Paging Procedure with Increased Granularity

Abstract

This document provides various techniques and solutions for paging a User Equipment (UE). Specifically, paging at a higher granularity level (such as beam level) for low mobility or stationary UEs in an inactive and / or idle state is described. A device may be configured to receive from a network a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the device. The at least one beam notification area may include a beam set corresponding to a set of cells, which is identified by the network as candidates for carrying paging messages for the device in the at least one beam notification area. The device may be further configured to receive the paging message from the network via a beam in the beam set corresponding to a cell in the set of cells in which the device is located, based on the at least one beam notification area.

Description

[0001] Cross - Reference to Related Applications

[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 024,486, filed on May 13, 2020, entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BEAM - LEVEL PAGING OF USER EQUIPMENT IN INACTIVE OR IDLE STATES", and U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 302,074, filed on April 22, 2021, entitled "PAGING PROCEDURES WITH INCREASED GRANULARITIES", the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. Background Technical Field

[0004] This disclosure generally relates to communication systems and, in particular, to various procedures for network paging of devices at a high granularity level, such as at the beam level.

[0005] Introduction

[0006] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various telecommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, and broadcasting. A typical wireless communication system may employ a multiple access technology that is capable of supporting communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources. Examples of such multiple access technologies include code - division multiple access (CDMA) systems, time - division multiple access (TDMA) systems, frequency - division multiple access (FDMA) systems, orthogonal frequency - division multiple access (OFDMA) systems, single - carrier frequency - division multiple access (SC - FDMA) systems, and time - division synchronous code - division multiple access (TD - SCDMA) systems.

[0007] These multiple access technologies have been adopted in various telecommunication standards to provide a common protocol that enables different wireless devices to communicate at the urban, national, regional, and even global levels. An example telecommunication standard is 5G New Radio (NR). 5G NR is part of the continuous mobile broadband evolution promulgated by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) to meet new requirements associated with latency, reliability, security, scalability (e.g., related to the Internet of Things (IoT)), and other requirements. 5G NR includes services associated with enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), massive machine type communication (mMTC), and ultra-reliable low latency communication (URLLC). Some aspects of 5G NR can be based on the 4G Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard. There is a need for further improvement of 5G NR technology. These improvements can also be applicable to other multiple access technologies and telecommunication standards that employ these technologies.

[0008] Overview

[0009] A brief overview of one or more aspects is given below to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This overview is not an exhaustive survey of all contemplated aspects and is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor to delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that follows.

[0010] In various radio access networks (RANs) (such as 5G NR networks), communication with a user equipment (UE) can be initiated by paging. To determine where to page the UE, the UE can register with the network so that the location of the UE is known and the UE can be paged in the appropriate area. Specifically, the UE can be tracked at the core network level and / or the radio access network (RAN) level.

[0011] At the core network level, the UE can perform a tracking area registration procedure during which a UE registration area can be assigned to the UE. The UE registration area can be associated with a set of tracking area identifiers (TAIs). Each TAI can be associated with one or more RAN areas, e.g., so that the UE can be tracked at the RAN level. Each RAN area can be identified by a corresponding RAN area identifier (RAI). The RAI can indicate a set of cells in which the UE can be located. In addition, a RAN notification area can be assigned to the UE, which can include a set of RAIs, TAIs, and / or cell IDs in which the UE can be located.

[0012] When the UE moves to a new cell that is not included in the assigned RAN notification area, the UE may perform a Radio Resource Control (RRC) RAN notification area update procedure with the network. In response, the network may assign a new RAN notification area to the UE, which may include the new cell to which the UE has moved. Similarly, when the UE moves to a new cell and the new cell is not included in the UE registration area assigned to the UE, the UE may perform a Non-Access Stratum (NAS) registration update procedure with the network. For NAS registration updates, the network may assign a new UE registration area to the UE, and the new UE registration area may indicate a set of Tracking Area Identifiers (TAIs) that includes the new cell.

[0013] When the UE is operating in the active and / or connected state, the UE may be actively connected to the network, and thus, the network may know the location of the UE at the core network and RAN levels and also at the beam level (e.g., because the UE may be actively connected to a base station and uses at least one beam to communicate with the base station). Therefore, at least one beam that the UE is actively using to communicate with the base station can be used to page the UE.

[0014] However, in the inactive and idle states, the location of the UE may be unknown at the beam level. Therefore, the UE may be paged in a wider area because the beam(s) that the UE can use for communication may be unknown. For example, when the UE is in the idle state, the UE registration area may be used to page the UE. Thus, a paging message for the UE may be transmitted across all Tracking Area Identifiers (TAIs) included in the set of TAIs in the UE registration area. However, when the UE is in the inactive state, the RAN notification area may be used to page the UE. Thus, a paging message for the UE may be transmitted across all of the one or more TAIs, Routing Area Identifiers (RAIs), and / or cell IDs included in the RAN notification area assigned to the UE.

[0015] Such methods for paging may be applicable to mobile UEs, such as UEs that frequently or occasionally move to different RAN areas and / or tracking areas. However, some UEs may be considered "reduced-capability", and at least some reduced-capability UEs may be considered stationary, e.g., because those UEs are located at fixed positions. Although some reduced-capability UEs may move (such as by rotating or otherwise changing orientation), those UEs may otherwise remain stationary. Examples of such reduced-capability UEs include industrial wireless sensors, surveillance devices, smart meters, various Internet of Things (IoT) devices (e.g., Industrial IoT (IIoT) devices), etc.

[0016] Since some UEs with reduced capabilities may remain stationary or may have low mobility, communication between those UEs and a base station (e.g., gNB) may use relatively fewer beams (e.g., compared to the number of available beams such as 128 available beams). Since these UEs with reduced capabilities can use fewer beams and are less likely to travel outside a local area covered by a relatively small number of base stations (e.g., five or ten base stations), paging these UEs over a RAN notification area and / or UE registration area may result in unnecessary overhead and waste of resources unnecessarily. For example, when a UE with reduced capabilities uses only two or four beams, using 128 beams in a cell to page the UE with reduced capabilities may be wasteful in terms of time, resource consumption, processing power, etc. However, UEs with reduced capabilities may still operate in an inactive and / or idle state at various times, and thus, beam-level paging may not be possible because those UEs are not in a connected and / or active state in which the beam used to communicate with the UE is known. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the overhead incurred by paging those UEs when the UEs are in an inactive and / or idle state (such as when the UE has reduced capabilities, low mobility, and / or is stationary).

[0017] The present disclosure provides various techniques and solutions for paging UEs with reduced capabilities, low mobility, and / or stationary that are operating in an inactive and / or idle state. Specifically, the present disclosure describes various methods for paging UEs in an inactive and / or idle state at a higher granularity level (such as, for example, at a beam granularity level rather than at a tracking area level). However, one of ordinary skill in the relevant art will readily appreciate the applicability and potential benefits to some systems and devices that do not operate or cannot operate in an inactive state or an idle state.

[0018] In one aspect of the present disclosure, a first method, a first computer-readable medium, and a first apparatus are provided. The first apparatus may be a UE or a component thereof. The first apparatus may be configured to receive, from a network, a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE. The at least one beam notification area may include a beam set corresponding to a cell set, and the beam set is identified by the network as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification area. The apparatus may be further configured to receive, from the network, a paging message via one beam in the beam set corresponding to one cell in the cell set in which the UE is located, based on the at least one beam notification area. In some aspects, when the paging message is received, the RRC layer of the UE's protocol stack is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0019] In another aspect of the present disclosure, a second method, a second computer-readable medium, and a second apparatus are provided. The second apparatus may be a base station or a component thereof that operates a cell. The second apparatus may be configured to transmit a message to a UE that configures at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE. The at least one beam notification area may include a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, and the set of beams is identified as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification area. The second apparatus may be further configured to transmit a paging message to the UE via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells where the UE is located based on the at least one beam notification area. In some aspects, when the paging message is received, the RRC layer of the UE's protocol stack is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0020] To achieve the foregoing and related purposes, one or more aspects include the features that are fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the drawings set forth certain illustrative features of one or more aspects in detail. However, these features are merely indicative of some of the various ways in which the principles of the various aspects may be employed, and this description is intended to cover all such aspects and their equivalents. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0022] Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system and an access network.

[0023] Figure 2A is a diagram illustrating an example of a first frame according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0024] Figure 2B is a diagram illustrating an example of a downlink channel within a subframe according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 2C is a diagram illustrating an example of a second frame according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0026] Figure 2D is a diagram illustrating an example of an uplink channel within a subframe according to various aspects of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a base station and a user equipment (UE) in an access network.

[0028] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a beam notification area in which a UE may be paged when in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0029] Figure 5 is a call flow diagram illustrating an example operation and communication for paging a UE in a beam notification area.

[0030] Figure 6 It is a flowchart of an example method for wireless communication by a UE.

[0031] Figure 7 It is a flowchart of an example method for wireless communication by a base station.

[0032] Figure 8 It is a diagram illustrating an example of the hardware implementation of an example device.

[0033] Figure 9 It is a diagram illustrating another example of the hardware implementation of another example device.

[0034] Detailed Description

[0035] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0036] Certain aspects of a telecommunications system will now be presented with reference to various apparatuses and methods. These apparatuses and methods will be described in detail below and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0037] By way of example, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may be implemented as a "processing system" that includes one or more processors. Examples of processors include: a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a graphics processing unit (GPU), a central processing unit (CPU), an application processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processor, a system on a chip (SoC), a baseband processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), a state machine, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functions described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in the processing system may execute software. Software should be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, computer executable code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to in software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

[0038] Accordingly, in one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the described functionality may be implemented in hardware, software, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software, the functions may be stored or encoded as one or more instructions or computer-executable code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media. Storage media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example and not limitation, such computer-readable media may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of the aforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer-executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer.

[0039] Figure 1 FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication system and an access network 100. The wireless communication system (also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) includes base stations 102, user equipment (UE) 104, an evolved packet core (EPC) 160, and another core network 190 (e.g., a 5G core (5GC)). The base stations 102 may include macro cells (high-power cellular base stations) and / or small cells (low-power cellular base stations). Macro cells include base stations. Small cells include femto cells, pico cells, and micro cells.

[0040] Base stations 102 configured for 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) (collectively referred to as evolved universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) terrestrial radio access network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC 160 via a first backhaul link 132 (e.g., an S1 interface). Base stations 102 configured for 5G New Radio (NR) (which may be collectively referred to as a next-generation radio access network (RAN) (NG-RAN)) may interface with the core network 190 via a second backhaul link 184. In addition to other functions, the base stations 102 may also perform one or more of the following functions: transfer of user data, radio channel ciphering and deciphering, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection establishment and release, load balancing, distribution of non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, RAN sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and equipment tracking, radio access network information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of alert messages.

[0041] In some aspects, base stations 102 may communicate with each other directly or indirectly (e.g., via EPC 160 or core network 190) on a third backhaul link 134 (e.g., an X2 interface). The first backhaul link 132, the second backhaul link 184, and the third backhaul link 134 may be wired or wireless. At least some of the base stations 102 may be configured for integrated access and backhaul (IAB). Thus, such base stations may communicate wirelessly with other such base stations. For example, at least some of the base stations 102 configured for IAB may have a split architecture that includes at least one of a central unit (CU), a distributed unit (DU), a radio unit (RU), a remote radio head (RRH), and / or a remote unit, some or all of which may be co-located or distributed and / or may communicate with each other. In some configurations of such a split architecture, the CU may implement some or all of the functionality of the radio resource control (RRC) layer, while the DU may implement some or all of the functionality of the radio link control (RLC) layer.

[0042] Illustratively, some of the base stations 102 configured for IAB may communicate with the DU of an IAB donor node or other parent IAB node (e.g., a base station) via the respective CU, and further, may communicate with a child IAB node (e.g., another base station) and / or one or more UEs 104 via the respective DU. One or more of the base stations 102 configured for IAB may be an IAB donor connected to at least one of the EPC 160 and / or the core network 19 ation, one or more base stations 102 may be configured with connectivity in an open RAN (ORAN) and / or a virtualized RAN (VRAN), which may be implemented via at least one respective CU, DU, RU, RRH, and / or remote unit.

[0043] Base station 102 can communicate wirelessly with UE 104. Each base station 102 can provide communication coverage for its respective geographical coverage area 110. There may be overlapping geographical coverage areas 110. For example, small cell 102’ may have a coverage area 110’ that overlaps with the coverage areas 110 of one or more macro base stations 102. A network including both small cells and macro cells can be referred to as a heterogeneous network. The heterogeneous network may also include a Home evolved Node B (HeNB) that can serve a restricted group known as a Closed Subscriber Group (CSG). The communication link 120 between base station 102 and UE 104 can include an uplink (also referred to as a reverse link) transmission from UE 104 to base station 102 and / or a downlink (also referred to as a forward link) transmission from base station 102 to UE 104. The communication link 120 can use multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antenna techniques, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. These communication links can be over one or more carriers. For each carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz (x component carriers) for transmission in each direction, base station 102 / UE 104 can use a spectrum with a bandwidth of up to Y megahertz (MHz) (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400 MHz, etc.). These carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other. The allocation of carriers can be asymmetric with respect to the downlink and uplink (e.g., more or fewer carriers may be allocated to the downlink compared to the uplink). Component carriers can include a primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers. The primary component carrier can be referred to as the Primary Cell (PCell), and the secondary component carriers can be referred to as Secondary Cells (SCells).

[0044] Some UEs 104 can communicate with each other using device-to-device (D2D) communication links 158. The D2D communication links 158 can use downlink / uplink WWAN spectrum. The D2D communication links 158 can use one or more sidelink channels, such as the Physical Sidelink Broadcast Channel (PSBCH), Physical Sidelink Discovery Channel (PSDCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel (PSSCH), and Physical Sidelink Control Channel (PSCCH). D2D communication can be through various wireless D2D communication systems, such as, by way of example, WiMedia, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards, LTE, or NR.

[0045] The wireless communication system may further include, for example, a Wi-Fi access point (AP) 150 that is in communication with a Wi-Fi station (STA) 152 via a communication link 154 in an unlicensed spectrum such as the 5 gigahertz (GHz) unlicensed spectrum. When communicating in an unlicensed spectrum, the STA 152 / AP 150 may perform a clear channel assessment (CCA) before communication to determine whether the channel is available.

[0046] The small cell 102’ may operate in licensed and / or unlicensed spectrum. When operating in an unlicensed spectrum, the small cell 102’ may adopt NR and use the same unlicensed spectrum (e.g., 5 GHz, etc.) as that used by the Wi-Fi AP 150. The small cell 102’ that adopts NR in an unlicensed spectrum may boost the coverage of the access network and / or increase the capacity of the access network.

[0047] The electromagnetic spectrum is generally subdivided into various classes, frequency bands, channels, etc. based on frequency / wavelength. In 5G NR, two initial operating frequency bands have been identified as frequency range designations FR1 (410 MHz – 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (24.25 GHz – 52.6 GHz). The frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are generally referred to as mid-band frequencies. Although a part of FR1 is greater than 6 GHz, in various documents and articles, FR1 is generally (interchangeably) referred to as the “sub-6 GHz band”. Similar naming issues sometimes arise with respect to FR2. Although different from the extremely high frequency (EHF) band (30 GHz – 300 GHz) identified by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) as the “millimeter wave” (mmW) band, FR2 is generally (interchangeably) referred to as “millimeter wave” (or “mmWave” or simply “mmW”) in various documents and articles.

[0048] In view of the above aspects, unless otherwise specifically stated, it should be understood that if used herein, the term sub-“6 GHz” etc. may broadly represent frequencies that may be less than 6 GHz, may be within FR1, or may include mid-band frequencies. In addition, unless otherwise specifically stated, it should be understood that if used herein, the term millimeter wave etc. may broadly represent frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, may be within FR2, or may be within the EHF band.

[0049] Whether it is a small cell 102' or a large cell (e.g., a macro base station), the base station 102 may include and / or be referred to as an eNB, a gNodeB (gNB), or another type of base station. Some base stations (such as gNB 180) may operate in the traditional sub-6 GHz spectrum, at millimeter wave frequencies, and / or near millimeter wave frequencies to communicate with the UE 104. When the gNB 180 operates at millimeter wave frequencies or near millimeter wave frequencies, the gNB 180 may be referred to as a millimeter wave base station. The millimeter wave base station 180 may utilize beamforming 182 with the UE 104 to compensate for path loss and short range. The base station 180 and the UE 104 may each include multiple antennas, such as antenna elements, antenna panels, and / or antenna arrays to facilitate beamforming.

[0050] The base station 180 may transmit a beamformed signal to the UE 104 in one or more transmission directions 182'. The UE 104 may receive the beamformed signal from the base station 180 in one or more reception directions 182". The UE 104 may also transmit a beamformed signal to the base station 180 in one or more transmission directions. The base station 180 may receive the beamformed signal from the UE 104 in one or more reception directions. The base station 180 / UE 104 may perform beam training to determine the optimal reception direction and transmission direction for each of the base station 180 / UE 104. The transmission direction and reception direction of the base station 180 may be the same or may be different. The transmission direction and reception direction of the UE 104 may be the same or may be different.

[0051] The EPC 160 may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) 162, other MMEs 164, a Serving Gateway 166, an MBMS Gateway 168, a Broadcast Multicast Service Center (BM-SC) 170, and a Packet Data Network (PDN) Gateway 172. The MME 162 may communicate with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) 174. The MME 162 is a control node that processes signaling between the UE 104 and the EPC 160. Generally, the MME 162 provides bearer and connection management. All User Internet Protocol (IP) packets are routed through the Serving Gateway 166, which is itself connected to the PDN Gateway 172. The PDN Gateway 172 provides UE IP address allocation and other functions. The PDN Gateway 172 and the BM-SC 170 are connected to IP services 176. The IP services 176 may include the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), Packet-Switched (PS) Streaming (PSS) services, and / or other IP services. The BM-SC 170 may provide functions for MBMS user service provisioning and delivery. The BM-SC 170 may serve as an entry point for content provider MBMS transmissions, may be used to authorize and initiate MBMS bearer services within a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), and may be used to schedule MBMS transmissions. The MBMS Gateway 168 may be used to distribute MBMS traffic to base stations 102 belonging to a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area for a particular broadcast service, and may be responsible for session management (start / stop) and for collecting eMBMS-related charging information.

[0052] The core network 190 may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 192, other AMFs 193, a Session Management Function (SMF) 194, and a User Plane Function (UPF) 195. The AMF 192 may communicate with a Unified Data Management (UDM) 196. The AMF 192 is a control node that processes signaling between the UE 104 and the core network 190. Generally, the AMF 192 provides Quality of Service (QoS) flow and session management. All user IP packets are routed through the UPF 195. The UPF 195 provides UE IP address allocation and other functions. The UPF 195 is connected to IP services 197. The IP services 197 may include the Internet, an intranet, an IMS, PS streaming services, and / or other IP services.

[0053] The base station may include and / or be referred to as a gNB, Node B, eNB, access point, base transceiver station, radio base station, radio transceiver, transceiver function, basic service set (BSS), extended service set (ESS), transmission reception point (TRP), or some other suitable term. The base station 102 provides an access point for the UE 104 to the EPC 160 or the core network 190. Examples of the UE 104 include cellular phones, smart phones, session initiation protocol (SIP) phones, laptop devices, personal digital assistants (PDAs), satellite radios, global positioning systems, multimedia devices, video devices, digital audio players (e.g., MP3 players), cameras, game consoles, tablet devices, smart devices, wearable devices, vehicles, electricity meters, air pumps, large or small kitchen appliances, healthcare devices, implants, sensors / actuators, displays, or any other similar functional devices. Some UEs 104 may be referred to as IoT devices (e.g., parking meters, fuel pumps, ovens, vehicles, heart monitors, etc.). The UE 104 may also be referred to as a station, mobile station, subscriber station, mobile unit, subscriber unit, wireless unit, remote unit, mobile device, wireless device, wireless communication device, remote device, mobile subscriber station, access terminal, mobile terminal, wireless terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable term.

[0054] Referring again to Figure 1 , in some aspects, the UE 104 may be configured to receive a message (198) from a network including the base stations 102 / 180 that configures at least one beam notification region associated with the positioning of the UE. The at least one beam notification region may include a beam set corresponding to a cell set, and the beam set is identified by the network as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE 104 in the at least one beam notification region. The UE 104 may be further configured to receive a paging message from the network (e.g., the base stations 102 / 180) via a beam in the beam set corresponding to a cell in the cell set where the UE is located based on the at least one beam notification region. In some aspects, when the paging message is received, the RRC layer of the protocol stack of the UE 104 is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0055] Accordingly, the base station 102 / 180 (or another network entity of the access network) may be configured to transmit a message (198) to the UE 104 that configures at least one beam notification region associated with the positioning of the UE 104. Similarly, the at least one beam notification region may include a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, and the set of beams is identified as candidates for carrying paging messages for the UE 104 in the at least one beam notification region. The base station 102 / 180 (or another base station) may be further configured to transmit a paging message to the UE 104 based on the at least one beam notification region via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells where the UE 104 is located. In some aspects, when the paging message is received, the RRC layer of the protocol stack of the UE 104 is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0056] Further aspects and details related to paging of a UE over a network with a high level of granularity (e.g., beam-level paging) are provided herein. Some of these aspects and details may be implemented when the RRC layer of the UE is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0057] Although the present disclosure may focus on 5G NR, the concepts and various aspects described herein may be applicable to other similar fields, such as LTE, advanced LTE (LTE-A), code division multiple access (CDMA), global system for mobile communications (GSM), or other wireless / radio access technologies.

[0058] Figure 2A FIG. 200 is an illustration showing an example of a first subframe within the 5G NR frame structure. Figure 2B FIG. 230 is an illustration showing an example of a downlink channel within a 5G NR subframe. Figure 2C FIG. 250 is an illustration showing an example of a second subframe within the 5G NR frame structure. Figure 2D FIG. 280 is an illustration showing an example of an uplink channel within a 5G NR subframe. The 5G NR frame structure may be frequency division duplexing (FDD), where for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), the subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated to downlink or uplink; or it may be time division duplexing (TDD), where for a particular set of subcarriers (carrier system bandwidth), the subframes within the set of subcarriers are dedicated to both downlink and uplink. In Figure 2A 、 2CIn the provided example, the 5G NR frame structure is assumed to be TDD, where subframe 4 is configured with slot format 28 (mostly downlink) and subframe 3 is configured with slot format 34 (mostly uplink), where D is downlink, U is uplink, and F is for flexible use between downlink / uplink. Although subframes 3 and 4 are shown as having slot formats 34 and 28 respectively, any particular subframe can be configured with any one of the various available slot formats 0 - 61. Slot formats 0 and 1 are all - downlink and all - uplink respectively. The other slot formats 2 - 61 include a mixture of downlink, uplink, and flexible symbols. The UE is configured with a slot format (dynamically configured by downlink control information (DCI), or semi - statically / statically configured by RRC signaling) via the received slot format indicator (SFI). Note that the following description also applies to the 5G NR frame structure that is TDD.

[0059] Other wireless communication technologies may have different frame structures and / or different channels. A frame (e.g., a 10 - millisecond (ms) frame) can be divided into 10 equal - sized subframes (1 ms). Each subframe may include one or more slots. A subframe may also include mini - slots, which may include 7, 4, or 2 symbols. Each slot may include 7 or 14 symbols, depending on the slot configuration. For slot configuration 0, each slot may include 14 symbols, while for slot configuration 1, each slot may include 7 symbols. The symbols on the downlink can be cyclic prefix (CP) orthogonal frequency - division multiplexing (OFDM) (CP - OFDM) symbols. The symbols on the uplink can be CP - OFDM symbols (for high - throughput scenarios) or discrete Fourier transform (DFT) - spread OFDM (DFT - s - OFDM) symbols (also known as single - carrier frequency - division multiple access (SC - FDMA) symbols) (for power - limited scenarios; limited to single - stream transmission). The number of slots within a subframe is based on the slot configuration and numerology. For slot configuration 0, different numerologies μ from 0 to 4 allow 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 slots per subframe respectively. For slot configuration 1, different numerologies 0 to 2 allow 2, 4, and 8 slots per subframe respectively. Accordingly, for slot configuration 0 and numerology μ, there are 14 symbols per slot and 2 μ slots per subframe. The sub - carrier spacing and symbol length / duration are dependent on the numerology. The sub - carrier spacing can be equal to 2 μ *15 kilohertz (kHz), where μ is the numerology from 0 to 4. Thus, numerology μ = 0 has a sub - carrier spacing of 15 kHz, while numerology μ = 4 has a sub - carrier spacing of 240 kHz. The symbol length / duration is inversely related to the sub - carrier spacing. Figures 2A to 2DAn example of slot configuration 0 with 14 symbols per time slot and 4 time slots per subframe and parameter design μ = 2 is provided. The slot duration is 0.25 ms, the subcarrier spacing is 60 kHz, and the symbol duration is approximately 16.67 microseconds (μs). Within a frame set, there may be one or more different bandwidth parts (BWPs) that are frequency division multiplexed (see Figure 2B ). Each BWP may have a specific parameter design.

[0060] A resource grid can be used to represent the frame structure. Each time slot includes a resource block (RB) (also referred to as a physical RB (PRB)) that extends over 12 consecutive subcarriers. The resource grid is divided into multiple resource elements (REs). The number of bits carried by each RE depends on the modulation scheme.

[0061] As Figure 2A explained, some REs carry at least one pilot and / or reference signal (RS) for the UE. In some configurations, the RS may include at least one demodulation RS (DM-RS) for channel estimation at the UE (designated as R x for a particular configuration, where 100x is the port number, but other DM-RS configurations are possible) and / or at least one channel state information (CSI) RS (CSI-RS). In some other configurations, the RS may additionally or alternatively include at least one beam measurement (or management) RS (BRS), at least one beam refinement RS (BRRS), and / or at least one phase tracking RS (PT-RS).

[0062] Figure 2BExamples of various downlink channels within a subframe of a frame are explained. The physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) carries DCI within one or more control channel elements (CCEs), each CCE including 9 resource element groups (REGs), each REG including 4 consecutive resource elements (REs) in an OFDM symbol. The PDCCH within a BWP may be referred to as a control resource set (CORESET). Additional BWPs may be located at higher and / or lower frequencies across the channel bandwidth. The primary synchronization signal (PSS) may be in symbol 2 of a specific subframe of a frame. The PSS is used by the UE 104 to determine subframe / symbol timing and the physical layer identity. The secondary synchronization signal (SSS) may be in symbol 4 of a specific subframe of a frame. The SSS is used by the UE to determine the physical layer cell identity group number and the radio frame timing. Based on the physical layer identity and the physical layer cell identity group number, the UE may determine the physical cell identifier (ID) (PCI). Based on the PCI, the UE may determine the location of the aforementioned DM-RS. The physical broadcast channel (PBCH) carrying the master information block (MIB) may be logically grouped with the PSS and SSS to form a synchronization signal (SS) / PBCH block (also referred to as an SS block (SSB)). The MIB provides the number of resource blocks (RBs) in the system bandwidth and the system frame number (SFN). The physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) carries user data, broadcast system information not transmitted through the PBCH (such as system information blocks (SIBs)), and paging messages.

[0063] As explained in Figure 2C Some resource elements carry DM-RS for channel estimation at the base station (indicated as R for one particular configuration, but other DM-RS configurations are possible). The UE may transmit DM-RS for the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) and DM-RS for the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The PUSCH DM-RS may be transmitted in the previous or the previous two symbols of the PUSCH. The PUCCH DM-RS may be transmitted in different configurations depending on whether a short PUCCH or a long PUCCH is transmitted and depending on the specific PUCCH format used. The UE may transmit sounding reference signals (SRS). The SRS may be transmitted in the last symbol of a subframe. The SRS may have a comb structure, and the UE may transmit the SRS on one of the combs. The SRS may be used by the base station for channel quality estimation to enable frequency-dependent scheduling on the uplink.

[0064] Figure 2DExamples of various uplink channels within a subframe of a frame are explained. The PUCCH can be located at the position indicated in one configuration. The PUCCH carries uplink control information (UCI), such as a scheduling request (SR), a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix indicator (PMI), a rank indicator (RI), and a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) acknowledgment (ACK) / negative acknowledgment (NACK) feedback. The PUSCH carries data and can additionally be used to carry a buffer status report (BSR), a power headroom report (PHR), and / or UCI.

[0065] Figure 3 is a block diagram of a base station 310 and a UE 350 in communication in an access network. In the downlink, IP packets from the EPC 160 can be provided to a controller / processor 375. The controller / processor 375 implements layer 2 (L2) and layer 3 (L3) functionality. L3 includes the RRC layer, and L2 includes a service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, a packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer, an RLC layer, and a media access control (MAC) layer. The controller / processor 375 provides RRC layer functionality associated with the broadcast of system information (e.g., MIB, SIB), RRC connection control (e.g., RRC connection paging, RRC connection establishment, RRC connection modification, and RRC connection release), inter-radio access technology (RAT) mobility, and measurement configuration for UE measurement reports; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, security (encryption, decryption, integrity protection, integrity verification), and handover support functions; RLC layer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer packet data units (PDUs), error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC service data units (SDUs), re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and re-ordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with the mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing MAC SDUs onto transport blocks (TBs), demultiplexing MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel priority differentiation.

[0066] The transmit (TX) processor 316 and the receive (RX) processor 370 implement layer 1 (L1) functionality associated with various signal processing functions. L1, which includes the physical (PHY) layer, may include error detection on the transport channels, forward error correction (FEC) coding / decoding of the transport channels, interleaving, rate matching, mapping to physical channels, modulation / demodulation of the physical channels, and MIMO antenna processing. The TX processor 316 handles the mapping to the signal constellation based on various modulation schemes such as binary phase shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK), M-phase shift keying (M-PSK), and M-quadrature amplitude modulation (M-QAM). The decoded and modulated symbols may then be split into parallel streams. Each stream may then be mapped to OFDM subcarriers, multiplexed with a reference signal (e.g., pilot) in the time and / or frequency domain, and then combined together using an inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to generate a physical channel carrying a stream of time-domain OFDM symbols. The OFDM stream is space precoded to generate multiple spatial streams. Channel estimates from the channel estimator 374 may be used to determine the coding and modulation schemes as well as for spatial processing. The channel estimates may be derived from reference signals transmitted by the UE 350 and / or channel condition feedback. Each spatial stream may then be provided to a different antenna 320 via a separate transmitter 318TX. Each transmitter 318TX modulates a radio frequency (RF) carrier with the corresponding spatial stream for transmission.

[0067] At the UE 350, each receiver 354RX receives signals via its corresponding antenna 352. Each receiver 354RX recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the receive (RX) processor 356. The TX processor 368 and the RX processor 356 implement L1 functionality associated with various signal processing functions. The RX processor 356 may perform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatial streams destined for the UE 350. If there are multiple spatial streams destined for the UE 350, they may be combined by the RX processor 356 into a single OFDM symbol stream. The RX processor 356 then uses a fast Fourier transform (FFT) to transform the OFDM symbol stream from the time domain to the frequency domain. The frequency-domain signal includes a separate OFDM symbol stream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on each subcarrier, as well as the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated by determining the signal constellation points most likely transmitted by the base station 310. These soft decisions may be based on the channel estimates calculated by the channel estimator 358. These soft decisions are then decoded and deinterleaved to recover the original data and control signals transmitted by the base station 310 on the physical channel. These data and control signals are then provided to the controller / processor 359 that implements L3 and L2 functionality.

[0068] The controller / processor 359 may be associated with a memory 360 that stores program code and data. The memory 360 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the uplink, the controller / processor 359 provides demultiplexing between transport channels and logical channels, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover IP packets from the EPC 160. The controller / processor 359 is also responsible for error detection using the ACK and / or NACK protocols to support HARQ operations.

[0069] Similar to the functionality described in connection with downlink transmissions performed by the base station 310, the controller / processor 359 provides RRC layer functionality associated with system information (e.g., MIB, SIB) capture, RRC connection, and measurement reporting; PDCP layer functionality associated with header compression / decompression, and security (ciphering, deciphering, integrity protection, integrity verification); RLC layer functionality associated with the transfer of upper layer PDUs, error correction via ARQ, concatenation, segmentation, and reassembly of RLC SDUs, re-segmentation of RLC data PDUs, and reordering of RLC data PDUs; and MAC layer functionality associated with the mapping between logical channels and transport channels, multiplexing of MAC SDUs onto TBs, demultiplexing of MAC SDUs from TBs, scheduling information reporting, error correction via HARQ, priority handling, and logical channel prioritization.

[0070] Channel estimates derived by the channel estimator 358 from reference signals or feedback transmitted by the base station 310 may be used by the TX processor 368 to select an appropriate coding and modulation scheme and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streams generated by the TX processor 368 may be provided to different antennas 352 via separate transmitters 354TX. Each transmitter 354TX may modulate an RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

[0071] Uplink transmissions are processed at the base station 310 in a manner similar to that described in connection with the receiver functionality at the UE 350. Each receiver 318RX receives signals via its respective antenna 320. Each receiver 318RX recovers the information modulated onto the RF carrier and provides the information to the RX processor 370.

[0072] The controller / processor 375 may be associated with a memory 376 that stores program code and data. The memory 376 may be referred to as a computer-readable medium. In the uplink, the controller / processor 375 provides demultiplexing between the transport channel and the logical channel, packet reassembly, deciphering, header decompression, and control signal processing to recover the IP packets from the UE 350. The IP packets from the controller / processor 375 may be provided to the EPC 160. The controller / processor 375 is also responsible for error detection using the ACK and / or NACK protocols to support HARQ operations.

[0073] In some aspects, at least one of the TX processor 368, RX processor 356, and controller / processor 359 may be configured to perform aspects associated with Figure 1 those of (198).

[0074] In some other aspects, at least one of the TX processor 316, RX processor 370, and controller / processor 375 may be configured to perform aspects associated with Figure 1 those of (198).

[0075] In various RANs (such as 5G NR networks), communication with some UEs may be initiated by paging. To determine where to page a UE, the UE may register with the network so that the location of the UE is known, and the UE may be paged in the appropriate area. Specifically, the UE may be tracked at the core network level and / or the RAN level.

[0076] At the core network level, the UE may perform a tracking area registration procedure according to which a UE registration area may be assigned to the UE. The UE registration area may be associated with a set of tracking area identifiers (TAIs). Each TAI may be associated with one or more RAN areas, for example, so that the UE may be tracked at the RAN level. Each RAN area may be identified by a corresponding RAN area identifier (RAI). The RAI may indicate a set of cells in which the UE may be located. In addition, a RAN notification area may be assigned to the UE, which may include a set of RAIs, TAIs, and / or cell IDs in which the UE may be located.

[0077] When the UE moves to a new cell that is not included in the assigned RAN notification area, the UE may perform a procedure for updating the RAN notification area corresponding to the location of the UE, and the procedure may include the exchange of one or more RRC messages indicating that the UE is performing a RAN notification area update procedure with the network. In response, the network may assign a new RAN notification area to the UE, which may include the new cell to which the UE has moved. Similarly, when the UE moves to a new cell and the new cell is not included in the UE registration area assigned to the UE, the UE may perform a NAS registration update procedure with the network. For NAS registration update, the network may assign a new UE registration area to the UE, and the new UE registration area may indicate a set of TAIs including the new cell.

[0078] When the UE is operating in the active and / or connected state, the UE may be actively connected to the network, and thus, the network may know the location of the UE not only at the core network and RAN levels but also at the beam level (e.g., because the UE may be actively connected to the base station and use at least one active beam to communicate with the base station). Therefore, at least one beam that the UE is actively using to communicate with the base station may be used to page the UE.

[0079] However, in the inactive and idle states, the location of the UE may be unknown at the beam level. Therefore, the UE may be paged in a wider area because the (s) beam(s) that the UE can use for communication may be unknown. For example, when the UE is in the idle state, the UE registration area may be used to page the UE. Therefore, paging messages for the UE may be transmitted across all TAIs included in the set of TAIs in the UE registration area. However, when the UE is in the inactive state, the RAN notification area may be used to page the UE. Therefore, paging messages for the UE may be transmitted across all of one or more TAIs, RAI, and / or cell IDs included in the RAN notification area assigned to the UE.

[0080] Such methods for paging may be applicable to UEs with high mobility, which may frequently move to different RAN areas and / or tracking areas. However, some UEs may be classified as having low mobility, or even medium mobility, and thus, are less likely to move between RAN or tracking areas as frequently as UEs classified as having high mobility.

[0081] At least geographically, other UEs may be stationary for an extended period of time.

[0082] In addition, some UEs (such as some stationary or low-mobility UEs) can be considered "capability-reduced" (e.g., due to having relatively few antenna elements). Although some capability-reduced UEs can move (such as by rotating, tilting, or otherwise changing orientation), those UEs can otherwise remain stationary or within a sector having a radius less than one kilometer (km). Examples of such capability-reduced UEs include industrial wireless sensors, monitoring devices, smart meters, various Internet of Things (IoT) devices (e.g., industrial IoT (IIoT) devices), etc.

[0083] For those UEs classified as having reduced capabilities or not classified as having high mobility, communication with a base station (e.g., gNB) generally can occur via a relatively small number of beams (e.g., compared to the number of available beams such as 128 available beams). Since communication with these UEs can use a relatively small number of the same beams, paging these UEs at the granularity level of the RAN notification area and / or UE registration area may result in unnecessary overhead and wasted resources. For example, when a capability-reduced UE is available only via the same two or four beams, paging the capability-reduced UE via 128 beams in a cell may be wasteful in terms of time, resource consumption, etc. However, capability-reduced UEs may still operate in an inactive and / or idle state at various times, and thus, beam-level paging may not be possible because those UEs are not in a connected and / or active state where the beams used to communicate with the UE are known. Therefore, there is a need to reduce the overhead incurred by those UEs when the capability-reduced and / or stationary UEs are in an inactive and / or idle state.

[0084] Reference Figures 4 to 9 , various techniques and solutions are provided for paging capability-reduced and / or stationary UEs operating in an inactive and / or idle state. Specifically, Figures 4 to 9 describes various methods for paging UEs in an inactive and / or idle state at a higher granularity level (e.g., relative to the tracking area granularity level) such as the beam granularity level.

[0085] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a wireless communication environment and access network 400 with beam notification areas 422a-c in which UEs 404a-c can be paged when in an idle state or inactive state. The access network 400 can include a set of base stations 402a-b connected to a network entity 406. In some aspects, the network entity 406 can be co-located with at least one of the base stations 402a-b, and / or can be part of the access network 400. In some other aspects, the network entity 406 can be an EPC (e.g., Figure 1a part of the EPC 160) and / or a part of the core network (e.g., Figure 1 a part of the core network 190).

[0086] In the access network 400, multiple UEs 404a-c can operate on cells 412a-b provided by base stations 402a-b respectively. In some aspects, each of the multiple UEs 404a-c can be a UE with reduced capabilities, a stationary UE, and / or a low-mobility UE. When data arrives at one of the base stations 402a-b to be transmitted to one of the UEs 404a-c, that base station among the base stations 402a-b can page that UE among the UEs 404a-c. Potentially, when one of the UEs 404a-c is to be paged, the RRC layer of the protocol stack of that UE among the UEs 404a-c can be in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0087] Each of the UEs 404a-c communicates with at least one of the base stations 402a-b using directional beamforming. When one of the base stations 402a-b needs to page one of the UEs 404a-c, the base station can transmit a paging message via at least one beam among the corresponding beam sets 410a-b. Accordingly, that UE among the UEs 404a-c can receive the paging message (or other signaling) via that at least one beam among the corresponding beam sets 410a-b.

[0088] A beam can refer to the directional tuning of transceiver circuitry for transmitting or receiving a certain signaling. In some aspects, the transceiver circuitry can use one or more functions to perform directional tuning, and the one or more functions are tuned efficiently towards pilot signals (such as SS / PBCH blocks or CSI-RS). The one or more functions can consider various factors, including Doppler shift, Doppler spread, average delay, delay spread, or another spatial parameter. In some aspects, a spatial filter can be based on such one or more functions, and the spatial filter can be applied to beamforming in the direction of interest.

[0089] Each beam in the first beam set 410a of the first base station 402a and the second beam set 410b generated by the second base station 402b may correspond to an ID, e.g., such that the UEs 404a-c and the base stations 402a-b can identify and refer to the directional beams for communication. For example, each beam in the first beam set 410a may be associated with a corresponding SSB transmitted thereon by the first base station 402a, and / or each beam in the first beam set 410a may be associated with a corresponding CSI-RS transmitted thereon by the first base station 402a. Similarly, each beam in the second beam set 410b may be associated with a corresponding SSB transmitted thereon by the second base station 402b, and / or each beam in the second beam set 410b may be associated with a corresponding CSI-RS transmitted thereon by the second base station 402b.

[0090] To locate each of the UEs 404a-c at the beam granularity level for paging, each of the UEs 404a-c may be associated with a corresponding one of the beam notification regions 422a-c. Each of the beam notification regions 422a-c may include a set of one or more beam area identifiers (BAIs) 424a-e. The BAI may include one or more combinations of one or more beams and cells (e.g., cell ID). It may be possible to page the corresponding one of the UEs 404a-c on at least one of the one or more combinations of one or more beams and cells included in the corresponding one of the BAIs 424a-e.

[0091] For example, the first beam notification region 422a may be assigned to the first UE 404a. The first beam notification region 422a may include two BAIs 424a-b. The first BAI 424a may include a combination of two beams in the beam set 410a and the cell 412a (e.g., cell ID) provided by the first base station 402a that generates these two beams in the beam set 410a. The second BAI 424b may include a combination of two different beams in the beam set 410a and the cell 412a provided by the first base station 402a.

[0092] The first UE 404a may use those four beams in the beam set 410a in the first cell 412a, e.g., because the first UE 404a may be stationary. Thus, even when the first UE 404a is in an idle state or an inactive state and is not connected to the first base station 402a and / or is not in an active state with the first base station 402a, the first UE 404a may be able to use the beams of the first cell 412a included in the first and second BAIs 424a-b to page the first UE 404a, such that the first UE 404a is known at the beam level.

[0093] Thus, when a paging message (e.g., from network entity 406) is sent out to the first UE 404a, the first beam notification area 422a assigned to the first UE 404a can be used to page the first UE 404a, even though the first UE 404a may be in an inactive state or an idle state. The first base station 402a can transmit the paging message on each beam included in the first and second BAI 424a-b of the beam notification area 422a assigned to the first UE 404a.

[0094] Similarly, a third beam notification area 422c can be assigned to the third UE 404c. However, the third beam notification area 422c may include one BAI 424e. The fifth BAI 424e may include a combination of two beams in beam 410b and a cell 412b (e.g., cell ID) provided by the second base station 402b that generates these two beams in beam 410b. Potentially, the third UE 404c may be of low mobility, stationary, and / or may include a relatively small number of antenna elements, and thus, the third UE 404c can communicate with the second base station 402b using only two beams in beam 410b. Therefore, the third beam notification area 422c may include only a single BAI, as only a combination of a few beams and one cell can be used to page the third UE 404c.

[0095] When a paging message (e.g., from network entity 406) is sent out to the third UE 404c, the third beam notification area 422c assigned to the third UE 404c can be used to page the third UE 404c, even though the third UE 404c may be in an inactive state or an idle state. The second base station 402b can transmit the paging message on each beam included in the fifth BAI 424e of the beam notification area 422c assigned to the third UE 404c.

[0096] In some aspects, the second UE 404b may be at the cell edge and / or may be in rotation such that the second UE 404b can communicate in both the first and second cells 412a-b. Since each BAI may include not only the beams on which a UE can be paged but also the cells corresponding to those beams, a beam notification area 422b having a BAI including both the first and second cells 412a-b can be assigned to the second UE 404b. That is, a beam notification area 422b can be assigned to the second UE 404b, the beam notification area 422b including a third BAI 424c that includes a combination of two beams in beam 410a and the cell 412a (e.g., cell ID) provided by the first base station 402a that generates these two beams in beam 410a, and further including a fourth BAI 424d that includes a combination of two different beams in beam 410b and the cell 412b provided by the second base station 402b that generates those two beams in beam 410b. By assigning a UE beam notification area including multiple BAIs, the ping-pong effect can be avoided when the UE is paged at the beam level in the inactive or idle state.

[0097] When a paging (e.g., from the network entity 406) is sent out to the second UE 404b, the second beam notification area 422b assigned to the second UE 404b can be used to page the second UE 404b, even though the second UE 404b may be in an inactive state or an idle state. However, when a beam notification area 422b including two different cells is assigned to the second UE 404b, the paging can be through both the first and second cells 412a-b. Thus, the first base station 402a can transmit paging on each beam included in the third BAI 424c of the beam notification area 422b assigned to the second UE 404b, and contemporaneously, the second base station 402b can transmit paging on each beam included in the fourth BAI 424d of the beam notification area 422b assigned to the second UE 404b.

[0098] Figure 5 is a call flow diagram illustrating an example operation 500 for paging a UE 504 in a beam notification area. The radio environment and access network 502 may include multiple base stations to which a UE such as UE 504 is connected. The network 502 (e.g., the base stations of the network 502) may be configured to page UEs with reduced capabilities in the inactive or idle state at the beam granularity level.

[0099] In various aspects, the UE 504 can transmit measurement information 522 associated with a set of measurements for a set of beams to a network (e.g., a base station, gNB, etc.). For example, the UE 504 can perform measurements on one or more beams used for communicating with one or more base stations of the network 502. The measurements can include reference signal received power (RSRP) values, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) values, or other values (e.g., L1 values). The information 522 can indicate one or more IDs corresponding to one or more beams used by the UE 504 to communicate with one or more base stations of the network. In some aspects, when the UE 504 is in an idle state and / or an inactive state, the information 522 can request or recommend a set of beams on which the UE 504 will be paged.

[0100] In addition, the UE 504 can transmit a request 524 for beam notification area update to the network 502. For example, the UE 504 can determine that the current beam associated with the current cell used for communication does not exist in each BAI of the BAI set included in the beam notification area assigned to the UE 504. Accordingly, the UE 504 can determine that a beam notification area update procedure should be performed to assign a beam notification area to the UE 504 that has a BAI including a beam on which the UE 504 can be paged.

[0101] In some aspects, the UE 504 can transmit the request 524 on a preconfigured resource set. The UE 504 can transmit the request 524 as an RRC message or as a message on a random access (RA) channel (RACH). For example, the UE 504 can transmit the request 524 on the PUSCH and / or PUCCH resources corresponding to msg3 of a four-step RACH procedure, or the UE 504 can transmit the request 524 on the PUSCH and / or PUCCH resources of msgA of a two-step RACH procedure. In some aspects, the request 524 can explicitly request a beam notification area update. In some other aspects, the request 524 can implicitly request a beam notification area update. For example, the request 524 can be indicated by an RACH message transmitted by the UE 504 at a preconfigured RACH occasion corresponding to the request for beam notification area update. In some aspects, the UE 504 can transmit the measurement information 522 and the request 524 in the same message.

[0102] The network 502 can receive the measurement information 522 and the request 524, and based on at least one of them, the network 502 can determine a beam notification area for the UE 504. For example, the network 502 can determine a beam on which the UE 504 can be reached based on measurements of beams in one or more cells in which the UE 504 operates received from the UE 504 (e.g., L1 measurements) and / or based on the beams requested / recommended by the UE 504.

[0103] When determining the beam notification area for UE 504, network 502 may determine one or more BAIs. The one or more BAIs may include one or more combinations of one or more beams and one or more cells of those one or more beams. Each of these combinations may be estimated by network 502 for potential use in paging UE 504. Subsequently, network 502 may transmit a beam notification area update 526 to UE 504 to indicate to UE 504 those BAIs that will be used to page UE 504 when UE 504 is in an idle state or an inactive state. Network 502 may transmit the beam notification area update 526 in at least one of an RRC signaling message, DCI, and / or a MAC control element (CE).

[0104] UE 504 may receive the beam notification area update 526. When UE 504 is in an idle state or an inactive state, UE 504 may determine the combination of beams and cells that UE 504 will monitor based on the BAIs included in the beam notification area update 526.

[0105] Subsequently, when a paging message 528 is sent out to UE 504, network 502 may transmit the paging message 528 to UE 504 based on the beam notification area update 526 assigned to UE 504. Specifically, each cell included in each BAI of the beam notification area update 526 may use each beam included in the BAI to transmit the paging message 528 to UE 504.

[0106] When UE 504 is in an inactive state or an idle state, UE 504 may receive the paging message 528 based on the assigned beam notification area update 526 because UE 504 may be monitoring the combination of beams and cells included in the BAIs of the assigned beam notification area update 526.

[0107] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a wireless communication method 600. The method 600 may be performed by a UE (e.g., UE 104, 350, 404a-c, 504) and / or another device (e.g., device 802). According to various aspects of the method 600, one or more of the illustrated operations may be omitted, transposed, or performed concurrently.

[0108] At 602, the UE may transmit information associated with a measurement set to the network, the measurement set being derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells. In some aspects, the information associated with the measurement set may include at least one of an L1 measurement set derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams or a set of values identifying the one or more beams. The information associated with the measurement set may indicate a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in a beam notification area.

[0109] In Figure 4 the context of, the first UE 404a may transmit information associated with a measurement set derived from one or more signals received by the first UE 404a via one or more of the beams 410a to the first base station 402a. In Figure 5 the context of, the UE 504 may transmit measurement information 522 to the network 502.

[0110] At 604, the UE may determine that an active beam corresponding to the serving cell does not exist in another beam notification area configured by another message received from the network. In some aspects, the UE may identify at least one of the transmit beam of the base station via which the UE communicates data and / or control information with the base station and the receive beam of the UE. Each of the two beams that make up a beam pair may be considered an "active" beam, e.g., unless a radio link failure occurs or is intentionally shut down. Each active beam may be associated with an ID (such as a value carried by a pilot signal transmitted via the active beam) and / or other identification information (such as information related to a spatial filter or other parameters / characteristics that can be used, individually or in aggregation, to uniquely distinguish one beam from other beams at the base station or UE).

[0111] In Figure 4 the context of, if the first UE 404a is communicating with the first base station 402a via at least one of the beams of the first BAI 424a, the first UE 404a may determine that the at least one of the beams of the first BAI 424a does not exist in the first beam notification area 422a in the case where the first UE 404a does not receive an update of the beam notification area including the at least one of the beams of the first BAI 424a in the beam notification area (such as the first beam notification area 422a). In Figure 5In the context of, UE 504 may determine that the active beam corresponding to the serving cell does not exist in another beam notification area configured by another message received from the network. One or more current beams associated with one or more current cells of network 502 used by UE 504 to communicate with network 502 do not exist in the previous BAI set.

[0112] At 606, the UE may request the network to update the other beam notification area based on the non-existence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in the other beam notification area. According to various aspects, the request may be one of an explicit request or an implicit request, and may be transmitted in one of an RRC signaling message or a RACH message on a resource set, which may be configured (or pre-configured) to indicate a request to update the other notification beam area. In Figure 4 In the context of, first UE 404a may request the network to update the other beam notification area based on the non-existence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in the other beam notification area. In Figure 5 In the context of, UE 504 may transmit request 524 to network 502 to request the network to update the beam notification area assigned to UE 504.

[0113] In some aspects, requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area includes (1) generating an RRC message having at least one field, the at least one field including information explicitly requesting the network to update the other beam notification area, and (2) transmitting the RRC message to the network. In some other aspects, requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area includes (1) selecting a resource set on the RACH configured to implicitly request the network to update the at least one beam notification area, (2) mapping the RA message to the selected RACH resource set, and (3) transmitting the mapped RA message to the network on the selected RACH resource set.

[0114] At 608, the UE may receive a RAN notification area message configuring the RAI set from the network. Each RAI may identify a RAN notification area including a BAI set. For example, each RAI may indicate a set of cells in which the UE may be located - for example, it is estimated that the UE camps on one of the cells included in the RAN notification area at any given time. In some aspects, the UE may receive a RAN notification area update configuring the RAI set in response to transmitting a RAN notification area update request. In some aspects, the RAN notification update request may be included in or indicated by the aforementioned request to update the other beam notification area. In other aspects, the RAN notification update request may be separate from the aforementioned request to update the other beam notification area.

[0115] In Figure 4In the context of, the first UE 404a may receive a RAN notification area message from the first base station 402a, the RAN notification area message indicating that the first UE 404a is estimated to be in a RAN notification area including the first and second cells 410a-b. In Figure 5 In the context of, the UE 504 may transmit a request 524 (or a separate request) to the network 502, which may indicate a request for the network 502 to update the RAN notification area assigned to the UE 504.

[0116] At 610, the UE receives from the network a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE. The at least one beam notification area may include a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, the set of beams being identified by the network as candidates for carrying paging messages for the UE in the at least one beam notification area. For example, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area may include at least one BAI identifying at least one beam notification area having a set of beams corresponding to the set of cells. The beam notification area update may be received in one of an RRC signaling message, DCI, and / or a MAC CE. Each of the one or more beams may correspond to a respective SSB and / or CSI-RS. For example, the message may be based on information associated with a set of measurements derived from a set of signals received via one or more of the set of beams.

[0117] In Figure 4 In the context of, the first UE 404a may receive from the first base station 402a a message configuring a first beam notification area 422a associated with the positioning of the first UE 404a, wherein the first beam notification area 422a includes a subset of the beams 410a corresponding to the first and second BAIs 424a-b, which may be candidates for carrying paging messages to the first UE 404a. In Figure 5 In the context of, the UE 504 may receive a beam notification area update 526 from the network 502.

[0118] At 612, the UE receives a paging message from the network via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one of the cells in the set of cells in which the UE is located, based on the at least one beam notification area. In some aspects, when the UE receives the paging message, the RRC protocol layer of the UE may be in an idle state or an inactive state. In Figure 4 In the context of, the first UE 404a may receive a paging message from the first base station 402a via one beam in a subset of the beams 410a corresponding to the first and second BAIs 424a-b, based on the first beam notification area 422a. In Figure 5In the context of, UE 504 may receive paging message 528 from network 502 based on beam notification area update 526.

[0119] Figure 7 is a flowchart of wireless communication method 700. Method 700 may be performed by a base station (e.g., base station 102 / 180, 310, 402a, 402b, and / or a base station of network 502), a network entity (e.g., network entity 406 or another entity of network 502), and / or other functional or devices (e.g., device 902). For clarity, method 700 is described as being implemented at a base station; however, it should be appreciated that method 700 may be practiced in any of the foregoing systems or devices. According to various aspects of method 700, one or more of the illustrated operations may be omitted, transposed, or performed concurrently.

[0120] At 702, the base station may receive information associated with a measurement set from the UE, the measurement set being derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells. In some aspects, the information associated with the measurement set may include at least one of an L1 measurement set derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams or a set of values identifying the one or more beams. The information associated with the measurement set may indicate a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in a beam notification area.

[0121] In Figure 4 the context of, the first base station 402a may receive information associated with a measurement set derived from one or more signals received by the first UE 404a via one or more of the beams 410a. In Figure 5 the context of, network 502 may receive measurement information 522 from UE 504.

[0122] At 704, the base station may receive from the UE a request to update the other beam notification area based on the absence of an active beam in the other beam notification area. The active beam may correspond to the serving cell in which the UE is located. According to various aspects, the request may be one of an explicit request or an implicit request, and may be received in one of an RRC signaling message or a RACH message on a resource set, which may be configured (or pre-configured) to indicate a request to update the other notification beam area.

[0123] In Figure 4 the context of, the first base station 402a may request the network to update the other beam notification area based on the absence of an active beam corresponding to the serving cell in the other beam notification area. In Figure 5In the context of, network 502 may receive request 524 from UE 504.

[0124] In some aspects, receiving a request to update another beam notification area includes receiving an RRC message from the UE having at least one field that includes information explicitly requesting an update to the other beam notification area. In some other aspects, receiving a request to update another beam notification area includes receiving an RA message from the UE on a resource set of the RACH, where the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message is an implicit request to update the other beam notification area.

[0125] At 706, the base station may update at least one beam notification area based on a request received from the UE to include the active beam with the other beam notification area. For example, first, the base station may associate the active beam with the UE (such as by storing information indicating the association therebetween). Second, the base station may reconfigure the beam notification area for the UE to include the BAI that includes the active beam. In Figure 4 In the context of, the first base station 402a may update the first beam notification area 422a to include the first BAI 424a, where the first BAI 424a did not previously exist in the first beam notification area 422a. In Figure 5 In the context of, network 502 may update the beam notification area assigned to UE 504.

[0126] At 708, the base station may transmit a RAN notification area message configuring a set of RAI. Each RAI may identify a RAN notification area that includes a set of BAI. For example, each RAI may indicate a set of cells in which the UE may be located - e.g., it is estimated that the UE camps on one of the cells included in the RAN notification area at any given time. In some aspects, the base station may transmit a RAN notification area update configuring a set of RAI in response to receiving a RAN notification area update request from the UE. In some aspects, the RAN notification update request may be included in or indicated by the aforementioned request to update another beam notification area. In other aspects, the RAN notification update request may be separate from the aforementioned request to update another beam notification area.

[0127] In Figure 4 In the context of, the first base station 402a may transmit a RAN notification area message to the first UE 404a that indicates that the first UE 404a is estimated to be in a RAN notification area that includes the first and second cells 410a - b. In Figure 5 In the context of, network 502 may receive request 524 (or a separate request) from UE 504, which may indicate a request for network 502 to update the RAN notification area assigned to UE 504.

[0128] At 710, the base station transmits a message to the UE configuring at least one beam notification region associated with the positioning of the UE. The at least one beam notification region may include a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, and the set of beams is identified as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification region. For example, the message configuring the at least one beam notification region may include at least one BAI identifying at least one beam notification region having a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells. The beam notification region update may be transmitted in one of an RRC signaling message, DCI, and / or a MAC CE. Each of the one or more beams may correspond to a respective SSB and / or CSI-RS. For example, the message may be based on information associated with a set of measurements derived from a set of signals received via one or more beams in the set of beams.

[0129] In written as Figure 4 the context of, the first base station 402a may transmit a message to the first UE 404a configuring a first beam notification region 422a associated with the positioning of the first UE 404a, where the first beam notification region 422a includes a subset of beams 410a corresponding to first and second BAIs 424a-b, which may be candidates for carrying a paging message to the first UE 40Da. In Figure 5 the context of, the network 502 may transmit a beam notification region update 526 to the UE 504.

[0130] At 712, the base station transmits the paging message to the UE via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells where the UE is located, based on the at least one beam notification region. In some aspects, when the base station transmits a paging message to the UE, the RRC protocol layer of the UE may be in an idle state or an inactive state. In Figure 4 the context of, the first base station 402a may transmit a paging message to the first UE 404a via at least one beam in a subset of beams 410a corresponding to at least one of the first and second BAIs Da-b, based on the first beam notification region 422a. In Figure 5 the context of, the network 502 may transmit a paging message 528 from a first base station of the network 502 to the UE 504 using a first beam among one or more beams in a first cell of the one or more cells, based on the beam notification region update 526. Figure 8FIG. 802 is an example of a hardware implementation of the device 800. The device 802 may be a UE or a similar device, or the device 802 may be a component of a UE or a similar device. The device 802 may include a cellular baseband processor 804 (also referred to as a modem) and / or a cellular RF transceiver 822, which may be coupled together and / or integrated into the same package or module.

[0131] In some aspects, the device 802 may receive or may include one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) cards 820, which may include one or more integrated circuits, chips, or similar circuitry, and which may be removable or embedded. The one or more SIM cards 820 may carry identification and / or authentication information, such as an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) and / or an (s) IMSI-related key. Additionally, the device 802 may include one or more of an application processor 810, a Bluetooth module 812, a wireless local area network (WLAN) module 814, a global positioning system (GPS) module 816, and / or a power supply 818 coupled to a secure digital (SD) card 806 and a screen 808.

[0132] The cellular baseband processor 804 communicates with the base station 102 / 180 or another network entity via the cellular RF transceiver 822. The cellular baseband processor 804 may include a computer-readable medium / memory. The computer-readable medium / memory may be non-transitory. The cellular baseband processor 804 is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory. The software, when executed by the cellular baseband processor 804, causes the cellular baseband processor 804 to perform the various functions described above. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used to store data manipulated by the cellular baseband processor 804 when executing the software. The cellular baseband processor 804 further includes a receiving component 830, a communication manager 832, and a transmitting component 834. The communication manager 832 includes the one or more components illustrated. The components within the communication manager 832 may be stored in the computer-readable medium / memory and / or configured as hardware within the cellular baseband processor 804.

[0133] In Figure 3 the context of, the cellular baseband processor 804 may be a component of the UE 350 and may include a memory 360 and / or at least one of the following: a TX processor 368, an RX processor 356, and / or a controller / processor 359. In one configuration, the device 802 may be a modem chip and / or may be implemented as the baseband processor 804, and in another configuration, the device 802 may be the entire UE (e.g., Figure 3UE 350) and may include some or all of the above-described modules, components, and / or circuitry as explained in the context of device 802. In one configuration, the cellular RF transceiver 822 may be implemented as at least one of transceiver 354TX and / or receiver 354RX.

[0134] The receiving component 830 may be configured to receive signaling on a wireless channel, such as signaling from base station 102 / 180 or another network entity. The transmitting component 834 may be configured to transmit signaling on a wireless channel, such as signaling to base station 102 / 180 or another network entity. The communication manager 832 may coordinate or manage some or all of the wireless communications performed by device 802, including wireless communications across the receiving component 830 and the transmitting component 834.

[0135] The receiving component 830 may provide some or all of the data and / or control information included in the received signaling to the communication manager 832, and the communication manager 832 may generate some or all of the data and / or control information to be included in the transmitted signaling and provide this data and / or control information to the transmitting component 834. The communication manager 832 may include various illustrated components, including one or more components configured to process received data and / or control information and / or one or more components configured to generate data and / or control information for transmission.

[0136] The communication manager 832 may include a measurement component 840, a determination component 842, a request component 844, and / or a notification area component 846. The measurement component 840 may be configured to derive a set of measurements from one or more signals received via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cellular cells. The measurements may be L1 measurements. Additionally or alternatively, the measurement component 840 may determine a set of values identifying one or more beams - for example, the one or more beams may be those via which signals with the highest L1 measurements are received.

[0137] The measurement component 840 may provide information associated with the set of measurements to the transmitting component 834. Thus, the transmitting component 834 may transmit to base station 102 / 180 information associated with a set of measurements derived from one or more signals received via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cellular cells, for example, as described in 602 in connection with Figure 6 In some aspects, the information associated with the set of measurements may include at least one of a set of L1 measurements derived from one or more signals received via the one or more beams or a set of values identifying the one or more beams. The information associated with the set of measurements may indicate a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cellular cells in a beam notification area.

[0138] Determining component 842 may be configured to determine that an active beam corresponding to the serving cell does not exist in another beam notification region configured by another message received from base station 102 / 180, e.g., as described in 604 in connection with Figure 6 As described. In some aspects, determining component 842 may identify each of the transmit and receive beams via which device 802 communicates data and / or control information with the base station, which may provide the cell on which device 802 is configured to operate or camp. Each of the two beams that make up a beam pair may be considered an "active" beam, e.g., unless a radio link failure is detected or intentionally shut down. Each active beam may be associated with an ID (such as a value carried by a pilot signal transmitted via the active beam) and / or other identification information (such as information related to a spatial filter or other parameters / characteristics that can be used alone or in aggregation to uniquely distinguish one beam from other beams at the base station).

[0139] Requesting component 844 may request base station 102 / 180 to update the other beam notification region based on the non-existence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in the other beam notification region, e.g., as described in 606 in connection with Figure 6 As described. According to various aspects, the request may be one of an explicit request or an implicit request, and may be transmitted in one of an RRC signaling message or a RACH message on a resource set, which may be configured (or pre-configured) to indicate a request to update the other notification beam region.

[0140] In some aspects, e.g., requesting component 844 may be configured to request base station 102 / 180 to update the at least one beam notification region by: (1) generating an RRC message having at least one field that includes information explicitly requesting base station 102 / 180 to update the other beam notification region, and (2) causing transmission component 834 to transmit the RRC message to base station 102 / 180. In some other aspects, requesting component 844 may be configured to request base station 102 / 180 to update the at least one beam notification region by: (1) selecting a resource set on the RACH that is configured to implicitly request base station 102 / 180 to update the at least one beam notification region, (2) mapping the RA message to the selected RACH resource set, and (3) transmitting the mapped RA message to base station 102 / 180 on the selected RACH resource set.

[0141] Via receiving component 830, notification region component 846 may receive a RAN notification region message configuring the RAI set from base station 102 / 180, e.g., as described in connection with Figure 6as described in 608. Each RAI may identify a RAN notification area that includes a set of BAI. For example, each RAI may indicate a set of cells in which device 802 may be located. In some aspects, device 802 may receive a RAN notification area update that configures a set of RAI in response to transmitting a RAN notification area update request. In some aspects, the RAN notification update request may be included in or indicated by the aforementioned request to update another beam notification area. In other aspects, the RAN notification update request may be separate from the aforementioned request to update another beam notification area.

[0142] Similarly, via receiving component 830, notification area component 846 may receive from base station 102 / 180 a message that configures at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of device 802, e.g., as described in Figure 6 610. The at least one beam notification area may include a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, and the set of beams is identified by base station 102 / 180 as candidates for carrying paging messages for device 802 in the at least one beam notification area. For example, the message that configures the at least one beam notification area may include at least one BAI that identifies at least one beam notification area having a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells. A beam notification area update may be received in one of an RRC signaling message, DCI, and / or MAC CE. Each of the one or more beams may correspond to a respective SSB and / or CSI-RS. For example, the message may be based on information associated with a set of measurements derived from a set of signals received via one or more of the set of beams.

[0143] Receiving component 830 may be configured to receive a paging message from base station 102 / 180 via one beam in the set of beams that corresponds to one cell in the set of cells in which device 802 is located, based on the at least one beam notification area, e.g., as described in Figure 6 612. In some aspects, when the paging message is received, the RRC protocol layer of device 802 may be in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0144] Device 802 may include additional components that perform all or some of the blocks, operations, signaling, etc. of the algorithms in the aforementioned flowcharts of Figure 6 . Thus, Figure 6 all or some of the blocks, operations, signaling, etc. in the aforementioned flowcharts of

[0145] In one configuration, device 802, and in particular cellular baseband processor 804, includes: means for receiving from the network a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of device 802, the at least one beam notification area including a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, the set of beams being identified by the network as candidates for carrying paging messages for device 802 in the at least one beam notification area; and means for receiving the paging message from the network via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells in which device 802 is located, based on the at least one beam notification area.

[0146] In one configuration, when a paging message is received, the RRC layer of the protocol stack of device 802 is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0147] In one configuration, device 802, and in particular cellular baseband processor 804, may further include: means for determining that an active beam corresponding to the serving cell does not exist in another beam notification area configured by another message received from the network; and means for requesting the network to update the another beam notification area based on the non-existence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell, and the message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes an update to the another beam notification area to include the active beam corresponding to the serving cell.

[0148] In one configuration, the means for requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area is configured to: transmit an RRC message to the network, and at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting the network to update the another beam notification area.

[0149] In one configuration, the means for requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area is configured to: transmit an RA message to the network on a resource set of the RACH, and the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the network to update the another beam notification area.

[0150] In one configuration, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes at least one BAI identifying at least one beam notification area including a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells.

[0151] In one configuration, device 802, and in particular cellular baseband processor 804, may further include: means for receiving from the network a RAN notification area message configuring a set of RAI, each RAI identifying a RAN notification area including a set of BAI.

[0152] In one configuration, device 802, and in particular cellular baseband processor 804, may further include: means for transmitting to a network information associated with a measurement set derived from one or more signals received by device 802 via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, and a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of device 802 is based on the information associated with the measurement set.

[0153] In one configuration, the information associated with the measurement set includes at least one of an L1 measurement set derived from one or more signals received by device 802 via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells or a set of values identifying the one or more beams, and the information associated with the measurement set includes a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in the at least one beam notification area.

[0154] In one configuration, each of the one or more signals received via the one or more beams includes at least one of an SS / PBCH block or CSI-RS.

[0155] In one configuration, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area is received from the network in at least one of an RRC signaling message, a DCI message, or a MAC CE.

[0156] The foregoing means may be one or more of the foregoing components in device 802 configured to perform the functions recited by the foregoing means. As described above, device 802 may include a TX processor 368, an RX processor 356, and a controller / processor 359. Thus, in one configuration, the foregoing means may be the TX processor 368, the RX processor 356, and the controller / processor 359 configured to perform the functions recited by the foregoing means.

[0157] Figure 9 FIG. 902 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation of device 900. Device 902 may be a base station, a network entity (e.g., implementing network functions), or a similar device or system, or may be a component thereof. Device 902 may include a baseband unit 904. The baseband unit 904 may communicate via a cellular RF transceiver. For example, the baseband unit 904 may communicate with UE 104 via a cellular RF transceiver (such as for downlink and / or uplink communication), and / or communicate with a base station (such as for IAB). In some other aspects, device 902 may communicate with UE 104 indirectly, where the base station provides at least one hop to UE 104; device 902 may be connected to such a base station via a wireless or wired connection.

[0158] The baseband unit 904 may include a computer-readable medium / memory, which may be non-transitory. The baseband unit 904 is responsible for general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium / memory. When executed by the baseband unit 904, the software causes the baseband unit 904 to perform the various functions described above. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used to store data manipulated by the baseband unit 904 when executing the software. The baseband unit 904 further includes a receiving component 930, a communication manager 932, and a transmitting component 934. The communication manager 932 includes the one or more illustrated components. The components within the communication manager 932 may be stored in the computer-readable medium / memory and / or configured as hardware within the baseband unit 904. The baseband unit 904 may be a component of the base station 310 and may include a memory 376 and / or at least one of the following: a TX processor 316, an RX processor 370, and a controller / processor 375.

[0159] The receiving component 930 may be configured to receive signaling on a wireless channel, such as signaling from the UE 104 or other devices. The transmitting component 934 may be configured to transmit signaling on a wireless channel, such as signaling to the UE 104 or other devices. The communication manager 932 may coordinate or manage some or all of the wireless communications performed by the device 902, including wireless communications across the receiving component 930 and the transmitting component 934.

[0160] The receiving component 930 may provide some or all of the data and / or control information included in the received signaling to the communication manager 932, and the communication manager 932 may generate some or all of the data and / or control information to be included in the transmitted signaling and provide this data and / or control information to the transmitting component 934. The communication manager 932 may include various illustrated components, including one or more components configured to process the received data and / or control information and / or one or more components configured to generate data and / or control information for transmission. In some aspects, the generation of data and / or control information may include packetizing or otherwise reformating data and / or control information received from a network entity and / or a core network (such as the core network 190 or the EPC 160) for transmission.

[0161] The communication manager 932 may include an evaluation component 940, an identification component 942, a notification positioning component 944, and a paging component 946. The evaluation component 940 may be configured to receive, via the receiving component 930, information from the UE 104 associated with a set of measurements derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, e.g., as described in connection with Figure 7as described in 702 of. The evaluation component 940 may select a beam on which to page the UE 104 based on evaluating information associated with the measurement set.

[0162] In some aspects, the information associated with the measurement set may include at least one of a set of L1 measurements derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams, and the evaluation component 940 may select a beam corresponding to the highest L1 measurement and / or a beam corresponding to an L1 measurement exceeding a threshold. In some other aspects, the information associated with the measurement set may include a set of values identifying the one or more beams. The information associated with the measurement set may indicate a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cellular cells in a beam notification area. Potentially, the evaluation component 940 may determine whether to grant the request, for example, by assigning the requested beam to the notification area for the UE 104.

[0163] The identification component 942 may receive, from the UE 104 via the receiving component 930, a request to update the other beam notification area based on the absence of an active beam in the other beam notification area, e.g., as described in Figure 7 704 of. The active beam may correspond to the serving cellular cell in which the UE 104 is located. According to various aspects, the request may be one of an explicit request or an implicit request, and may be received in one of an RRC signaling message or a RACH message on a resource set, which may be configured (or pre-configured) to indicate a request to update the other notification beam area.

[0164] In some aspects, the identification component 942 may receive a request for update as an RRC message that has at least one field including information explicitly requesting an update to the other beam notification area. The identification component 942 may identify a beam that is not present in the beam notification area of the UE 104, and the identification component 942 may provide information identifying the beam to the notification positioning component 944. In some other aspects, the identification component 942 may receive a request for update as an RA message from the UE 104 on a resource set of the RACH, where the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message is an implicit request to update the other beam notification area. The identification component 942 may identify the beam by identifying the beam ID to which the resource maps when carrying the RA message and providing information identifying the beam requested by the UE 104 to be included in the beam notification area to the notification positioning component 944.

[0165] The notification positioning component 944 may be configured to update at least one beam notification area based on a request received from the UE 104 to include the active beam with the other beam notification area, e.g., as described inFigure 7 as described in 706. For example, the notification positioning component 944 may associate the active beam with the UE 104 (such as by storing information indicating the association therebetween). The notification positioning component 944 may reconfigure the beam notification area for the UE 104 to include the BAI that includes the active beam.

[0166] Via the transmission component 934, the notification positioning component 944 may transmit to the UE 104 a RAN notification area message that configures a set of RAI, for example, as described in Figure 7 708. Each RAI may identify a RAN notification area that includes a set of BAI. For example, each RAI may indicate a set of cells in which the UE may be located - for example, it is estimated that the UE camps on one of the cells included in the RAN notification area at any given time. In some aspects, the notification positioning component 944 may cause the transmission of a RAN notification area update that configures a set of RAI in response to receiving a RAN notification area update request from the UE. In some aspects, the RAN notification update request may be included in or indicated by the aforementioned request to update another beam notification area. In other aspects, the RAN notification update request may be separate from the aforementioned request to update another beam notification area.

[0167] Further, the notification positioning component 944 may cause the transmission component 934 to transmit to the UE 104 a message that configures at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE 104, for example, as described in Figure 7 710. The at least one beam notification area may include a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, and the set of beams is identified as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE 104 in the at least one beam notification area. For example, the message that configures the at least one beam notification area may include at least one BAI that identifies at least one beam notification area having a set of beams corresponding to the set of cells. The beam notification area update may be transmitted in one of an RRC signaling message, DCI, and / or MAC CE. Each of the one or more beams may correspond to a respective SSB and / or CSI-RS. For example, the message may be based on information associated with a set of measurements derived from a set of signals received via one or more of the set of beams.

[0168] The paging component 946 may cause the transmission component 934 to transmit a paging message to the UE 104 via one beam corresponding to one of the cells in the set of cells in which the UE is located in the set of beams based on the at least one beam notification area, for example, as described in Figure 7In some aspects, when the paging message is transmitted to the UE 104, the RRC protocol layer of the UE 104 may be in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0169] Device 902 may include executing Figure 7 All or some of the additional components of the blocks, operations, signaling, etc. of the algorithms in the aforementioned flowcharts. Figure 7 All or some of the blocks, operations, signaling, etc. in the aforementioned flow charts may be performed by a component, and the device 902 may include one or more of those components. These components may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to perform the process / algorithm, implemented by a processor configured to perform the process / algorithm, stored in a computer-readable medium for implementation by a processor, or some combination thereof.

[0170] In one configuration, the device 902, and in particular the baseband unit 904, includes: a device for transmitting a message to a UE configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE, the at least one beam notification area including a beam set corresponding to a set of cellular cells, the beam set being identified as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification area; and a device for transmitting the paging message to the UE based on the at least one beam notification area via a beam in the beam set corresponding to a cellular cell in the cellular cell set in which the UE is positioned.

[0171] In one configuration, when the paging message is transmitted, the RRC layer of the protocol stack of the UE is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0172] In one configuration, the device 902, and in particular the baseband unit 904, may further include: a device for receiving a request from a UE to update another beam notification area based on the absence of an active beam in the other beam notification area, the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in which the UE is located; and a device for updating the at least one beam notification area to include the active beam together with the other beam notification area based on the request received from the UE.

[0173] In one configuration, the means for receiving a request to update the another beam notification area from the UE is configured to receive an RRC message from the UE, and at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting to update the another beam notification area to include an active beam.

[0174] In one configuration, the apparatus for receiving from a UE a request to update the other beam notification area is configured to receive a RA message from the UE on a resource set of a RACH, and the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the network to update the other beam notification area.

[0175] In one configuration, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes at least one BAI identifying at least one beam notification area including a beam set corresponding to a cell set.

[0176] In one configuration, device 902, and in particular baseband unit 904, may further include: means for transmitting to the UE a RAN notification area message configuring a set of RAI for the UE, each RAI identifying a RAN notification area including a set of beam notification areas.

[0177] In one configuration, device 902, and in particular baseband unit 904, may further include: means for receiving from the UE information associated with a measurement set, the measurement set being derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, and the at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE being based on the information associated with the measurement set.

[0178] In one configuration, the information associated with the measurement set includes at least one of an L1 measurement set derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells or a set of values identifying the one or more beams, and the information associated with the measurement set includes a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in the at least one beam notification area.

[0179] In one configuration, at least one of the one or more signals transmitted via the one or more beams includes an SS / PBCH block or CSI-RS transmitted by device 902.

[0180] In one configuration, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area is included in at least one of an RRC signaling message, a DCI message, or a MAC CE.

[0181] The foregoing apparatus may be one or more of the foregoing components in device 902 configured to perform the functions recited by the foregoing apparatus. As described above, device 902 may include a TX processor 316, an RX processor 370, and a controller / processor 375. Thus, in one configuration, the foregoing apparatus may be the TX processor 316, the RX processor 370, and the controller / processor 375 configured to perform the functions recited by the foregoing apparatus.

[0182] It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of the various blocks in the disclosed processes / flowcharts is illustrative of example approaches. It should be understood that, based on design preferences, the specific order or hierarchy of the various blocks in these processes / flowcharts can be rearranged. Additionally, some blocks can be combined or omitted. The appended method claims present the elements of the various blocks in exemplary order and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented.

[0183] The following examples are merely illustrative and can be combined with the various aspects or other teachings and disclosures described herein without limitation.

[0184] Example 1 is a device for wireless communication at a UE, the device being configured to: receive from a network a message configuring at least one beam notification region associated with the positioning of the UE, the at least one beam notification region including a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, the set of beams being identified by the network as candidates for carrying paging messages for the UE in the at least one beam notification region; and receive the paging message from the network via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells in which the UE is located.

[0185] Example 2 can include the device of Example 1, and when the paging message is received, the RRC layer of the UE's protocol stack is in an idle state or an inactive state.

[0186] Example 3 can include the device of Example 1, and is further configured to: determine that an active beam corresponding to a serving cell does not exist in another beam notification region configured by another message received from the network; and request the network to update the another beam notification region based on the non - existence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell, and the message configuring the at least one beam notification region includes an update to the another beam notification region to include the active beam corresponding to the serving cell.

[0187] Example 4 can include the device of Example 3, and requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification region includes transmitting an RRC message to the network, and at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting the network to update the another beam notification region.

[0188] Example 5 can include the device of Example 3, and requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification region includes transmitting an RA message to the network on a resource set of a RACH, and the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the network to update the another beam notification region.

[0189] Example 6 may include the apparatus of Example 1, and the message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes at least one BAI identifying the at least one beam notification area including the beam set corresponding to the cell set.

[0190] Example 7 may include the apparatus of Example 6, and is further configured to: receive, from the network, a RAN notification area message configuring a set of RAI, where each RAI identifies a RAN notification area including a set of BAI.

[0191] Example 8 may include the apparatus of Example 1, and is further configured to: transmit, to the network, information associated with a set of measurements, the set of measurements being derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, and the message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE is based on the information associated with the set of measurements.

[0192] Example 9 may include the apparatus of Example 8, and the information associated with the set of measurements includes at least one of a set of L1 measurements derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells or a set of values identifying the one or more beams, and the information associated with the set of measurements includes a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in the at least one beam notification area.

[0193] Example 10 may include the apparatus of Example 8, and each of the one or more signals received via the one or more beams includes at least one of an SS / PBCH block or a CSI-RS.

[0194] Example 11 may include the apparatus of Example 1, and the message configuring the at least one beam notification area is received from the network in at least one of an RRC signaling message, a DCI message, or a MAC CE.

[0195] Example 12 is an apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, the apparatus being configured to: transmit, to a UE, a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE, the at least one beam notification area including a beam set corresponding to a cell set, the beam set being identified as a candidate for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification area; and transmit the paging message to the UE via one beam in the beam set corresponding to one cell in the cell set where the UE is located.

[0196] Example 13 may include the apparatus of Example 12, and when transmitting the paging message, the RRC layer of the UE's protocol stack is in the idle state or the inactive state.

[0197] Example 14 may include the apparatus of Example 12, and is further configured to: receive, from the UE, a request to update the other beam notification area based on the absence of an active beam in the other beam notification area, the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in which the UE is located; and update the at least one beam notification area based on the request received from the UE to include the active beam with the other beam notification area.

[0198] Example 15 may include the apparatus of Example 14, and receiving a request to update the other beam notification area from the UE includes receiving an RRC message from the UE, and at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting to update the other beam notification area to include the active beam.

[0199] Example 16 may include the apparatus of Example 14, and receiving a request to update the other beam notification area from the UE includes receiving an RA message from the UE on a resource set of the RACH, and the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the network to update the other beam notification area.

[0200] Example 17 may include the apparatus of Example 12, and the message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes at least one BAI identifying the at least one beam notification area including the beam set corresponding to the cell set.

[0201] Example 18 may include the apparatus of Example 17, and is further configured to: transmit, to the UE, a RAN notification area message configuring a set of RAI for the UE, each RAI identifying a RAN notification area including a set of beam notification areas.

[0202] Example 19 may include the apparatus of Example 12, and is further configured to: receive, from the UE, information associated with a measurement set, the measurement set being derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, and the at least one beam notification area associated with the location of the UE is based on the information associated with the measurement set.

[0203] Example 20 may include the apparatus of Example 19, and the information associated with the measurement set includes at least one of an L1 measurement set derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells or a set of values identifying the one or more beams, and the information associated with the measurement set includes a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in the at least one beam notification region.

[0204] Example 21 may include the apparatus of Example 19, and at least one of the one or more signals transmitted via the one or more beams includes an SS / PBCH block or CSI-RS transmitted by the apparatus.

[0205] Example 22 may include the apparatus of Example 12, and the message configuring the at least one beam notification region is included in at least one of an RRC signaling message, a DCI message, or a MAC CE.

[0206] The foregoing description has been presented to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein but are to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims. Accordingly, the language employed herein is not intended to limit the scope of the claims to only the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims.

[0207] As an example, the language "determine" can cover a wide variety of actions and thus may not be limited to the concepts and aspects explicitly described or illustrated by the present disclosure. In some contexts, "determine" may include computing, calculating, processing, measuring, deriving, researching, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, database, or another data structure), ascertaining, resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing, and the like. In some other contexts, "determine" may include some communication and / or memory operations / procedures by which some information or value is obtained, such as "receiving" (e.g., receiving information), "accessing" (e.g., accessing data in a memory), "detecting", etc.

[0208] As another example, a reference to a singular element is not intended to mean "one and only one" (unless specifically stated otherwise), but rather "one or more". Specifically, a reference to a singular element is not intended to mean "one and only one" (unless specifically stated otherwise), but rather "one or more". Terms such as "if", "when", and "while" are to be construed as meaning "under the condition that", rather than implying a direct temporal relationship or reaction. That is, these phrases (e.g., "when") do not imply an immediate action in response to or during the occurrence of an action, but rather only imply that an action will occur if the condition is met, without the need for a specific or immediate time constraint for the action to occur. The term "exemplary" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration". Any aspect described herein as "exemplary" need not be construed as superior or better than other aspects. Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term "some / a" refers to one or more. Combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", "one or more of A, B, and C", and "any combination of A, B, C, or thereof" include any combination of A, B, and / or C and may include multiple A's, multiple B's, or multiple C's. Specifically, combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C", "one or more of A, B, or C", "at least one of A, B, and C", "one or more of A, B, and C", and "any combination of A, B, C, or thereof" can be only A, only B, only C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C, where any such combination may include one or more members of A, B, or C. Elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be covered by the claims, all structural and functional equivalents thereof known to those of ordinary skill in the art currently or hereafter. Additionally, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public, whether or not such disclosure is expressly recited in the claims. The terms "module", "mechanism", "element", "device", etc. may not be a substitute for the term "apparatus". Thus, no claim element should be construed as a means-plus-function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for...".

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication by a user equipment (UE), comprising: Receiving, from a network, a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area including at least one beam area identifier (BAI) identifying the at least one beam notification area, the at least one beam notification area including a beam set corresponding to a cell set, the beam set being identified by the network as candidates for carrying paging messages for the UE in the at least one beam notification area; And Receiving, from the network, the paging message via one beam in the beam set corresponding to one cell in the cell set where the UE is located, based on the at least one beam notification area.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, When the paging message is received, the radio resource control (RRC) layer of the UE's protocol stack is in an idle state or an inactive state.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Determining that an active beam corresponding to a serving cell does not exist in another beam notification area configured by another message received from the network; And Requesting the network to update the another beam notification area based on the non-existence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell, wherein The message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes an update to the another beam notification area to include the active beam corresponding to the serving cell.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, Requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area includes: Transmitting a radio resource control (RRC) message to the network, wherein at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting the network to update the another beam notification area.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein Requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area includes: Transmitting an RA message to the network on a resource set of a random access (RA) channel (RACH), and the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the network to update the another beam notification area.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Receiving, from the network, a RAN notification area message configuring a set of radio access network (RAN) area identifiers (RAIs), each RAI identifying a RAN notification area including a set of BAI.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: Transmitting, to the network, information associated with a measurement set, the measurement set being derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, wherein the message configuring the at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE is based on the information associated with the measurement set.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein, The information associated with the measurement set includes at least one of the following: A layer 1 (L1) measurement set derived from the one or more signals received by the UE via the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells; or A set of values identifying the one or more beams, and wherein the information associated with the set of measurements includes a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in the at least one beam notification area.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein, Each of the one or more signals received via the one or more beams includes at least one of a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The message configuring the at least one beam notification area is received from the network in at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) signaling message, a downlink control information (DCI) message, or a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

11. A method of wireless communication by a device of an access network, comprising: Transmitting to a user equipment (UE) a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with positioning of the UE, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area including at least one beam area identifier (BAI) identifying the at least one beam notification area, the at least one beam notification area including a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, the set of beams being identified as candidates for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification area; And Transmitting the paging message to the UE via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells in which the UE is located, based on the at least one beam notification area.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when transmitting the paging message, the radio resource control (RRC) layer of the protocol stack of the UE is in an idle state or an inactive state.

13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: Receiving from the UE a request to update the other beam notification area based on the absence of an active beam in the other beam notification area, the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in which the UE is located; And Updating the at least one beam notification area based on the request received from the UE to include the active beam in the other beam notification area.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein receiving the request from the UE to update the other beam notification area includes: Receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from the UE, wherein at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting to update the other beam notification area to include the active beam.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein receiving the request from the UE to update the other beam notification area includes: Receiving a random access (RA) message from the UE on a resource set of a random access (RA) channel (RACH), wherein the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the access network to update the other beam notification area.

16. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: Transmit a RAN notification area message to the UE that configures a set of radio access network (RAN) area identifiers (RAIs) for the UE, where each RAI identifies a RAN notification area that includes a set of beam notification areas.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising: Receiving, from the UE, information associated with a set of measurements, the set of measurements being derived from one or more signals transmitted via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, where the at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE is based on the information associated with the set of measurements.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the information associated with the set of measurements includes at least one of the following: A set of layer 1 (L1) measurements derived from the one or more signals transmitted via the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells; or A set of values identifying the one or more beams, and wherein the information associated with the set of measurements includes a request to include the one or more beams corresponding to the one or more cells in the at least one beam notification area.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein, At least one of the one or more signals transmitted via the one or more beams includes a synchronization signal (SS) / physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) transmitted by a base station of the access network.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The message configuring the at least one beam notification area is included in at least one of a radio resource control (RRC) signaling message, a downlink control information (DCI) message, or a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

21. An apparatus for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE), comprising: A memory; And At least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the memory and configured to: Receive, from a network, a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area including at least one beam area identifier (BAI) identifying the at least one beam notification area, the at least one beam notification area including a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, the set of beams being identified by the network as candidates for carrying a paging message for the UE in the at least one beam notification area; And Receive the paging message from the network via one beam corresponding to one cell in the set of cells where the UE is located in the set of beams based on the at least one beam notification area.

22. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the radio resource control (RRC) layer of the UE's protocol stack is in an idle state or an inactive state.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein, The at least one processor is further configured to: Determine that an active beam corresponding to a serving cell does not exist in another beam notification area configured by another message received from the network; and request the network to update the other beam notification area based on the absence of the active beam corresponding to the serving cell, wherein the message configuring the at least one beam notification area includes an update to the other beam notification area to include the active beam corresponding to the serving cell.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area includes transmitting a radio resource control (RRC) message to the network, wherein at least one field of the RRC message includes information explicitly requesting the network to update the other beam notification area.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein requesting the network to update the at least one beam notification area includes: transmitting a RA message to the network on a resource set of a random access (RA) channel (RACH), and the resource set of the RACH carrying the RA message includes an implicit request for the network to update the other beam notification area.

26. The device according to claim 21, wherein, the at least one processor is further configured to: receive from the network a RAN notification area message configuring a set of radio access network (RAN) area identifiers (RAIs), each RAI identifying a RAN notification area including a set of BAI.

27. The apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to: transmit to the network information associated with a set of measurements, the set of measurements being derived from one or more signals received by the UE via one or more beams corresponding to one or more cells, wherein the message configuring the at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE is based on the information associated with the set of measurements.

28. An apparatus for configuring wireless communication in an access network, comprising: a memory; and at least one processor, the at least one processor being coupled to the memory and configured to: transmit to a user equipment (UE) a message configuring at least one beam notification area associated with the positioning of the UE, the message configuring the at least one beam notification area including at least one beam area identifier (BAI) identifying the at least one beam notification area, the at least one beam notification area including a set of beams corresponding to a set of cells, the set of beams being identified as candidates for carrying paging messages for the UE in the at least one beam notification area; and transmit the paging message to the UE via one beam in the set of beams corresponding to one cell in the set of cells in which the UE is located based on the at least one beam notification area.

29. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein when transmitting the paging message, the radio resource control (RRC) layer of the protocol stack of the UE is in an idle state or an inactive state.

30. The apparatus according to claim 28, wherein, the at least one processor is further configured to: Receiving, from the UE, a request to update the other beam notification area based on the active beam not being present in the other beam notification area, the active beam corresponding to the serving cell in which the UE is located; And Updating the at least one beam notification area to include the active beam with the other beam notification area based on the request received from the UE.

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