the antenna panel of the UE, triggering a radio link failure (RLF) through the UE; camping on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network through the UE; receiving a measurement report request for a specified set of millimeter-wave (mmW) channel frequencies through the UE; and performing a set of measurements on at least one of the mmW channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration through the UE, wherein communication in the at least one channel frequency includes sending a measurement report based on the set of measurements.

[0127] In some instances, determining a set of signal strengths includes: configuring the antenna panel of the UE based on one or more antenna configurations among the plurality of antenna configurations; and scanning at least one channel frequency among the channel frequencies based on the one or more antenna configurations to determine the signal strength in the set of signal strengths. In some instances, at least one signal strength in the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of the following: signal-to-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR) measurement, reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof, at the corresponding channel frequency. In some instances, the method further includes: for one or more channel frequencies among the plurality of channel frequencies: determining, by the UE, a given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations that provides the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; and storing the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency in a database.

[0128] In some instances, the method further includes: selecting a first antenna configuration having a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for the plurality of channel frequencies. In some instances, the method further includes: selecting a first antenna configuration having the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths. In some instances, the method further includes: selecting a first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths that is higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

[0129] In some instances, the method further includes: entering an antenna configuration selection mode via the UE, wherein, while the UE is in the antenna configuration selection mode, determining a set of signal strengths and selecting a first antenna configuration are performed. In one instance, the method further includes: exiting the antenna configuration selection mode via the UE in response to determining that at least one signal strength in the set of signal strengths for at least one channel frequency in the channel frequencies is greater than a signal quality threshold. In one instance, entering the antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to the detection of a trigger, wherein the trigger includes at least one of the following: initial installation of the UE, output signal from a motion sensor included in the UE, activation of a physical button on the UE, activation of a touchscreen button displayed on a display coupled to the UE, an RLF at the UE, expiration of a replay timer, start of a new power cycle at the UE, or a combination thereof. In one instance, the method further includes: camping on an LTE network via the UE, wherein entering the antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to camping on the LTE network. In one instance, the method further includes: receiving a measurement report request specifying a set of mmW channel frequencies from the BS via the UE, wherein entering the antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to receiving the measurement report request. In one example, the method further includes: when the UE is in a connected mode in the network, receiving a measurement report request for a specified channel frequency from the BS via the UE, wherein entering an antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to receiving the measurement report request.

[0130] In some cases, the method further includes: camping on an LTE network via the UE; entering an idle mode via the UE after camping; and performing a set of measurements on each of a plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration while the UE is in the idle mode. In some instances, the method further includes: establishing a connection to a New Radio (NR) network with the BS via the UE; entering a Connected Mode Discontinuous Receive (CDRX) power-off mode while the UE is connected to the NR network; and performing a set of measurements on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration while the UE is in the CDRX power-off mode. In some instances, beam scanning operations are used to determine the set of signal strengths at the one or more frequencies for the one or more antenna configurations.

[0131] In some aspects, an apparatus includes: a memory; and a processor configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the apparatus to: determine a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; determine a set of signal strengths for at least one channel frequency of the channel frequencies received by at least one of the plurality of antenna configurations with one or more antenna configurations; select a first antenna configuration of the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and communicate with a base station (BS) in the at least one channel frequency of the channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

[0132] In some instances, at least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured. In some instances, the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: receive from the BS an instruction for deconfiguring a channel frequency among the plurality of channel frequencies; and, upon receiving the instruction, determine the signal strength of at least one beam received with the first antenna configuration for the channel frequency. In some instances, the device includes an antenna panel, wherein the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: position the antenna panel toward a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration. In some instances, the antenna panel includes a motorized rotatable antenna panel. In some instances, the antenna panel includes multiple panels. In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: trigger a radio link failure (RLF); subsequently reside on a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; perform a set of measurements on one or more millimeter-wave (mmW) channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration; receive a measurement report request specifying at least one of the mmW channel frequencies in the set; and transmit the measurement report based on the set of measurements.

[0133] In some instances, the device includes an antenna panel, wherein the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: configure the antenna panel based on one or more antenna configurations of a plurality of antenna configurations; and scan at least one of the channel frequencies based on the one or more antenna configurations to determine a signal strength in a set of signal strengths. In some instances, each of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of a signal-to-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR) measurement, a reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) or spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof, at the corresponding channel frequency. In some instances, the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: determine, for one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies, a given antenna configuration that provides the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; and store in a database the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency. In some instances, the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: select a first antenna configuration having a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for the plurality of channel frequencies. In some instances, the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: select a first antenna configuration having the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths. In some instances, the processor is configured, when executing instructions stored in the memory, to cause the device to: select a first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

[0134] In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: enter an antenna configuration selection mode; and, while in the antenna configuration selection mode, determine the set of signal strengths and select the first antenna configuration. In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: exit the antenna configuration selection mode in response to determining that at least one signal strength in the set of signal strengths for at least one channel frequency is greater than a signal quality threshold. In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: enter the antenna configuration selection mode in response to the detection of a trigger, wherein the trigger includes at least one of the following: initial installation, output signal from a motion sensor, activation of a physical button, activation of a touchscreen button displayed on a display, RLF, expiration of a playback timer, start of a new power cycle, or a combination thereof.

[0135] In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: receive a measurement report request specifying a set of mmW channel frequencies from the BS; and enter the antenna configuration selection mode in response to receiving the measurement report request. In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: camp on an LTE network; enter an idle mode after camping on the LTE network; and, while in the idle mode, perform a set of measurements on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration. In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: establish a connection to a New Radio (NR) network; enter a Connected Mode Discontinuous Receive (CDRX) power-off mode when connected to the NR network; and, while in the CDRX power-off mode, perform a set of measurements on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration. In some instances, the processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: enter the antenna configuration selection mode via an application.

[0136] In some aspects, a computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon includes: code for causing a user equipment (UE) to determine a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; code for causing the UE to determine a set of signal strengths for at least one channel frequency received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations; code for causing the UE to select a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and code for causing the UE to communicate with a base station (BS) in the at least one channel frequency among the channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

[0137] In some instances, at least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured. In some instances, the program code further includes code for causing the UE to orient its antenna panel toward a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration. In some instances, each of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of a signal-to-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR) measurement, a reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof, at the corresponding channel frequency. In some instances, the program code further includes, for one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies: code for causing the UE to determine a given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations that provides the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; and code for causing the UE to store in a database the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency.

[0138] In some instances, the program code further includes: code for causing the UE to select the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for the plurality of channel frequencies. In some instances, the program code further includes: code for causing the UE to select the first antenna configuration having the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths. In some instances, the program code further includes: code for causing the UE to select the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies. In some instances, the code for causing the UE to determine the set of signal strengths includes: code for causing the UE to determine the set of signal strengths using beam scanning operation for the one or more antenna configurations and frequencies.

[0139] In some aspects, an apparatus includes: units for determining a plurality of antenna configurations for a plurality of channel frequencies; units for determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received by one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; units for selecting a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths; and units for communicating with a base station (BS) in the at least one of the channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

[0140] In some instances, at least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a unit for oriented an antenna panel toward a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration. In some instances, at least one of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of a signal-to-interference-to-noise ratio (SINR) measurement, a reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI), a reference signal received quality (RSRQ), or a spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof, at the corresponding channel frequency. In some instances, the apparatus further includes: for one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies: a unit for determining a given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations that provides the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; and a unit for storing the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency in a database. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a unit for selecting the first antenna configuration, which has a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for the plurality of channel frequencies. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a unit for selecting the first antenna configuration having the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths. In some instances, the apparatus further includes a unit for selecting the first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths that is higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

[0141] The information and signals described herein can be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and skills. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be mentioned throughout the foregoing description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0142] The various exemplary blocks and modules described in connection with the disclosure herein can be implemented or executed using a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware component or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. The general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any conventional processor, controller, microcontroller or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices (e.g., a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration).

[0143] The functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, these functions can be stored on or transmitted via a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the above-described functions can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwired, or any combination thereof. Features used to implement the functions can also be physically located in various locations, including being distributed such that different parts of the functions are implemented at different physical locations. Furthermore, as used herein, including in the claims, the word "or" as used in a list of items (e.g., a list of items beginning with phrases such as "at least one" or "one or more") indicates an inclusive list, such that a list such as [at least one of A, B, or C] means A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C).

[0144] As those skilled in the art will now understand, and depending on the specific application at hand, many modifications, substitutions, and alterations can be made to the materials, apparatus, configuration, and methods of use of the devices disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of this disclosure should not be limited to the specific aspects shown and described herein, as these specific aspects are implemented only by way of some examples and should be fully commensurate with the scope of the appended claims and their functional equivalents.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising: The user equipment (UE) determines multiple antenna configurations for multiple channel frequencies, each of which is associated with a corresponding antenna panel angle. The UE determines a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received by one or more antenna configurations among the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies. Based on the set of signal strengths, a first antenna configuration is selected from the plurality of antenna configurations, wherein the first antenna configuration is associated with the angle of the first antenna panel; The UE, based on the first antenna configuration, sets the antenna panel of the UE to face a first spatial direction; The UE performs a set of measurements for at least one millimeter-wave (mmW) channel frequency based on the first antenna configuration. as well as A measurement report is sent based on the measurement set and the first antenna configuration.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The UE receives an instruction from the base station to deconfigure a channel frequency among the plurality of channel frequencies, wherein determining a set of signal strengths includes: after receiving the instruction, determining the signal strength of at least one beam received with the first antenna configuration for the channel frequency.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The determination of a set of signal strengths includes: determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received at the motorized rotatable antenna panel of the UE, and wherein setting the antenna panel of the UE to face a first spatial direction includes: setting the motorized rotatable antenna panel based on the first antenna configuration.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The determination of a set of signal strengths includes: determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received at a multi-panel of the UE, and wherein setting the antenna panel of the UE to face a first spatial direction includes: setting the multi-panel based on the first antenna configuration.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: After the antenna panel of the UE is set to face the first spatial direction, a radio link failure (RLF) is triggered through the UE. The UE resides on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network. as well as The UE receives a measurement report request for a specified set of mmW channel frequencies, wherein sending the measurement report is based on receiving the measurement report request.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Determining a set of signal strengths includes: The UE's antenna panel is configured based on one or more antenna configurations among the plurality of antenna configurations; and The UE scans at least one of the channel frequencies based on the one or more antenna configurations to determine the signal strength in the set of signal strengths.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, At least one of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of the following: signal interference and noise ratio (SINR) measurement at the corresponding channel frequency, reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ) or spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: For one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies: The UE determines a given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations, the given antenna configuration providing the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; as well as The database stores the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Select the first antenna configuration, which has a maximum number of highest signal strengths that are higher than the thresholds for the plurality of channel frequencies.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Select the first antenna configuration that has the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Select the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths that is higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The UE enters an antenna configuration selection mode, wherein determining a set of signal strengths and selecting a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations are performed when the UE is in the antenna configuration selection mode.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: In response to determining that at least one signal strength for at least one channel frequency in the set of signal strengths is greater than a signal quality threshold, the UE exits the antenna configuration selection mode.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein, The entry into antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to the detection of a trigger, wherein the trigger includes at least one of the following: initial installation of the UE, output signal from a motion sensor included in the UE, activation of a physical button on the UE, activation of a touchscreen button displayed on a display coupled to the UE, RLF at the UE, expiration of a replay timer, start of a new power cycle at the UE, or combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The UE camps on the LTE network, wherein entering the antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to camping on the LTE network.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising: The UE receives a measurement report request from the base station specifying a set of mmW channel frequencies, wherein entering the antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to receiving the measurement report request.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising: When the UE is in connected mode in the network, it receives a measurement report request for a specified channel frequency from the base station, wherein entering the antenna configuration selection mode is performed in response to receiving the measurement report request.

19. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The UE can reside on the LTE network. The UE enters idle mode after the dwell period. as well as When the UE is in the idle mode, a set of measurements is performed on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

20. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The UE establishes a connection to the new radio network with the base station. When the UE connects to the new radio network, it enters a connection mode discontinuous reception power-off mode. as well as When the UE is in the discontinuous reception power-off mode of the connection mode, a set of measurements is performed on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

21. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The set of signal strengths is determined using beam scanning operations for the one or more antenna configurations in the one or more channel frequencies.

22. An apparatus comprising: Memory; Antenna panel; as well as A processor, configured to cause the device to: when executing instructions stored in the memory. Determine multiple antenna configurations for multiple channel frequencies, each of the multiple antenna configurations being associated with a corresponding antenna panel angle; Determine a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received by one or more antenna configurations of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; Based on the set of signal strengths, a first antenna configuration is selected from the plurality of antenna configurations, wherein the first antenna configuration is associated with the angle of the first antenna panel; The antenna panel of the device is configured to face a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration; Based on the first antenna configuration, perform a set of measurements for at least one millimeter-wave (mmW) channel frequency; as well as A measurement report is sent based on the measurement set and the first antenna configuration.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, At least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Receive instructions from the base station to unconfigure a channel frequency among the plurality of channel frequencies; as well as Upon receiving the instruction, the signal strength of at least one beam received with the first antenna configuration for the channel frequency is determined.

25. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The antenna panel includes a motorized, rotatable antenna panel.

26. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The antenna panel includes multiple panels.

27. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Triggering a radio link failure (RLF); After the RLF, it resides on the Long Term Evolution (LTE) network; as well as Receive a measurement report request for at least one mmW channel frequency from a specified set of mmW channel frequencies, wherein sending the measurement report is based on receiving the measurement report request.

28. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: The antenna panel is configured based on one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations; as well as Based on the one or more antenna configurations, at least one of the channel frequencies is scanned to determine the signal strength in the set of signal strengths.

29. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, Each of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of the following: signal interference and noise ratio (SINR) measurement at the corresponding channel frequency, reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ) or spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof.

30. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: For one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies: A given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations is determined, the given antenna configuration providing the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; as well as The database stores the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency.

31. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Select the first antenna configuration, which has a maximum number of highest signal strengths that are higher than the thresholds for the plurality of channel frequencies.

32. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Select the first antenna configuration that has the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths.

33. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Select the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths that is higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

34. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Enter antenna configuration selection mode; and When in the antenna configuration selection mode, determine the set of signal strengths and select the first antenna configuration.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: In response to determining that at least one signal strength for at least one channel frequency in the set of signal strengths is greater than a signal quality threshold, the antenna configuration selection mode is exited.

36. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: The antenna configuration selection mode is entered in response to the detection of a trigger, wherein the trigger includes at least one of the following: initial installation, output signal from a motion sensor, activation of a physical button, activation of a touchscreen button displayed on a monitor, RLF, expiration of a replay timer, start of a new power cycle, or a combination thereof.

37. The apparatus according to claim 34, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Receive a measurement report request from the base station specifying a set of mmW channel frequencies; as well as In response to receiving the measurement report request, enter the antenna configuration selection mode.

38. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Residing on the LTE network; After residing on the LTE network, it enters idle mode; as well as When in the idle mode, a set of measurements is performed on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

39. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Establish a connection to the new radio network; When connected to the new radio network, it enters a connection mode with discontinuous reception and a power-off mode. as well as When the connection mode is in discontinuous reception power-off mode, a set of measurements is performed on each of the plurality of channel frequencies based on the first antenna configuration.

40. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein, The processor is configured to, when executing instructions stored in the memory, cause the device to: Enter antenna configuration selection mode via the application.

41. A computer-readable medium having program code recorded thereon, the program code comprising: Code for enabling a user equipment (UE) to determine multiple antenna configurations for multiple channel frequencies, each of the multiple antenna configurations being associated with a corresponding antenna panel angle; Code used to enable the UE to determine a set of signal strengths for at least one beam received in one or more of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; Code for enabling the UE to select a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths, wherein the first antenna configuration is associated with a first antenna panel angle; Code used to enable the UE to set its antenna panel to face a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration; Code for enabling the UE to execute a set of measurements for at least one millimeter-wave (mmW) channel frequency based on the first antenna configuration; as well as Code for enabling the UE to send a measurement report based on the measurement set and the first antenna configuration.

42. The computer-readable medium according to claim 41, wherein, At least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured.

43. The computer-readable medium according to claim 41, wherein, Each of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of the following: signal interference and noise ratio (SINR) measurement at the corresponding channel frequency, reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ) or spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the program code further comprises: For one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies: Code used to enable the UE to determine a given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations, the given antenna configuration providing the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; as well as Code used to enable the UE to store in the database the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, further comprising: Code for enabling the UE to select the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for the plurality of channel frequencies.

46. ​​The computer-readable medium of claim 41, further comprising: Code used to enable the UE to select the first antenna configuration with the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, further comprising: Code for enabling the UE to select the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths that is higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

48. The computer-readable medium according to claim 41, wherein, The code used to enable the UE to determine the set of signal strengths includes: code used to enable the UE to configure itself for the one or more antennas to use beam scanning operations in the one or more channel frequencies to determine the set of signal strengths.

49. An apparatus comprising: A unit for determining multiple antenna configurations for multiple channel frequencies, each of the multiple antenna configurations being associated with a corresponding antenna panel angle; A unit for determining a set of signal strengths of at least one beam received by one or more antenna configurations of the plurality of antenna configurations for at least one of the channel frequencies; A unit for selecting a first antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations based on the set of signal strengths, the first antenna configuration being associated with a first antenna panel angle; A unit for arranging the antenna panel of the device toward a first spatial direction based on the first antenna configuration; A unit for performing a set of measurements for at least one millimeter-wave (mmW) channel frequency based on the first antenna configuration; as well as A unit for sending measurement reports based on the measurement set and the first antenna configuration.

50. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein, At least one of the plurality of channel frequencies is pre-configured.

51. The apparatus according to claim 49, wherein, At least one of the set of signal strengths is based on at least one of the following: signal interference and noise ratio (SINR) measurement at the corresponding channel frequency, reference signal received power (RSRP) measurement, received signal strength indicator (RSSI), reference signal received quality (RSRQ) or spectral efficiency (SPEFF) measurement, or a combination thereof.

52. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising: For one or more of the plurality of channel frequencies: A unit for determining a given antenna configuration among the plurality of antenna configurations, the given antenna configuration providing the highest signal strength for the corresponding channel frequency; as well as A unit for storing in a database the association between the given antenna configuration and the corresponding channel frequency.

53. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising: A unit for selecting the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a maximum number of highest signal strengths higher than a threshold for the plurality of channel frequencies.

54. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising: A unit for selecting the first antenna configuration having the highest signal strength among the set of signal strengths.

55. The apparatus of claim 49, further comprising: A unit for selecting the first antenna configuration, the first antenna configuration having a signal strength among the set of signal strengths that is higher than a threshold for at least one of the channel frequencies.

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