Real-time control of an electronically configurable deflector

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A base station can transmit control signaling including a beam shaping configuration to a channel engineering device. The channel engineering device can apply the beam shaping configuration for a time period in which the base station communicates with a user equipment (UE). The beam shaping configuration can include one or more parameters that modify one or more deflection settings at the channel engineering device to adjust an electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device to focus, reflect, refract, filter, or any combination thereof, received signal energy. The base station and the one or more UEs can communicate using the channel engineering device based on the beam shaping configuration.

Description

[0001] Cross-referencing

[0002] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17 / 474,636, filed September 14, 2021, entitled “REAL TIME CONTROLOF AN ELECTRONICALLY CONFIGURABLE DEFLECTOR,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 079,162, filed September 16, 2020, entitled “REAL TIME CONTROL OF AN ELECTRONICALLY CONFIGURABLE DEFLECTOR,” which has been assigned to the assignee of this application and is expressly incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] The following pertains to wireless communication, including real-time control of electronically configurable deflectors. Background Technology

[0004] Wireless communication systems are widely deployed to provide various types of communication content, such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcasting, and so on. These systems can support communication with multiple users by sharing available system resources (e.g., time, frequency, and power). Examples of such multiple access systems include fourth-generation (4G) systems (such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-A Advanced (LTE-A), or LTE-A Pro systems) and fifth-generation (5G) systems, which may be referred to as New Radio (NR) systems. These systems can employ various technologies, such as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), or Discrete Fourier Transform Extended Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (DFT-S-OFDM). A wireless multiple access communication system may include one or more base stations or one or more network access nodes, each of which simultaneously supports communication from multiple communication devices, which may also be referred to as User Equipment (UE). Summary of the Invention

[0005] The described techniques relate to improved methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses that support real-time control of electronically configurable deflectors. Generally, the described techniques provide for a base station to send control signaling including a beam shaping configuration (e.g., indicating one or more deflection settings) to a channel engineering device. The channel engineering device can apply the beam shaping configuration during a time period in which the base station communicates with a user equipment (UE). In some cases, the beam shaping configuration can include one or more parameters that modify one or more deflection settings at the channel engineering device to adjust an electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device to focus, reflect, refract, filter, or any combination thereof, received signal energy. In some cases, the base station and the one or more UEs can communicate using the channel engineering device based on the beam shaping configuration, which can provide advantages in power consumption, bandwidth, distance between the one or more UEs and the base station, and cost (e.g., as compared to using a repeater).

[0006] A method for wireless communication at a channel engineering device is described. The method can include receiving, from a base station, first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration for the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of signals transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and configuring the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of received signal energy in accordance with the first beam shaping configuration.

[0007] An apparatus for wireless communication at a channel engineering device is described. The apparatus can include a processor, memory coupled with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions can be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to receive, from a base station, first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration for the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of signals transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and configure the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of received signal energy in accordance with the first beam shaping configuration.

[0008] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a channel engineering device is described. The apparatus can include means for receiving, from a base station, first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration for the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of signals transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and configuring the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of received signal energy in accordance with the first beam shaping configuration.

[0009] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a channel engineering device is described. The code can include instructions executable by a processor to receive, from a base station, first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration for the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of signals transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and configure the channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of received signal energy in accordance with the first beam shaping configuration.

[0010] Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein can further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving second control signaling configuring the channel engineering device with a set of beam shaping configurations and a respective index of a set of indices corresponding to a respective beam shaping configuration of the set of beam shaping configurations, where the first control signaling indicates a first index of the set of indices corresponding to the first beam shaping configuration.

[0011] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling indicating a first time period in which to apply the first beam shaping configuration.

[0012] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling indicating a second time period in which to apply a second beam shaping configuration different from the first beam shaping configuration.

[0013] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling indicating a set of time periods corresponding to a set of beam shaping configurations, and applying a respective beam shaping configuration of the set of beam shaping configurations during a respective time period of the set of time periods based on the first control signaling.

[0014] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling indicating a second beam shaping configuration different from the first beam shaping configuration, and receiving a switch command indicating to switch between the first beam shaping configuration and the second beam shaping configuration.

[0015] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling indicating the first beam shaping configuration including a list of one or more beam shaping settings.

[0016] Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein can further include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling prior to a time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary preceding a time period in which the first beam shaping configuration can be applied.

[0017] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer- readable medium described herein, the time period can be a time slot, a symbol period, a mini-slot, a group of symbol periods, or a combination thereof.

[0018] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer- readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for receiving the first control signaling indicating to apply the first beam shaping configuration until receiving second control signaling to apply a second beam shaping configuration different from the first beam shaping configuration.

[0019] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer- readable medium described herein, the first beam shaping configuration indicates one or more settings to adjust an electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof.

[0020] A method of wireless communication is described at a base station. The method can include transmitting first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration of a channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of a signal transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and transmitting the signal to the channel engineering device based on the first control signaling.

[0021] An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus can include a processor, memory coupled with the processor, and instructions stored in the memory. The instructions can be executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to transmit first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration of a channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of a signal transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and transmit the signal to the channel engineering device based on the first control signaling.

[0022] Another apparatus for wireless communication at a base station is described. The apparatus can include means for transmitting first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration of a channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of a signal transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and transmitting the signal to the channel engineering device based on the first control signaling.

[0023] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station is described. The code can include instructions executable by a processor to transmit first control signaling indicating a first beam shaping configuration of a channel engineering device to perform beam shaping of a signal transmitted from the base station to a user equipment, and transmit the signal to the channel engineering device based on the first control signaling.

[0024] Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein can further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting second control signaling configuring the channel engineering device with a set of beam shaping configurations and a respective index of a set of indices corresponding to a respective beam shaping configuration of the set of beam shaping configurations, where the first control signaling indicates a first index of the set of indices corresponding to the first beam shaping configuration.

[0025] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, transmitting the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting the first control signaling indicating a first time period in which to apply the first beam shaping configuration.

[0026] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, transmitting the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting the first control signaling indicating a second time period in which to apply a second beam shaping configuration different from the first beam shaping configuration.

[0027] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, transmitting the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting the first control signaling indicating a set of time periods corresponding to a set of beam shaping configurations.

[0028] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, transmitting the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting the first control signaling indicating a second beam shaping configuration different from the first beam shaping configuration, and transmitting, to the channel engineering device, a switch command indicating to switch between the first beam shaping configuration and the second beam shaping configuration.

[0029] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein, receiving the first control signaling includes operations, features, means, or instructions for updating a list of one or more beam shaping settings corresponding to the first beam shaping configuration, and transmitting, to the channel engineering device, the first control signaling indicating the list of one or more beam shaping settings.

[0030] Some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer-readable medium described herein can further include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting the first control signaling prior to a time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary preceding a time period in which the first beam shaping configuration can be applied.

[0031] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer- readable medium described herein, the time period can be a time slot, a symbol period, a mini-slot, a group of symbol periods, or a combination thereof.

[0032] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer- readable medium described herein, transmitting the first control signaling can include operations, features, means, or instructions for transmitting the first control signaling indicating to apply the first beam shaping configuration until receiving second control signaling to apply a second beam shaping configuration different from the first beam shaping configuration.

[0033] In some examples of the method, apparatuses, and non-transitory computer- readable medium described herein, the first beam shaping configuration indicates one or more settings to adjust an electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] Figures 1 to 3 An example of a wireless communications system is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0035] Figures 4 to 6 An example of a process flow is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0036] Figure 7 And Figure 8 A block diagram of a device is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0037] Figure 9 A block diagram of a communications manager is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0038] Figure 10 A schematic illustration of a system including a device is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 11 And Figure 12 A block diagram of a device is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 13 A block diagram of a communications manager is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0041] Figure 14 A schematic illustration of a system including a device is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 15 to 18 A flow diagram illustrating a method in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] In some examples, a user equipment (UE) can communicate control signaling, data, or both with a base station using directional beams. For example, the UE and the base station can transmit messages through a beam path using directional beams. However, an obstacle can block the beam path. In some cases, the message can not reach the destination because an object such as a building can block the beam path. In some examples, coverage is limited to line of sight (LOS) and specular reflection. In some cases, the base station or the UE can transmit a message to a repeater in an attempt to bypass the obstacle. The repeater can receive the message from the UE and the base station and redirect the message to the destination using a transmitter. In some examples, the repeater can incur a relatively high power consumption (e.g., due to receiving the message, decoding the message, retransmitting the message, or a combination thereof) when redirecting the message. In some cases, the repeater can include a power amplifier that uses a power source.

[0044] To conserve power, a base station can configure a channel engineering device that uses a low-power electronic metamaterial to direct received signal energy from a transmitter to a receiver. Unlike a traditional repeater, the channel engineering device can be passive and can not include a power amplifier (PA). The channel engineering device can have a nominal (e.g., minimum) power constraint or requirement and can consume power when reconfigured (e.g., when a signal deflection direction is reconfigured). In some examples, the channel engineering device can be solar powered, battery powered, and so on. The channel engineering device can be inexpensive and can be implemented as a simple printed circuit board that can have a desired size (e.g., can be made very large). The channel engineering device can improve UE separation from nearby devices through beamforming and can be flat, allowing for inclusion in the architecture of a building. Signaling to configure the channel engineering device can consume a relatively low bandwidth (e.g., very low bandwidth). Furthermore, channel engineering device deflection settings can be determined using an uplink (e.g., Uu) based angle of arrival (AoA) measurement procedure, and the Uu interface is inexpensive and available.

[0045] Channel engineering devices can include a specular reflector, a refractor, or both, to extend coverage to areas that are not covered. Reflectors and refractors can also have a focusing or energy concentrating effect to further enhance the communication link. In some cases, a base station can configure metamaterials at a channel engineering device to direct signal energy in a desired direction. For example, metamaterials can affect electromagnetic waves that interact with the structural features of the metamaterials. In one example, electromagnetic metamaterials can affect electromagnetic waves that impinge on or interact with structural features that are smaller than the wavelength of the electromagnetic waves. In some examples, to behave as a homogeneous material precisely described by an effective index of refraction, the structural features of the metamaterials can be much smaller than the wavelength. In one example, a metamaterial can include a lattice of unit cells as structural features, where each unit cell includes a tunable split-ring resonator (SRR), and each unit cell is smaller than the wavelength (e.g., unit cell « λ). The channel engineering device can apply a beam shaping configuration based on receiving a control message from the base station indicating one or more deflection settings to tune some or all of the SRRs to modify the effective index of refraction of the metamaterial.

[0046] An electronically controllable metamaterial consumes a small amount of power to set the direction of deflection or focusing of received signal energy, but can not use power when directing the signal energy (e.g., without decoding and retransmission). That is, a channel engineering device can introduce a new class of network elements with one or more deflection settings that can be determined using a network-based (e.g., triggered by the base station) measurement procedure. The one or more deflection settings can control how one or more unit cells interact with one or more electromagnetic waves of a received signal to deflect the one or more electromagnetic waves of the received signal in a desired manner (e.g., reflect or refract towards a receiver). Thus, a channel engineering device consumes less power than a repeater that receives a signal and subsequently retransmits the signal.

[0047] A base station can send control signaling to a channel engineering device including a beam shaping configuration. In some cases, the beam shaping configuration can be based on one or more AoA measurements of reference signals from a UE, a base station, or both. The channel engineering device can apply the beam shaping configuration until commanded to change to a different beam shaping configuration or for a defined period of time. For example, the channel engineering device can maintain the beam shaping configuration until the base station signals an updated channel engineering device configuration, which can be referred to as a sticky approach.

[0048] In some cases, control signaling from the base station can specify a time period, such as a slot, a symbol period, a mini-slot, multiple symbol periods, or a combination thereof, in which the channel engineering device is to apply a beam shaping configuration. In some cases, control signaling from the base station can specify a set of beam shaping configurations and a set of time periods, and instruct the channel engineering device to apply a respective beam shaping configuration in a respective time period. In some cases, a beam shaping configuration can indicate a set of settings for the channel engineering device to apply. In some cases, the base station can configure the channel engineering device with multiple different sets of beam shaping settings, and the control signaling can indicate which set of beam shaping settings the channel engineering device is to apply (e.g., during a particular time period).

[0049] Aspects of the disclosure are initially described in the context of a wireless communications system to provide real-time control of configurable channel engineering devices, which can include a deflector, a reflector, a refractor, or any combination thereof, in millimeter wave and higher frequency bands. Aspects of the disclosure are further described in the context of a process flow. Various aspects of the disclosure are further illustrated by and described in connection with reference to apparatus diagrams, system diagrams, and flowcharts.

[0050] Figure 1 An example of a wireless communications system 100 is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. The wireless communications system 100 can include one or more base stations 105, one or more UEs 115, and a core network 130. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 can be a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, an LTE- Advanced (LTE-A) network, an LTE-A Pro network, or a New Radio (NR) network. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 can support enhanced broadband communications, ultra-reliable (e.g., mission critical) communications, low latency communications, communications with low-cost and low-complexity devices, or any combination thereof.

[0051] The base stations 105 can be dispersed throughout the geographic area 100 and can be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. The base stations 105 and the UEs 115 can wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links 125. Each base station 105 can provide a coverage area 110 over which

[0052] The UEs 115 can be dispersed throughout the coverage areas 110 of the wireless communications system 100, and each UE 115 can be stationary, mobile, or both at different times. The UEs 115 can be devices in different forms or having different capabilities. Some example UEs 115 are illustrated in FIG. 1. The UEs 115 can include one or more transceivers 120, one or more processors 125, one or more memory components 130, one or more communication management components 135, one or more user interfaces 140, and / or one or more power management components 145.Figure 1 Some example UEs 115 are illustrated. The UEs 115 described herein can be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115, base stations 105, or network equipment (e.g., core network nodes, relay devices, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes, or other network equipment), as shown in Figure 1 .

[0053] The base stations 105 can communicate with the core network 130, or with one another, or both. For example, the base stations 105 can interface with the core network 130 through one or more backhaul links 120 (e.g., via an SI interface, N2 interface, N3 interface, or other interface). The base stations 105 can communicate with one another over the backhaul links 120 (e.g., via an X2, Xn, or other interface) either directly (e.g., direct

[0054] One or more of the base stations 105 described herein can include or can be referred to as a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, an eNodeB (eNB), a next-generation NodeB or giga-NodeB (either of which can be referred to as a gNB), a Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, or other suitable terminology.

[0055] The UEs 115 can include or can be referred to as mobile devices, wireless devices, remote devices, handheld devices, or subscriber devices, or some other suitable terminology, where the “device” can also be referred to as a unit, a station, a terminal, or a client, among other examples. The UEs 115 can include or can be referred to as personal electronic devices such as a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, a laptop computer, or a personal computer. In some examples, the UE 115 can include or be referred to as a wireless local area network (WLAN) station, an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Internet of Everything (IoE) device, or a machine type communications (MTC) device, among other examples, which can be implemented in various objects such as appliances, or vehicles, meters, or instruments, among other examples.

[0056] The UEs 115 described herein can be able to communicate with various types of devices, such as other UEs 115, base stations 105, or network equipment including macro eNBs or gNBs, small cell eNBs or gNBs, or relay base stations, among other examples, as shown in Figure 1 .

[0057] The UEs 115 and the base stations 105 can wirelessly communicate with one another via one or more communication links 125 over one or more carriers. The term “carrier” can refer to a set of radio frequency spectrum resources (e.g., frequency channels) with a defined physical layer structure (e.g., IEEE 802.11) used for communicating communications links 125. For example, a carrier used for a communication link 125 can include a portion of an RF spectrum band (e.g., a bandwidth part (BWP)) operating according to one or more physical layer channels for a given radio access technology (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, NR). Each physical layer channel can carry acquisition signaling (e.g., synchronization signals, system information), control signaling (e.g., control channels), user data, or other signaling. The wireless communications system 100 can support vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, which include vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communications and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I) communications, and vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, and vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communications, and can utilize resources of unlicensed carriers.

[0058] In some examples (e.g., in carrier aggregation configurations), a carrier can also have acquisition signaling or control signaling that coordinates operations of other carriers. A carrier can be associated with a frequency channel (e.g., an evolved universal mobile telecommunication system terrestrial radio access (E-UTRA) absolute radio frequency channel number (EARFCN)) and can be positioned based on a channel raster to facilitate discovery by UEs 115. Carriers can be operated in a standalone mode where initial acquisition and connection can be achieved via carriers, or can be operated in a non-standalone mode where connection is anchored with a different carrier (e.g., of the same or a different radio access technology).

[0059] The communication links 125 shown in wireless communications system 100 can include uplink transmissions from a UE 115 to a base station 105, or downlink transmissions from a base station 105 to a UE 115. Carriers can carry downlink or uplink communications (e.g., in FDD mode) or can be configured to carry downlink and uplink communications (e.g., in TDD mode).

[0060] A carrier can be associated with a particular bandwidth of the radio frequency spectrum, and in some examples the carrier bandwidth can be referred to as a “system bandwidth” of the carrier or wireless communications system 100. For example, the carrier bandwidth can be one of a number of determined bandwidths for carriers of a particular radio access technology (e.g., 1.4, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, 40, or 80 megahertz (MHz)). Devices of wireless communications system 100 (e.g., base stations 105, UEs 115, or both) can have hardware configurations that support communications over a particular carrier bandwidth or can be configurable to support communications over one of a set of carrier bandwidths. In some examples, wireless communications system 100 can include base stations 105 or UEs 115 that support simultaneous communications via carriers associated with multiple carrier bandwidths. In some examples, each served UE 115 can be configured to operate over portions (e.g., sub-bands, BWPs) or all of a carrier bandwidth.

[0061] Signal waveforms transmitted over a carrier can be made up of multiple subcarriers (e.g., using multi-carrier modulation (MCM) techniques such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) or discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-S-OFDM)). In OFDM, a resource element can consist of one symbol period (e.g., the duration of one modulation symbol) and one subcarrier, where the symbol period and subcarrier spacing are inversely related. The number of bits carried by each resource element can depend on the modulation scheme (e.g., the order of the modulation, the coding rate of the modulation, or both). Thus, the more resource elements that a UE 115 receives and the higher the order of the modulation scheme, the higher the data rates that can be achieved by the UE 115. The wireless communications resources can refer to a combination of radio frequency spectrum resources, time resources, and spatial resources (e.g., spatial layers or beams), and the use of multiple spatial layers can further increase the data

[0062] One or more parameter sets can be supported for a carrier, where a parameter set can include a subcarrier spacing (Af) and a cyclic prefix. One carrier can be divided into one or more BWPs with same or different parameter sets. In some examples, a UE 115 can be configured with multiple BWPs. In some examples, a single BWP of a carrier can be active at a given time and communications by the UE 115 can be confined to the one or more active BWPs.

[0063] Time intervals for the base stations 105 or the UEs 115 can be expressed in multiples of a basic time unit, which may, for example, be a sampling period of Ts=1 / (A s fmax max ·N f seconds, where Afmax maxNscmax f Nscmax f may represent a maximum supported discrete Fourier transform (DFT) size. Time intervals of the communications resources can be organized as radio frames, each radio frame having a specified duration (e.g., 10 milliseconds (ms)). Each radio frame can be identified by a system frame number (SFN) (e.g., ranging from 0 to 1023).

[0064] Each frame can include a number of consecutive numbered subframes or slots, and each subframe or slot can have the same duration. In some examples, a frame can be divided into subframes (e.g., in the time domain), and each subframe can be further divided into multiple slots. Alternatively, each frame can include a variable number of slots, and the number of slots can depend on the subcarrier spacing. Each slot can include a number of symbol periods (e.g., depending on the length of the cyclic prefix prepended to each symbol period). In some wireless communications systems 100, a slot can be further divided into multiple mini-slots containing one or more symbols. In addition to the cyclic prefix, each symbol period can contain one or more (e.g., N f ) sampling periods. The duration of a symbol period can depend on the subcarrier spacing or the frequency band of operation.

[0065] A subframe, a slot, a mini-slot, or a symbol can be the smallest scheduling unit (e.g., in the time domain) of the wireless communications system 100 and can be referred to as a transmission time interval (TTI). In some examples, the TTI duration (i.e., the number of symbol periods in a TTI) can be variable. Additionally or alternatively, the smallest scheduling unit of the wireless communications system 100 can be dynamically selected (e.g., in bursts of shortened TTIs (sTTIs)).

[0066] Physical channels can be multiplexed on a carrier according to various techniques. A physical control channel and a physical data channel can be multiplexed on a downlink carrier, for example, using one or more of time division multiplexing (TDM) techniques, frequency division multiplexing (FDM) techniques, or hybrid TDM-FDM techniques. A control region (e.g., a control resource set (CORESET)) for a physical control channel can be defined by a number of symbol periods and can extend across the system bandwidth or a subset of the system bandwidth of the carrier. One or more control regions (e.g., CORESETs) can be configured for a set of UEs 115. For example, one or more UEs 115 can monitor or search control regions for control information according to one or more search space sets, and each search space set can include one or more control channel candidates arranged in one or more aggregation levels in a cascaded manner. An aggregation level for a control channel candidate can refer to a number of control channel resources (e.g., control channel elements (CCEs)) associated with encoded information for a control information format having a given payload size. Search space sets can include common search space sets configured for sending control information to multiple UEs 115 and UE-specific search space sets for sending control information to a specific UE 115.

[0067] Each base station 105 can provide communication coverage for one or more cells (e.g., macro cells, small cells, hot spots, or other types of cells, or any combination thereof). The term “cell” can refer to a logical communication entity used for communication with a base station 105 (e.g., through a carrier) and can be associated with a identifier, such as a physical cell identifier (PCID), a virtual cell identifier (VCID), or other. In some examples, a cell can also refer to a geographical area 110 over which the logical communication entity operates or a portion of a geographical area 110 (such as a sector). The size of the cells can vary depending on a variety of factors, such as capacity requirements, spectral efficiency, and / or other like considerations. For example, cells can be or include a building, a subset of a building, or an outdoor space between or overlapping with geographical coverage areas 110, among other examples.

[0068] Macro cells can typically cover relatively large geographic areas (e.g., 5-10 miles in radius) and can allow unrestricted access by UEs 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider supporting the macro cell. Small cells can be associated with a low-power base station 105 and can include femtocells, picocells, and femtocells. A small cell can be deployed in a home, office, or other area in which service by the network provider is desired. A small cell can also be associated with a mid-power base station 105. A small cell can provide service to a UE 115 with service subscriptions with the network provider or can provide restricted access to UEs 115 that are associated with the small cell, such as UEs 115 in a closed subscriber group (CSG) or UEs 115 associated with a user of the small cell. A base station 105 can support one or multiple cells, and can also use one or multiple component carriers to support communications over the one or more cells.

[0069] In some examples, a carrier can support multiple cells, and different cells can be configured according to different protocol types (e.g., MTC, narrowband IoT (NB-IoT), enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB)) that can provide access to different types of devices.

[0070] In some examples, a base station 105 can be movable and therefore provide communication coverage for a moving geographic coverage area 110. In some examples, different geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies can overlap, but the different geographic coverage areas 110 can be supported by the same base station 105. In other examples, the overlapping geographic coverage areas 110 associated with different technologies can be supported by different base stations 105. The wireless communications system 100 can include, for example, a heterogeneous network in which different types of base stations 105 provide coverage for various geographic coverage areas 110 using the same or different radio access technologies.

[0071] The wireless communications system 100 can support synchronous or asynchronous operation. For synchronous operation, the base stations 105 can have similar frame timings, and transmissions from different base stations 105 can be approximately aligned in time. For asynchronous operation, the base stations 105 can have different frame timings, and transmissions from different base stations 105 can not be aligned in time. The techniques described herein can be used for both synchronous and asynchronous operation.

[0072] Some UEs 115, such as MTC or IoT devices, can be low cost or low complexity devices, and can provide for automated communication between machines (e.g., via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication). M2M communication or MTC can refer to data communication technologies that allow devices to communicate with one another or a base station 105 without the need for human intervention. In some examples, M2M communication or MTC can include communications from devices that integrate sensors or meters to measure or capture information and relay such information to a central server or application program that makes use of the information or presents the information to humans in interaction with the application program. Some UEs 115 can be designed to collect information or enable automated behavior of machines or other devices. Examples of applications for MTC devices include smart metering, inventory monitoring, water level monitoring, equipment monitoring, healthcare monitoring, wildlife monitoring, weather and geological event monitoring, fleet management and tracking, remote security sensing, physical access control, and transaction-based business charging.

[0073] Some UEs 115 can be configured to employ operating modes that reduce power consumption, such as a half-duplex

[0074] The wireless communications system 100 can be configured to support super reliable communications or low-latency communications, or various combinations thereof. For example, the wireless communications system 100 can be configured to support ultra reliable low-latency communications (URLLC) or mission critical communications. UEs 115 can be designed to support ultra reliable, low-latency, or mission critical (e.g., mission critical function) functions. Ultra-reliable communications can include private communications or group communications, and can be supported by one or more mission critical services such as mission critical push-to-talk (MCPTT), mission critical video (MCVideo), or mission critical data (MCData). Support for mission critical functions can include prioritization of services, which can be used for public safety or general commercial applications. The terms ultra-reliable, low-latency, mission critical, and ultra-reliable low-latency can be used interchangeably herein.

[0075] In some examples, a UE 115 can also be able to communicate directly with other UEs 115 over a device-to-device (D2D) communication link 135 (e.g., using a peer-to-peer (P2P) or D2D protocol). One or more UEs 115 utilizing D2D communications can be within the geographic coverage area 110 of a base station 105. Other UEs 115 in such a group can be outside the geographic coverage area 110 of a base station 105 or be otherwise unable to receive transmissions from a base station 105. In some examples, groups of UEs 115 communicating via D2D communications can utilize a one-to-many (1 :M) system in which each UE 115 transmits to every other UE 115 in the group. In some examples, a base station 105 facilitates the scheduling of resources for D2D communications. In other cases, D2D communications are carried out between UEs 115 without the involvement of a base station 105.

[0076] In some systems, the D2D communication link 135 can be an example of a communication channel, such as a sidelink communication channel, between vehicles (e.g., UEs 115). In some examples, vehicles can communicate using vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communications, car-to-car (V2V) communications, or some combination of these. A vehicle can send information related to traffic conditions, signal scheduling, weather, safety, emergencies, or any other information relevant to a V2X system. In some examples, vehicles in a V2X system can communicate with roadside infrastructure, such as roadside units, or with a network via one or more network nodes, such as base stations 105, using vehicle-to-network (V2N) communications, or both.

[0077] The core network 130 can provide user authentication, access authorization, tracking, Internet Protocol (IP) connectivity, and other access, routing, or mobility functions. The core network 130 can be an evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G core (5GC), which can include at least one control plane entity that manages access and mobility (e.g., a mobility management entity (MME), an access and mobility management function (AMF)) and at least one user plane entity that routes packets or interconnects to external networks, such as a serving gateway (S-GW), a packet data network (PDN) gateway (P-GW), or a user plane function (UPF). The control plane entity can manage non-access stratum (NAS) functions such as mobility, authentication, and bearer management for UEs 115 served by base stations 105 associated with the core network 130. User IP packets can be transferred through the user plane entity, which can provide IP address allocation as well as other functions. The user plane entity can be connected to the IP services 150 for one or more network operators. The IP services 150 can include access to the Internet, intranet(s), an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS), or a packet-switched streaming service.

[0078] Some of the network devices, such as a base station 105, can include subcomponents such as an access network entity 140, which can be an example of an access node controller (ANC). Each access network entity 140 can communicate with UEs 115 through one or more other access network transmission entities 145, which can be referred to as radio heads, smart radio heads, or transmission and reception points (TRPs). Each access network transmission entity 145 can include one or more antenna panels. In some configurations, various functions of each access network entity 140 or base station 105 can be distributed across various network devices (e.g., radio heads and ANCs) or consolidated into a single network device (e.g., a base station 105).

[0079] The wireless communications system 100 can operate using one or more frequency bands, which can range from several hundred megahertz (MHz) to several hundred gigahertz (GHz). Generally, the region from 300 MHz to 3 GHz is known as the ultra-high frequency (UHF) region or decimeter band, since the wavelengths range from approximately one decimeter to one meter in length. UHF waves can be blocked or redirected by buildings and environmental features, but the waves can penetrate structures sufficiently for a macro cell to provide service to UEs 115 located indoors. The transmission of UHF waves may

[0080] The wireless communications system 100 can also operate in a super high frequency (SHF) region, also known as the centimeter band, from 3 GHz to 30 GHz, or in an extremely high frequency (EHF) region, also known as the millimeter band, from 30 GHz to 300 GHz. In some examples, the wireless communications system 100 can support millimeter wave (mmW) communications between the UEs 115 and the base stations 105, and EHF antennas of the respective devices can be smaller and more closely spaced than UHF antennas. In some examples, this can facilitate use of antenna arrays within a device. However, the propagation of EHF transmissions can be subject to even greater atmospheric attenuation than SHF or UHF transmissions, and EHF transmissions can therefore have a shorter range than SHF or UHF transmissions. Techniques disclosed herein can be employed across transmissions that use one or more different frequency regions, and designated use of bands across these frequency regions can differ by country or regulating body.

[0081] The wireless communications system 100 can utilize both licensed and unlicensed radio frequency spectrum bands. For example, the wireless communications system 100 can employ License Assisted Access (LAA), LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U) radio access technology, or NR technology in an unlicensed frequency band such as the 5 GHz industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) band. When operating in unlicensed frequency

[0082] The base stations 105 or UEs 115 can be equipped with multiple antennas, which can be used to employ techniques such as transmit diversity, receive diversity, multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communications, or beamforming. The antennas of a base station 105 or a UE 115 can be co-located or separated by different geographic distances, and can be oriented in various directions. For example, one or more base station antennas or antenna arrays can be co-located at a base station antenna assembly, such as an antenna tower. In some examples, the antennas or antenna arrays associated with a base station 105 can be located in different geographic locations. A base station 105 can have antenna arrays with a number of rows and columns of antenna ports that the base station 105 can use for beamforming with the UEs 115. Similarly, a UE 115 can have one or more antenna arrays that can support various MIMO or beamforming operations. Additionally or alternatively, antenna panels can support radio frequency beamforming of signals transmitted via antenna ports.

[0083] The base stations 105 or the UEs 115 can use MIMO communications to exploit multipath signal propagation and increase the spectral efficiency. Such techniques can be referred to as spatial multiplexing. The multiple signals may, for example, be transmitted by a transmitting device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Similarly, the multiple signals can be received by a receiving device via different antennas or different combinations of antennas. Each of the multiple signals can be referred to as a spatial stream, and can carry bits associated with the same data stream (e.g., a same codeword) or different data streams (e.g., different codewords). Different spatial layers can be associated with different antenna ports used for channel measurement and reporting. MIMO techniques include single-user MIMO (SU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to the same receiving device, and multiple-user MIMO (MU-MIMO), where multiple spatial layers are transmitted to multiple devices.

[0084] Beamforming, which can also be referred to as spatial filtering, directional transmission, or directional reception, is a signal processing technique that can be used at a transmitting device or a receiving device (e.g., a base station 105, a UE 115) to shape or steer a beam of energy in a specific direction. Beamforming can be achieved by combining the signals transmitted or received by antennas of a base station 105 or a UE 115, such that signals at particular orientations with respect to the base station 105 or the UE 115 experience constructive interference while others experience destructive interference. The combination of signals can be performed with a phase shift that causes the signals to either constructively or destructively interfere with one another. The resulting pattern can be a set of beams, where the beams are orthogonal or have low correlation at the receiving device. In some cases, the beams can be directed in particular directions, such as beams directed along the directions 445 and 450. Directional transmission can be achieved by transmitting from a set of antennas with phase offsets, and directional reception can be achieved by setting the appropriate phase shifts on the receive signals from the antennas.

[0085] The base stations 105 or the UEs 115 can use beam sweeping techniques as part of a beamforming operation. For example, a base station 105 can use multiple antennas or antenna arrays (e.g., antenna panels) to conduct beamforming operations for directional communications with a UE 115. Some signals, such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam-selection signals, or other control signals, can be transmitted by a base station 105 multiple times in different directions. For example, the base station 105 can transmit a signal according to different beamforming weight sets associated with different directions, such as direction 445 and 450. Transmissions in different beam directions can be used to identify (e.g., by a transmitting device, such as a base station 105, or by a receiving device, such as a UE 115) a beam direction for subsequent transmission and reception, such as for channel monitoring, synchronization, or other communications.

[0086] Some signals (such as data signals) can be transmitted by a base station 105 in a single beam direction (e.g., associated with a receiving device, such as a UE 115). In some examples, the beam direction associated with the transmission of data signals can be determined based on a signal that is transmitted in one or more beam directions. For example, a UE 115 can receive one or more of the signals transmitted by the base station 105 in different directions, and can report to the base station 105 an indication of the signal that the UE 115 received with a highest signal quality, or other acceptable signal quality.

[0087] In some examples, a device (e.g., base station 105 or UE 115) can transmit using multiple beam directions, and the device can use a combination of digital precoding or radio frequency beamforming to generate a combined beam for transmission (e.g., from a base station 105 to a UE 115). The UE 115 can report feedback that indicates precoding weights for one or more beam directions, and the feedback can correspond to a configured number of beams across a system bandwidth or one or more sub-bands. The base station 105 can transmit reference signals (e.g., cell-specific reference signals (CRS), channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS)) that can be precoded or unprecoded. The UE 115 can provide feedback for beam selection, which can be a precoding matrix indicator (PMI) or codebook-based feedback (e.g., a multi-panel type codebook, a linear combination type codebook, a port selection type codebook). Although these techniques are described with reference to signals transmitted by a base station 105 in one or more directions, a UE 115 can employ similar techniques for transmitting signals multiple times in different directions (e.g., for identifying a beam direction for subsequent transmission or reception by the UE 115), or for transmitting a signal in a single direction (e.g., for transmitting data to a receiving device).

[0088] A receiving device (e.g., a UE 115) can try multiple receive configurations (e.g., directional listening) when receiving various signals from base stations 105, such as synchronization signals, reference signals, beam selection signals, or other control signals. For example, a receiving device can try multiple receive directions by receiving via different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different antenna subarrays, by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied individual to antenna array elements or subarrays, or by processing received signals according to different receive beamforming weight sets applied across a span of antenna elements or subarrays. In some examples, a receiving device can use a single receive configuration to receive signals along a single beam direction (e.g., when receiving data signals). The single receive configuration can be aligned to a beam direction determined based on listening across different receive beam directions.

[0089] Wireless communications system 100 can be a packet-based network that operates according to a layered protocol stack. In the user plane, communications at the bearer or Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer can be IP -based. A Radio Link Control (RLC) layer can perform packet segmentation and reassembly to communicate over logical channels. A Medium Access Control (MAC) layer can perform priority handling and multiplexing of logical channels into transport channels. The MAC layer can also use error detection techniques, error correction techniques, or both to support retransmissions by the MAC layer to improve link efficiency. In the control plane, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol layer can provide establishment, configuration, and maintenance of an RRC connection between a UE 115 and a base station 105 or core network 130, which can support radio bearers for user plane data. At the physical layer, transport channels can be mapped to physical channels.

[0090] The UEs 115 and the base stations 105 can support retransmissions of data to increase the likelihood that data is received successfully. HARQ feedback is a technique

[0091] In some cases, the base station 105 can communicate with one or more UEs 115 in the coverage area 110 using one or more directional beams. An obstacle 225, such as a building, can block a signal from reaching a destination via a LOS transmission. In some examples, the base station 105 can configure the channel engineering device 155 with a beam shaping configuration for modifying directional beams used by the base station 105, one or more UEs, or a combination thereof to communicate. For example, the channel engineering device 155 can receive control signaling that triggers the channel engineering device 155 to perform angle measurements for one or more angle setting calculations. The base station 105 can periodically perform deflection (e.g., angle) setting calculations to track mobility of one or more UEs 115. After performing the angle setting calculations, the base station 105 can configure the channel engineering device 155 with appropriate deflection parameters (e.g., reflection parameters) to apply later in the operational mode.

[0092] In some cases, the base station 105 can send a deflection setting calculation to the channel engineering device 155 in control signaling. The deflection setting calculation can be included in the beam shaping configuration. In some cases, the beam shaping configuration can include one or more parameters that modify one or more deflection settings at the channel engineering device 155 to adjust the electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device 155 to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof. In some cases, the base station 105 and one or more UEs can use the channel engineering device 155 for communication based on the beam shaping configuration, which can reduce power consumption, bandwidth, distance between the one or more UEs 115 and the base station 105, and cost, among other advantages (e.g., as compared to using a repeater).

[0093] In some cases, the base station 105 can transmit control signaling including a beam shaping configuration to the channel engineering device 155. The channel engineering device 155 can perform a configuration switching operation for the new beam shaping configuration. The channel engineering device 155 can apply one or more settings received from the base station 105 in the control signaling to direct received signal energy from signal transmissions according to one or more deflection settings, such as pointing toward a UE 115 for downlink transmissions or pointing toward the base station 105 for uplink transmissions. In some cases, the base station 105 can update the channel engineering device settings of the channel engineering device 155 to switch according to different beam shaping configurations for each time period. The base station 105 can use a sticky approach, where the channel engineering device 155 maintains the last settings until reconfigured by the base station 105. In some cases, the channel engineering device 155 can apply the beam shaping configuration during a time period of signal transmissions to or from the UE 115 based on the control signaling.

[0094] Figure 2 An example of a wireless communication system 200 is shown in accordance with aspects of the disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communication system 200 can implement various aspects of the wireless communication system 100 and can include UEs 115-a through 115-c, a base station 105-a with a coverage area 110-a, and a channel engineering device 155-a, which can be examples of the UEs 115, base stations 105, and channel engineering devices 155 described with reference to FIGS. 1-2. Figure 1 The channel engineering device 155-a can be configured with or support a beam shaping configuration for communications between the base station 105-a and one or more UEs 115 (e.g., UEs 115-a through 115-c). For example, the UEs 115-a through 115-c and the base station 105-a can use one or more directional beams 205 to communicate control information, data, or both. The channel engineering device 155-a can modify received signal energy of the directional beams 205 based on the beam shaping configuration to form modified directional beams 220.

[0095] In some cases, base stations 105 can communicate with UEs 115 using directional beams 205 with directional beam paths 210. For example, base station 105-a can communicate with UE 115 using directional beam 205-a with directional beam path 210-a. However, in some cases, there can be an obstruction 225 between the base station 105 and the UE 115. That is, base station 105-a can not be able to communicate with a UE 115 that does not satisfy a LOS condition. In some cases, obstruction 225 can prevent LOS communication between base station 105-a and one or more of UE 115-a, UE 115-b, UE 115-c, or a combination thereof. For example, obstruction 225-a can prevent LOS communication between base station 105-a and UE 115-a, UE 115-b, or both. Obstruction 225-b can prevent LOS communication between base station 105-a and UE 115-c. Accordingly, it can be beneficial for base station 105-a to configure channel engineering device 155-a to extend coverage area 110a. In some cases, base station 105-a can configure channel engineering device 155-a based on a beam shaping configuration to communicate with one or more UEs 115, which will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 2-4. Figure 3 A more detailed description will be made.

[0096] In some examples, the channel engineering device 155 can include metamaterials 215, and the base station 105 can configure one or more deflection settings of the channel engineering device 155. The channel engineering device can apply the one or more deflection settings to electronically control a direction in which the metamaterials 215 direct received signal energy. For example, the metamaterials 215 can focus received signal energy (e.g., focus refraction), reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination to enhance a communication link between the base station 105 and the UE 115. In some cases, the metamaterials 215 can affect electromagnetic waves that interact with structural features that can be smaller than a wavelength. In some examples, the base station 105-a can configure the channel engineering device 155-a to reflect signal energy from the directional beam path 210-a to form a modified directional beam 220-a that points along a directional beam path 210-b toward the UE 115-a, or to form a modified directional beam 220-b that points along a directional beam path 210-c toward the UE 115-b, or both. In some other examples, the base station 105-a can configure the channel engineering device 155-a to refract signal energy from the directional beam path 210-a to form a modified directional beam 220-c that points along a directional beam path 210-d toward the UE 115-c. Additionally or alternatively, the base station 105-a can configure the channel engineering device 155-a to focus signal energy or filter signal energy from the directional beam 205-a (e.g., along the directional beam path 210-b to the directional beam path 210-d). In some cases, the base station 105-a can configure the channel engineering device 155-a to form the modified directional beams 220-a, 220-b, and 220-c simultaneously or at different time periods. The base station 105-a can communicate with the UE 115-a, the UE 115-b, the UE 115-c, or a combination thereof, using the directional beam 205-a and the modified directional beams 220-a, 220-b, and 220-c, respectively, based on the beam shaping configuration.

[0097] Figure 3 An example of a wireless communication system 300 is shown in accordance with aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, the wireless communication system 300 can implement aspects of the wireless communication system 100, the wireless communication system 200, or both. The wireless communication system 300 can include a UE 115-d, a UE 115-e, communication links 125-a through 125-c, a base station 105-b having a coverage area 110-b, an obstacle 225-c, an obstacle 225-d, and a channel engineering device 155-b, which can be as described with reference to FIGs. 1 through 2. Figure 1 and Figure 2The described examples of UEs 115, communication links 125, base stations 105 with coverage areas 110, obstacles 225, and channel engineering devices 155. In some examples, base station 105-b and UE 115-d, UE 115-e, or both can communicate using channel engineering device 155-b, which can be configured with or support a beam shaping configuration.

[0098] In some cases, base station 105 can communicate with one or more UEs 115 in coverage area 110 using one or more directional beams. As described with reference to Figure 2 Obstacles 225, such as buildings, can block signals from reaching a destination via LOS transmission. For example, obstacle 225-c can cause an obstruction to signals attempting to reach UE 115-d via LOS transmission. Similarly, obstacle 225-d can block signals from reaching UE 115-e via LOS transmission. In some examples, base station 105-b can configure channel engineering device 155-b with a beam shaping configuration for modifying directional beams used by base station 105-b, UE 115-d, UE 115-e, or a combination thereof for communication. For example, channel engineering device 155-b can receive control signaling 305 of an angle measurement that triggers channel engineering device 155-b to perform one or more angle setting calculations. Base station 105-b can periodically perform deflection (e.g., angle) setting calculations to track mobility of UE 115-d, UE 115-e, or both.

[0099] In some cases, base station 105-b can transmit a deflection setting calculation to channel engineering device 155-b via communication link 125-a in control signaling. The deflection setting calculation can be included in the beam shaping configuration. In some cases, the beam shaping configuration can include one or more parameters that modify one or more deflection settings at channel engineering device 155-b to adjust the electronic metamaterial of channel engineering device 155-b to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof. In some cases, base station 105-b, UE 115-d, and UE 115-e can communicate using channel engineering device 155-b based on the beam shaping configuration, which can provide advantages in power consumption, bandwidth, distance between UEs 115 and base stations 105, and cost, among other advantages (e.g., when compared to using a repeater).

[0100] For example, the channel engineering device 155-b can reflect received signal energy of a signal transmission 310-a from the base station 105-b to the UE 115-d along the communication link 125-a and the communication link 125-b, and vice versa. In some other examples, the channel engineering device 155-b can refract received signal energy of a signal transmission 310-b from the base station 105-b to the UE 115-e along the communication link 125-a and the communication link 125-c, and vice versa. Additionally or alternatively, the channel engineering device 155-b can filter or focus the received signal energy for communications along the communication link 125-a to the communication link 125-c, which can improve the quality of the communication links 125.

[0101] In some cases, the base station 105-b can transmit control signaling 305 indicating a beam shaping configuration to configure one or more deflection settings stored in a channel engineering device database of the channel engineering device 155-b. For example, the base station 105-b can transmit a control message as radio resource control (RRC) signaling to update one or more deflection settings in the channel engineering device database of the channel engineering device 155-b. For example, the base station 105-b can transmit control signaling (e.g., an RRC reconfiguration command) to configure the channel engineering device 155-b to maintain a list of channel engineering device settings (e.g., a list of settings per UE), where each list of settings stored by the channel engineering device 155-b is assigned a different setting list index than the index assigned to other lists of settings. The list of channel engineering device settings can be similar to a transmission configuration indication (TCI) table maintenance, a CSI-RS resource list maintenance, or any other RRC-based list maintenance). The base station 105-b can transmit a control message including a particular setting list index to indicate which list of settings the channel engineering device 155-b is to apply or switch to (e.g., for a particular time period or until commanded to switch). The control message can be a low occupancy physical signal carrying the setting index and can be transmitted to command the channel engineering device 155-b to perform the switch. In one example, the channel engineering device 155-b can store multiple lists of channel engineering device settings in a table, and the received setting list index can be used to index the table to determine which list of settings the channel engineering device 155-b is to apply. The channel engineering device 155-b can apply one or more settings loaded in the channel engineering device database to direct received signal energy according to the one or more deflection settings, such as to the UE 115-f for downlink transmissions or to the base station 105-c for uplink transmissions.

[0102] In some cases, the base station 105-b can store the channel engineering device settings list locally (e.g., at the base station 105-b). For example, the channel engineering device 155-b can perform a configuration switching operation for a handover command using explicit signaling, such as using a setting command from the base station 105-b (e.g., included in the control signaling 305) using a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). The handover command can indicate one or more steering parameters for the channel engineering device 155-b to apply. The channel engineering device 155-b can apply the one or more settings received from the base station 105-b to direct received signal energy from the signal transmissions 310 according to the one or more steering settings, such as pointing toward the UE 115-f for downlink transmissions or pointing toward the base station 105-c for uplink transmissions.

[0103] In some cases, the base station 105-b can signal channel engineering device settings for the channel engineering device 155-b to switch according to different beam shaping configurations for each time period. For example, the time period can be a time slot, and the base station 105-b can transmit control signaling to indicate which one or more settings for the channel engineering device 155-b to apply on a time slot by time slot basis. The base station 105-b can configure the channel engineering device 155-b to use a sticky approach, where the channel engineering device 155-b maintains the last setting until reconfigured by the base station 105-b, or the channel engineering device 155-b can be preconfigured to maintain the last setting until reconfigured. The channel engineering device switching command can be conveyed by a physical signal or data channel (e.g., PDSCH). In some cases, the channel engineering device 155-b can apply a beam shaping configuration for the signal transmissions 310-a to or from the UE 115-d during the time period 315-a based on the control signaling 305. The channel engineering device 155-b can apply a different beam shaping configuration for the signal transmissions 310-b to or from the UE 115-e during the time period 315-b based on the control signaling 305. In some cases, the base station 105-b can transmit control signaling including a switching command conveyed by a physical signal (e.g., a low coverage zone physical signal) or a data channel (e.g., a 5G NR data channel).

[0104] Figure 4Examples of processing flow 400 according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown. In some examples, processing flow 400 may implement aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, wireless communication system 300, or combinations thereof. Processing flow 400 may illustrate an example of base station 105 configuring channel engineering device 155 to communicate with UE 115 using beamforming configuration. Alternative examples are possible, some of which may be performed in a different order than described or not performed at all. In some cases, processing may include additional features not mentioned below, or additional processing may be added.

[0105] At 405, base station 105-c can send a beamforming configuration to configure channel engineering device 155-c with one or more deflection settings. The beamforming configuration can indicate one or more settings applied to a time period (e.g., a time slot) based on UE 115 or a group of UE 115 with which base station 105-c communicates. The beamforming configuration can set or modify one or more channel engineering device settings. In some cases, channel engineering device 155-c can maintain the last setting until reconfigured with one or more updated deflection settings. In some examples, the beamforming configuration can be sent before a predetermined time period boundary (e.g., before the boundary between adjacent time slots), which allows channel engineering device 155-c time to decode the message including the beamforming configuration and adjust the one or more deflection settings indicated in the beamforming configuration.

[0106] At 410, channel engineering device 155-c may apply one or more deflection settings indicated in the beamforming configuration for beamforming received signals directed to or from UE 115 (e.g., UE 115-f) or to base station 105-c. In some cases, channel engineering device 155-c may switch between applying one or more deflection settings at each time period boundary, which may be indicated at 405 (e.g., changing the direction of signal energy deflection in each time period). Time periods may be time slots, symbols, micro-time slots, special time slots, or combinations thereof.

[0107] At 415, base station 105-c and UE 115-f can communicate on one or more channels using channel engineering device 155-c within a set of time periods, and channel engineering device 155-c can deflect each received signal according to beamforming configuration within the corresponding time period. Base station 105-c can send one or more messages to UE 115-f on a downlink shared channel (e.g., Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH)). Additionally or alternatively, base station 105-c and UE 115-f can transmit one or more messages on an uplink shared channel (e.g., Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)). In the depicted example, channel engineering device 155-c deflects the signal energy of downlink transmissions from base station 105-c to UE 115-f, and deflects the signal energy of uplink transmissions from UE 115-f to base station 105-c.

[0108] Figure 5 Examples of processing flow 500 according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown. In some examples, processing flow 500 may implement aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, wireless communication system 300, or combinations thereof. Processing flow 500 may illustrate an example of base station 105 configuring channel engineering device 155 to communicate with multiple UEs 115 using beamforming configuration. Alternative examples are possible, some of which may be performed in a different order than described or not performed at all. In some cases, processing may include additional features not mentioned below, or additional processing may be added.

[0109] At 510, base station 105-d may transmit control signaling including a first beamforming configuration of channel engineering device 155-d to deflect received signal energy toward UE 115-g. This configuration may include an indication of the first beamforming configuration for each time period (such as time slots 505-a, 505-b, 505-c, and 505-d) during communication between base station 105-d and UE 115-g. The beamforming configuration may modify one or more channel engineering device settings (e.g., beamforming settings) to control how signal energy is deflected during a specific time slot. In some cases, channel engineering device 155-d may maintain its last setting until it is reconfigured by base station 105-d. In some examples, the beamforming configuration may be transmitted before a predetermined time period boundary (e.g., the boundary between two temporally adjacent time slots 505), which may provide channel engineering device 155 with time to decode messages including the beamforming configuration and the modification of one or more deflection settings according to the beamforming configuration.

[0110] At point 515, channel engineering device 155-d can apply beamforming configuration during a first time period (such as time slot 505-a) to deflect the signal energy transmitted downlink from base station 105-d to UE 115-g. For example, base station 105-d can use channel engineering device 155-d to transmit signaling with UE 115-g. Channel engineering device 155-d can apply beamforming configuration to signaling. In some cases, signaling can be on PDSCH (e.g., the first PDSCH), PUSCH, or both.

[0111] At 520, base station 105-d may send a second control signaling to channel engineering device 155-d to configure channel engineering device 155-d to deflect the signal energy transmitted from base station 105-d to UE 115-g during a second time period (such as during time slot 505-b or time slot 505-e). The second control signaling may include an indication of a second beamforming configuration, which may differ from the first beamforming configuration used for communicating with UE 115-g.

[0112] At 525, channel engineering device 155-d can apply the second beamforming configuration during time slot 505-b based on the second beamforming configuration received at 520. For example, base station 105-d can transmit downlink transmissions (e.g., PDSCH transmissions), which channel engineering device 155-d uses to deflect to UE 115-h. Channel engineering device 155-d can apply the second beamforming configuration to signaling. In some cases, signaling can be on PDSCH (e.g., first PDSCH), PUSCH, or both. Figure 4 As shown, the second PDSCH transmission can be deflected at a different angle than the first PDSCH transmission because UE115-g and UE115-h may be located in different geographical locations.

[0113] At 530, base station 105-d can send a third control signaling to channel engineering device 155-d to configure channel engineering device 155-d to deflect downlink transmissions toward UE 115-i during a third time period (such as time slot 505-c). The third control signaling may include an indication of a third beamforming configuration, which may differ from the first beamforming configuration used for communication with UE 115-g and the second beamforming configuration used for communication with UE 115-h.

[0114] At position 535, channel engineering device 155-d can apply the third beamforming configuration during a third time period based on receiving the third beamforming configuration at position 530. For example, base station 105-d can transmit the third PDSCH deflected by channel engineering device 155-d to UE 115-i. Channel engineering device 155-d can apply the third beamforming configuration to signaling. In some cases, signaling can be on the PDSCH (e.g., the third PDSCH), PUSCH, or both.

[0115] At 540, base station 105-d may send a fourth control signaling to channel engineering device 155-d to configure channel engineering device 155-d to deflect signal energy toward UE 115-g during a fourth time period (such as time slot 505-d). The fourth control signaling may include an indication of a first beamforming configuration for communicating with UE 115-g. In some cases, if UE 115-g has moved, the fourth control signaling may include a fourth beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration, whereby channel engineering device 155-d is configured to perform periodic angle measurements, or both. At 545, channel engineering device 155-d may apply the first beamforming configuration during the fourth time period based on receiving the first beamforming configuration at 540. For example, base station 105-d may transmit a fourth PDSCH transmission deflected toward UE 115-g by channel engineering device 155-d. Channel engineering device 155-d may apply the first beamforming configuration to the signaling. In some cases, signaling can be on PDSCH (e.g., the first PDSCH from 515), PUSCH, or both.

[0116] At 550, base station 105-d can send a fifth control signaling to channel engineering device 155-d to configure channel engineering device 155-d to deflect signal energy toward UE 115-h during a fifth time period (such as time slot 505-e). The fifth control signaling may include an indication of a second beamforming configuration for communicating with UE 115-h. In some cases, if UE 115-h has moved, the fifth control signaling may include a fifth beamforming configuration different from the second beamforming configuration, whereby channel engineering device 155-d is configured to perform periodic angle measurements, or both. At 555, channel engineering device 155-d can apply the second beamforming configuration during the fifth time period based on receiving the second beamforming configuration at 550. For example, base station 105-d can send a fifth PDSCH transmission deflecting signal energy toward UE 115-h. Channel engineering device 155-d may apply a first beamforming configuration to the signaling. In some cases, signaling can be on PDSCH (e.g., a second PDSCH from 525), PUSCH, or both.

[0117] In some examples, to reduce signaling overhead and increase power savings at channel engineering device 155-d, base station 105-d may transmit control signaling that includes a work plan in advance for multiple time periods or time slots 505 (e.g., N time slots). For example, base station 105-d may send control signaling that configures channel engineering device 155-d with multiple beamforming configurations and indicates in which time period the corresponding configuration is applied. Based on this work plan, channel engineering device 155-d may apply one or more deflection settings in the corresponding time periods of the work plan (e.g., time periods or time slots 505-a to 505-e) to deflect signal energy toward a specific one of UE 115-g, UE 115-h, or UE 115-i. Similar techniques can be applied to uplink transmissions of UE 115-g, UE 115-h, or UE 115-i, where base station 105-d can configure channel engineering equipment 155-d to apply beamforming configuration on a time-period basis, or use a work schedule, to deflect signal energy from uplink transmissions of UE 115-g, UE 115-h, or UE 115-i to base station 105-d within the corresponding time periods. In the depicted example, switching of one or more deflection settings can occur at up to each time slot UE boundary. Switching can occur at other durations. For example, for specific time slots with different UEs scheduled for downlink and uplink symbols, switching can occur at symbol boundaries (e.g., for micro-time slot scheduling).

[0118] Figure 6 Examples of processing flow 600 according to various aspects of this disclosure are shown. In some examples, processing flow 600 may implement aspects of wireless communication system 100, wireless communication system 200, wireless communication system 300, or combinations thereof. Processing flow 600 may illustrate an example of base station 105 configuring channel engineering device 155 to communicate with UE 115 using beamforming configuration. Alternative examples are possible, some of which may be performed in a different order than described or not performed at all. In some cases, processing may include additional features not mentioned below, or additional processing may be added.

[0119] At 605, base station 105-e can configure channel engineering device 155-e to communicate with UE 115-j using first control signaling. This configuration may include beamforming configurations for each time period (e.g., time slot) of communication between base station 105-e and UE 115-j. The beamforming configuration can modify one or more channel engineering device settings (e.g., beamforming settings). In some cases, channel engineering device 155-e may retain the last setting until it is reconfigured. In some examples, the beamforming configuration may be sent before a predetermined time period boundary (e.g., at the edge of a time slot), which may provide channel engineering device 155-e with time to decode the message including the beamforming configuration and apply the indicated one or more deflection settings.

[0120] At 610, channel engineering device 155-e can be configured to beamform the first received signal from UE115-j based on beamforming configuration. In some cases, channel engineering device 155-e can perform handover (e.g., configured with beamforming) at specified time period boundaries, which can be indicated at 605. The time period can be a time slot, symbol, micro-time slot, special time slot, or a combination thereof.

[0121] At 615, channel engineering equipment 155-e can apply beamforming configuration during the first time period to deflect signal energy toward UE 115-j during the first time period.

[0122] At 620, base station 105-e can use channel engineering equipment 155-e to transmit signaling to UE 115-j. Channel engineering equipment 155-e can apply beamforming configuration to the signaling based on first control signaling to deflect signal energy towards UE 115-j during a first time period. In some cases, the signaling can be on PDSCH, PUSCH, or both.

[0123] At 625, base station 105-e may send a second control signaling to channel engineering equipment 155-e to configure channel engineering equipment 155-e to deflect signal energy towards UE 115-k during a second time period. The second control signaling may include a beamforming configuration, which may differ from the beamforming configuration included in the first control signaling used for communication with UE 115-j. At 630, the second control signaling may include a handover command instructing channel engineering equipment 155-e to switch its beamforming configuration.

[0124] At 635, the channel engineering device 155-e can apply beamforming configuration during the second time period based on receiving a handover command at 630, receiving a second control signaling at 625, or both.

[0125] At position 645, base station 105-e can use channel engineering equipment 155-e to transmit signaling with UE 115-k. Channel engineering equipment 155-e can apply beamforming configuration to the signaling based on second control signaling. In some cases, the signaling can be on PDSCH, PUSCH, or both.

[0126] In some examples, to reduce signaling overhead and increase power savings at channel engineering device 155-e, base station 105-e may (e.g., in the first control signaling) transmit work plans for multiple time periods in advance. For example, base station 105-e may send control signaling that configures channel engineering device 155-e with multiple beamforming configurations having corresponding indices. Base station 105-e may send the control signaling prior to operations in processing flow 600. Each control signaling in processing flow 600 (e.g., at 605 and 625) may include an index corresponding to a beamforming configuration.

[0127] In some cases, the channel engineering device 155-e can continue to apply beamforming configurations until it receives control signaling instructing (e.g., in a sticky method) to apply a different beamforming configuration.

[0128] Figure 7 A block diagram 700 of a device 705 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The device 705 may be an example of various aspects of a base station 105 as described herein. The device 705 may include a receiver 710, a communication manager 715, and a transmitter 720. The device 705 also includes a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0129] Receiver 710 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to real-time control of electronically configurable deflectors). This information can be transmitted to other components of device 705. Receiver 710 can serve as a reference. Figure 10 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1020 described. The receiver 710 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0130] The communication manager 715 can send a first control signaling instruction instructing the channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE, and to send signals to the channel engineering device based on the first control signaling instruction. The communication manager 715 can be an example of various aspects of the communication manager 1010 as described herein.

[0131] The actions performed by the communication manager 715 described herein can be implemented to achieve one or more potential advantages. One implementation allows the channel engineering device to apply beamforming configurations to communication between the base station and the UE. Beamforming configurations enable the channel engineering device to modify directional beams to enhance link reliability and expand the coverage area of ​​the base station, which can improve communication latency (e.g., related to congestion between the UE and the base station), among other advantages.

[0132] By implementing beamforming configurations as described herein, processors of channel engineering devices, UEs, or base stations (e.g., processors controlling receiver 710, communication manager 715, transmitter 720, or combinations thereof) can reduce the impact or likelihood of inefficient communication due to congestion, while reducing costs compared to repeaters and ensuring relatively efficient communication. For example, the channel engineering device described herein with configurable metamaterials can utilize configurations of one or more settings of the metamaterials to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof, which can achieve power savings at the UE (e.g., due to enhanced communication links between the UE and the base station) and other benefits.

[0133] The communication manager 715 or its sub-components may be implemented in hardware, processor-executable code (e.g., software or firmware), or any combination thereof. If implemented in processor-executable code, the functionality of the communication manager 715 or its sub-components may be performed by a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor (DSP), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in this disclosure.

[0134] The communication manager 715 or its subcomponents may be physically located in various locations, including distributed so that portions of the functionality are implemented by one or more physical components at different physical locations. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 715 or its subcomponents may be separate and distinct components. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 715 or its subcomponents may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including but not limited to input / output (I / O) components, transceivers, network servers, another computing device, one or more other components described in this disclosure, or combinations thereof.

[0135] Transmitter 720 can transmit signals generated by other components of device 705. In some examples, transmitter 720 can be co-located with receiver 710 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 720 can be a reference. Figure 10Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1020 described. The transmitter 720 can utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0136] Figure 8 A block diagram 800 of a device 805 according to aspects of this disclosure is shown. The device 805 may be an example of aspects of the device 705 or base station 105 as described herein. The device 805 may include a receiver 810, a communication manager 815, and a transmitter 830. The device 805 also includes a processor. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0137] Receiver 810 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information channels). This information can be transmitted to other components of device 805. Receiver 810 can serve as a reference. Figure 10 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1020 described. The receiver 810 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0138] Communication manager 815 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 715 as described herein. Communication manager 815 may include beamforming component 820 and signal power component 825. Communication manager 815 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1010 as described herein.

[0139] The beamforming component 820 can send a first control signaling instruction, which instructs the channel engineering equipment to perform a first beamforming configuration on a signal transmitted from the base station to the UE. The signal energy component 825 can send a signal to the channel engineering equipment based on the first control signaling instruction.

[0140] Transmitter 830 can transmit signals generated by other components of device 805. In some examples, transmitter 830 can be co-located with receiver 810 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 830 can be a reference... Figure 10 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1020 described. The transmitter 830 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0141] Figure 9 A block diagram 900 of a communication manager 905 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The communication manager 905 may be an example of aspects of the communication manager 715, communication manager 815, or communication manager 1010 as described herein. The communication manager 905 may include a beamforming component 910, a signal energy component 915, an indexing component 920, and a time period component 925. Each of these components may communicate directly or indirectly with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0142] Beamforming component 910 can transmit a first beamforming configuration instructing the channel engineering equipment to perform first control signaling for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE. Signal energy component 915 can transmit signals to the channel engineering equipment based on the first control signaling.

[0143] The indexing component 920 can send a second control signaling to configure the channel engineering device using a set of beamforming configurations and a corresponding index in a set of indexes corresponding to the corresponding beamforming configuration in the set of beamforming configurations, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first index in the set of indexes corresponding to the first beamforming configuration.

[0144] In some examples, beamforming component 910 may send a first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration. In some examples, beamforming component 910 may send a handover command to channel engineering equipment indicating a switch between the first and second beamforming configurations.

[0145] In some examples, beamforming component 910 may update a list of one or more beamforming settings corresponding to a first beamforming configuration. In some examples, beamforming component 910 may send a first control signaling to a channel engineering device indicating a list of one or more beamforming settings.

[0146] In some examples, beamforming component 910 may send a first control signaling instructing the application of a first beamforming configuration until a second control signaling is received instructing the application of a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration.

[0147] The time period component 925 can send a first control signaling indicating a first time period in which a first beamforming configuration is applied. In some examples, the time period component 925 can send a first control signaling indicating a second time period in which a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is applied. In some examples, the time period component 925 can send a first control signaling indicating a set of time periods corresponding to a set of beamforming configurations. In some examples, the time period component 925 can send a first control signaling before the time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary preceding the time period in which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

[0148] Figure 10A schematic diagram of a system 1000 including device 1005 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. Device 1005 may be an example of device 705, device 805, or base station 105 described herein, or include components thereof. Device 1005 may include components for bidirectional voice and data communication, including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communication manager 1010, a network communication manager 1015, a transceiver 1020, an antenna 1025, a memory 1030, a processor 1040, and an inter-station communication manager 1045. These components may communicate electronically via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1050).

[0149] The communication manager 1010 can send a first control signaling, which instructs the channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE, and to send signals to the channel engineering device based on the first control signaling.

[0150] The network communication manager 1015 can manage communication with the core network (e.g., via one or more wired backhaul links). For example, the network communication manager 1015 can manage the transmission of data communication by client devices such as one or more UEs 115.

[0151] As described above, transceiver 1020 can communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas, wired or wireless links. For example, transceiver 1020 can represent a wireless transceiver and can communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. Transceiver 1020 may also include a modem to modulate packets and provide the modulated packets to the antenna for transmission, and demodulate packets received from the antenna.

[0152] In some cases, a wireless device may include a single antenna 1025. However, in other cases, the device may have more than one antenna 1025, which is capable of transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously.

[0153] Memory 1030 may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or a combination thereof. Memory 1030 may store computer-readable code 1035, including instructions that, when executed by a processor (e.g., processor 1040), cause the device to perform the various functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1030 may, among other things, contain a basic I / O system (BIOS) that controls basic hardware or software operations, such as interaction with peripheral components or devices.

[0154] Processor 1040 may include intelligent hardware devices (e.g., general-purpose processors, DSPs, central processing units (CPUs), microcontrollers, ASICs, FPGAs, programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 1040 may be configured to operate a memory array using a memory controller. In some cases, the memory controller may be integrated into processor 1040. Processor 1040 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 1030) to cause device 1005 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting real-time control of an electronically configurable deflector).

[0155] Inter-site communication manager 1045 can manage communication with other base stations 105 and may include a controller or scheduler for cooperating with other base stations 105 to control communication with UE 115. For example, inter-site communication manager 1045 can coordinate the scheduling of transmissions to UE 115 for various interference mitigation techniques such as beamforming or joint transmission. In some examples, inter-site communication manager 1045 may provide an X2 interface within LTE / LTE-A wireless communication network technology to facilitate communication between base stations 105.

[0156] Code 1035 may include instructions for implementing various aspects of this disclosure, including instructions for supporting wireless communication. Code 1035 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as system memory or other types of memory. In some cases, code 1035 may not be directly executable by processor 1040, but may enable a computer (e.g., at compile and execution time) to perform the functions described herein.

[0157] Figure 11 A block diagram 1100 of a channel engineering device 1105 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The channel engineering device 1105 may be an example of various aspects of the device as described herein. The channel engineering device 1105 may include a receiver 1110, a communication manager 1115, and a transmitter 1120. The device 1105 also includes a processor and an electronic metamaterial. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0158] Receiver 1110 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to real-time control of electronically configurable deflectors). This information can be transmitted to other components of channel engineering device 1105. Receiver 1110 can serve as a reference. Figure 14 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1420 described. The receiver 1110 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0159] Communication manager 1115 can receive first control signaling from a base station, the first control signaling instructing a channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration on a signal transmitted from the base station to the UE, and to configure the channel engineering device to beamform the received signal energy according to the first beamforming configuration. Communication manager 1115 may be an example of an aspect of communication manager 1410 described herein.

[0160] The communication manager 1115 or its sub-components may be implemented in hardware, processor-executable code (e.g., software or firmware), or any combination thereof. If implemented in processor-executable code, the functionality of the communication manager 1115 or its sub-components may be performed by a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described in this disclosure.

[0161] The communication manager 1115 or its subcomponents may be physically located in various locations, including distributed so that parts of the functionality are implemented by one or more physical components at different physical locations. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 1115 or its subcomponents may be separate and distinct components. In some examples, according to various aspects of this disclosure, the communication manager 1115 or its subcomponents may be combined with one or more other hardware components, including but not limited to input / output (I / O) components, transceivers, network servers, another computing device, one or more other components described in this disclosure, or combinations thereof.

[0162] Transmitter 1120 can transmit signals generated by other components of channel engineering device 1105. In some examples, transmitter 1120 may be co-located with receiver 1110 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 1120 may be a reference... Figure 14 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1420 described. The transmitter 1120 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0163] Figure 12 A block diagram 1200 of a channel engineering device 1205 according to aspects of this disclosure is shown. Channel engineering device 1205 may be an example of aspects of channel engineering device 1105 as described herein. Channel engineering device 1205 may include a receiver 1210, a communication manager 1215, and a transmitter 1230. Channel engineering device 1205 also includes a processor and an electronic metamaterial. Each of these components may communicate with each other (e.g., via one or more buses).

[0164] Receiver 1210 can receive information such as packets, user data, or control information associated with various information channels (e.g., control channels, data channels, and information related to real-time control of electronically configurable deflectors). This information can be transmitted to other components of channel engineering device 1205. Receiver 1210 can serve as a reference. Figure 14 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1420 described. The receiver 1210 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0165] Communication manager 1215 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1115 as described herein. Communication manager 1215 may include beamforming component 1220 and signal power component 1225. Communication manager 1215 may be an example of aspects of communication manager 1410 as described herein.

[0166] Beamforming component 1220 can receive a first control signaling from the base station, the first control signaling instructing the channel engineering equipment to perform a first beamforming configuration on the signal transmitted from the base station to the UE. Signal energy component 1225 can configure the channel engineering equipment to beamform the received signal energy according to the first beamforming configuration.

[0167] Transmitter 1230 can transmit signals generated by other components of channel engineering device 1205. In some examples, transmitter 1230 can be co-located with receiver 1210 in a transceiver module. For example, transmitter 1230 can be a reference... Figure 14 Examples of aspects of the transceiver 1420 described. The transmitter 1230 may utilize a single antenna or a set of antennas.

[0168] Figure 13 A block diagram 1300 of a communication manager 1305 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The communication manager 1305 may be an example of aspects of communication managers 1115, 1215, or 1410 as described herein. The communication manager 1305 may include a beamforming component 1310, a signal energy component 1315, an indexing component 1320, and a time-segmentation component 1325. Each of these components may communicate directly or indirectly with each other (e.g., via one or more buses). Actions performed by the communication manager 1305 may be implemented by channel engineering equipment.

[0169] Beamforming component 1310 can receive a first control signaling from the base station, the first control signaling instructing the channel engineering equipment to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE. Signal energy component 1315 can configure the channel engineering equipment to perform beamforming on the received signal energy according to the first beamforming configuration.

[0170] Index component 1320 can receive a second control signaling that configures the channel engineering device using a set of beamforming configurations and a corresponding index in a set of indexes corresponding to the corresponding beamforming configuration in the set of beamforming configurations, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first index in the set of indexes corresponding to the first beamforming configuration.

[0171] In some examples, beamforming component 1310 may receive a first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration. In some examples, beamforming component 1310 may receive a switching command indicating a switch between the first and second beamforming configurations.

[0172] In some examples, beamforming component 1310 may receive a first control signaling that indicates a first beamforming configuration that includes a list of one or more beamforming configurations.

[0173] In some examples, beamforming component 1310 may receive a first control signaling indicating the application of a first beamforming configuration until a second control signaling indicating the application of a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is received. Time period component 1325 may receive a first control signaling indicating a first time period in which the first beamforming configuration is applied.

[0174] In some examples, the time period component 1325 may receive a first control signaling indicating a second time period in which a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is applied. In some examples, the time period component 1325 may receive a first control signaling indicating a set of time periods corresponding to a set of beamforming configurations. In some examples, the time period component 1325 may apply a corresponding beamforming configuration from the set of beamforming configurations during the corresponding time period of the set of time periods based on the first control signaling. In some examples, the time period component 1325 may receive the first control signaling before a time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary preceding the time period in which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

[0175] Figure 14A schematic diagram of a system 1400 including device 1405 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. The channel engineering device 1405 may be an example of or include components of the channel engineering device 1105, channel engineering device 1205, or channel engineering 155 described herein. The channel engineering device 1405 may include components for bidirectional voice and data communication, including components for transmitting and receiving communications, including a communication manager 1410, an I / O controller 1415, a transceiver 1420, an antenna 1425, a memory 1430, a processor 1440, and an electronic metamaterial 1450. These components may communicate electronically via one or more buses (e.g., bus 1445).

[0176] The communication manager 1410 can receive a first control signaling from the base station, the first control signaling instructing the channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration on the signal transmitted from the base station to the UE, and to configure the channel engineering device to beamform the received signal energy according to the first beamforming configuration.

[0177] I / O controller 1415 can manage the input and output signals of device 1405. I / O controller 1415 can also manage peripheral devices not integrated into channel engineering device 1405. In some cases, I / O controller 1415 can represent a physical connection or port to an external peripheral device. In some cases, I / O controller 1415 can utilize an operating system, such as... MS- Alternatively, it may be another known operating system. In other cases, the I / O controller 1415 may represent or interact with a modem, keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, or similar device. In some cases, the I / O controller 1415 may be implemented as part of a processor. In some cases, a user may interact with the channel engineering device 1405 via the I / O controller 1415 or via hardware components controlled by the I / O controller 1415.

[0178] As described above, transceiver 1420 can communicate bidirectionally via one or more antennas, wired or wireless links. For example, transceiver 1420 can represent a wireless transceiver and can communicate bidirectionally with another wireless transceiver. Transceiver 1420 may also include a modem to modulate packets and provide the modulated packets to the antenna for transmission, and demodulate packets received from the antenna.

[0179] In some cases, a wireless device may include a single antenna 1425. However, in other cases, the device may have more than one antenna 1425, which is capable of transmitting or receiving multiple wireless transmissions simultaneously.

[0180] Memory 1430 may include RAM and ROM. Memory 1430 may store computer-readable, computer-executable code 1435, including instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform the various functions described herein. In some cases, memory 1430 may, among other things, contain a BIOS that controls basic hardware or software operations (such as interaction with peripheral components or devices).

[0181] Processor 1440 may include intelligent hardware devices (e.g., general-purpose processors, DSPs, CPUs, microcontrollers, ASICs, FPGAs, programmable logic devices, discrete gate or transistor logic components, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof). In some cases, processor 1440 may be configured to use a memory controller to operate a memory array. In other cases, the memory controller may be integrated into processor 1440. Processor 1440 may be configured to execute computer-readable instructions stored in memory (e.g., memory 1430) to cause device 1405 to perform various functions (e.g., functions or tasks supporting real-time control of an electronically configurable deflector). In some examples, electronic metamaterial 1450 may focus received signal energy (e.g., focus refraction), reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof to enhance the communication link between base station 105 and UE 115.

[0182] Code 1435 may include instructions for implementing various aspects of this disclosure, including instructions for supporting wireless communication. Code 1435 may be stored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, such as system memory or other types of memory. In some cases, code 1435 may not be directly executable by processor 1440, but may enable a computer (e.g., at compile and execution time) to perform the functions described herein.

[0183] Figure 15 A flowchart illustrating a method 1500 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. Operation of method 1500 may be implemented by a device or its components, as described herein. For example, operation of method 1500 may be performed by a reference... Figures 11 to 14 The communication manager described below is used for execution. In some examples, the device can execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the device to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the device can use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0184] At point 1505, the device may receive a first control signaling from the base station, which instructs the channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE. The operation at point 1505 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1505 may be derived from, as referenced...Figures 11 to 14 The described beamforming component is used to perform this.

[0185] At point 1510, the device can configure the channel engineering equipment to beamshape the received signal energy according to a first beamforming configuration. The operation at point 1510 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1510 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 11 to 14 The described signal energy components are used to perform this.

[0186] Figure 16 A flowchart illustrating aspects of method 1600 according to this disclosure is shown. Operation of method 1600 may be implemented by a device or its components, as described herein. For example, operation of method 1600 may be performed by reference to... Figures 11 to 14 The communication manager described below is used for execution. In some examples, the device can execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the device to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the device can use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0187] At point 1605, the device may receive a first control signaling from the base station, which instructs the channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE. The operation at point 1605 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1605 may be derived from, as referenced... Figures 11 to 14 The described beamforming component is used to perform this.

[0188] At 1610, the device can configure the channel engineering equipment to beamshape the received signal energy according to the first beamforming configuration. The operation at 1610 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at 1610 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 11 to 14 The described signal energy components are used to perform this.

[0189] At 1615, the device can receive a second control signaling that configures the channel engineering device using a set of beamforming configurations and a corresponding index in a set of indices corresponding to the corresponding beamforming configuration in the set of beamforming configurations, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first index in the set of indices corresponding to the first beamforming configuration. The operation at 1615 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at 1615 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 11 to 14 The described index component is used for execution.

[0190] Figure 17A flowchart illustrating aspects of method 1700 according to this disclosure is shown. Operation of method 1700 may be implemented by base station 105 or its components, as described herein. For example, operation of method 1700 may be performed by reference to... Figures 7 to 10 The communication manager described below is used to perform these functions. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0191] At point 1705, the base station may send a first control signaling instruction instructing the channel engineering equipment to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE. The operation at point 1705 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1705 may be derived from, as referenced... Figures 7 to 10 The described beamforming component is used to perform this.

[0192] At point 1710, the base station can send signals to the channel engineering equipment based on the first control signaling. The operation at point 1710 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1710 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 7 to 10 The described signal energy components are used to perform this.

[0193] Figure 18 A flowchart illustrating a method 1800 according to various aspects of this disclosure is shown. Operation of method 1800 may be implemented by base station 105 or its components, as described herein. For example, operation of method 1800 may be performed by reference to... Figures 7 to 10 The communication manager described below is used to perform these functions. In some examples, the base station may execute a set of instructions to control the functional elements of the base station to perform the functions described below. Additionally or alternatively, the base station may use dedicated hardware to perform aspects of the functions described below.

[0194] At point 1805, the base station may send a first control signaling instruction instructing the channel engineering equipment to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of signals transmitted from the base station to the UE. The operation at point 1805 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1805 may be derived from, as referenced... Figures 7 to 10 The described beamforming component is used to perform this.

[0195] At point 1810, the base station can send a first control signaling indicating a first time period during which a first beamforming configuration is applied. The operation at point 1810 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1810 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 7 to 10 The time period component is used for execution.

[0196] At point 1815, the base station can send signals to the channel engineering equipment based on the first control signaling. The operation at point 1815 can be performed according to the method described herein. In some examples, aspects of the operation at point 1815 can be derived from, as referenced... Figures 7 to 10 The described signal energy components are used to perform this.

[0197] It should be noted that the methods described herein describe possible implementations, and the operations and steps can be rearranged or otherwise modified, and other implementations are also possible. Furthermore, aspects from two or more methods can be combined.

[0198] The following provides an overview of the various aspects of this disclosure:

[0199] Aspect 1: A method for wireless communication at a channel engineering device, comprising: receiving a first control signaling from a base station, the first control signaling instructing the channel engineering device to perform a first beamforming configuration for beamforming of a signal transmitted from the base station to a user equipment; and configuring the channel engineering device to beamform received signal energy according to the first beamforming configuration.

[0200] Aspect 2: The method according to aspect 1 further includes: receiving a second control signaling, the second control signaling configuring the channel engineering device with a plurality of beamforming configurations and a corresponding index in a plurality of group indices corresponding to a corresponding beamforming configuration in the plurality of beamforming configurations, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first index in a plurality of indices corresponding to a first beamforming configuration.

[0201] Aspect 3: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 2, wherein receiving the first control signaling includes: receiving a first control signaling indicating a first time period in which a first beamforming configuration is applied.

[0202] Aspect 4: According to the method of aspect 3, receiving the first control signaling includes: receiving the first control signaling indicating a second time period in which a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is applied.

[0203] Aspect 5: The method according to any one of Aspects 1 to 2, wherein receiving the first control signaling includes: receiving the first control signaling indicating a plurality of time periods corresponding to a plurality of beamforming configurations; and applying a corresponding beamforming configuration among the plurality of beamforming configurations during a corresponding time period of the plurality of time periods, at least in part based on the first control signaling.

[0204] Aspect 6: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 2, wherein receiving the first control signaling includes: receiving a first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration; and receiving a switching command indicating switching between the first beamforming configuration and the second beamforming configuration.

[0205] Aspect 7: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, wherein receiving the first control signaling includes: receiving a first control signaling indicating that the first beamforming configuration includes a list of one or more beamforming settings.

[0206] Aspect 8: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 7 further includes: receiving a first control signaling before a time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary being before the time period for which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

[0207] Aspect 9: According to the method described in aspect 8, the time period is a time slot, a symbol period, a micro-time slot, multiple symbol periods, or a combination thereof.

[0208] Aspect 10: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 9, wherein receiving the first control signaling includes: receiving a first control signaling indicating the application of a first beamforming configuration until receiving a second control signaling indicating the application of a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration.

[0209] Aspect 11: The method according to any one of aspects 1 to 10, wherein the first beamforming configuration indicates one or more settings to adjust the electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof.

[0210] Aspect 12: A method for wireless communication at a base station, comprising: transmitting first control signaling instructing a channel engineering device to perform beamforming of a signal transmitted from the base station to a user equipment; and transmitting a signal to the channel engineering device at least in part based on the first control signaling.

[0211] Aspect 13: The method according to aspect 12 further includes: sending a second control signaling, the second control signaling configuring the channel engineering device with a plurality of beamforming configurations and a corresponding index in a plurality of group indices corresponding to a corresponding beamforming configuration in the plurality of beamforming configurations, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first index in a plurality of indices corresponding to a first beamforming configuration.

[0212] Aspect 14: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 13, wherein sending the first control signaling includes: sending a first control signaling indicating a first time period, during which a first beamforming configuration is applied.

[0213] Aspect 15: According to the method of aspect 14, sending the first control signaling includes: sending the first control signaling indicating a second time period in which a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is applied.

[0214] Aspect 16: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 13, wherein sending the first control signaling includes: sending first control signaling indicating a plurality of time periods corresponding to a plurality of beamforming configurations.

[0215] Aspect 17: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 16, wherein sending the first control signaling includes: sending a first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration; and sending a switching command to the channel engineering equipment indicating a switch between the first beamforming configuration and the second beamforming configuration.

[0216] Aspect 18: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 17, wherein receiving the first control signaling includes: updating a list of one or more beamforming settings corresponding to a first beamforming configuration; and sending the first control signaling to the channel engineering device indicating the list of one or more beamforming settings.

[0217] Aspect 19: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 18 further includes: sending a first control signaling before a time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary being before the time period for which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

[0218] Aspect 20: The method according to aspect 19, wherein the time period is a time slot, a symbol period, a micro-time slot, multiple symbol periods or a combination thereof.

[0219] Aspect 21: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 20, wherein sending the first control signaling includes: sending a first control signaling instructing the application of a first beamforming configuration until a second control signaling is received instructing the application of a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration.

[0220] Aspect 22: The method according to any one of aspects 12 to 21, wherein the first beamforming configuration indicates one or more settings to adjust the electronic metamaterial of the channel engineering device to focus received signal energy, reflect received signal energy, refract received signal energy, filter received signal energy, or any combination thereof.

[0221] Aspect 23: An apparatus for wireless communication at a channel engineering device, comprising a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the methods of any one of aspects 1 to 11.

[0222] Aspect 24: An apparatus for wireless communication at a channel engineering device, comprising at least one component for performing the method of any one of aspects 1 to 11.

[0223] Aspect 25: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a channel engineering device, the code including instructions executable by a processor to perform the methods of any one of aspects 1 to 11.

[0224] Aspect 26: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; and instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to perform the methods of any one of aspects 12 to 22.

[0225] Aspect 27: An apparatus for wireless communication at a base station, comprising at least one component for performing the method of any one of aspects 12 to 22.

[0226] Aspect 28: A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a base station, the code including instructions executable by a processor to perform the methods of any one of aspects 12 to 22.

[0227] While aspects of LTE, LTE-A, LTE-A Pro, or NR systems may be described for illustrative purposes, and the terms LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, or NR may be used in most of the description, the techniques described herein are applicable beyond LTE, LTE-A, LTE-APro, or NR networks. For example, the techniques described can be applied to a variety of other wireless communication systems, such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, Flash-OFDM, and other systems and radio technologies not explicitly mentioned herein.

[0228] The information and signals described herein can be represented using any of a variety of different techniques and methods. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips that may be referenced throughout the description can be represented by voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, light fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0229] The various illustrative boxes and components described in connection with the disclosure herein may be implemented or performed using a general-purpose processor, DSP, ASIC, CPU, FPGA or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware component, or any combination thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A general-purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but alternatively, the processor may be any processor, controller, microcontroller, or state machine. The processor may also be implemented as a combination of computing devices, such as a combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, multiple microprocessors, one or more microprocessors combined with a DSP core, or any other such configuration.

[0230] The functions described herein can be implemented in hardware, software executed by a processor, firmware, or any combination thereof. If implemented in software executed by a processor, these functions can be stored on or transmitted through a computer-readable medium as one or more instructions or code. Other examples and implementations are within the scope of this disclosure and the appended claims. For example, due to the nature of software, the functions described herein can be implemented using software executed by a processor, hardware, firmware, hardwired, or any combination thereof. Features implementing the functions can also be physically located in different locations, including being distributed such that portions of the functions are implemented in different physical locations.

[0231] Computer-readable media include non-transitory computer storage media and communication media, with communication media including any medium that facilitates the transfer of a computer program from one place to another. Non-transitory storage media can be any available medium accessible to a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM, ROM, electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), flash memory, optical disc (CD) ROM or other optical disc storage devices, magnetic disk storage devices or other magnetic storage devices, or any other non-transitory medium that can be used to carry or store desired program code components in the form of instructions or data structures and that can be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor. Furthermore, any connection is properly referred to as computer-readable media. For example, if software is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologies (such as infrared, radio, and microwave), then coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technologies (such as infrared, radio, and microwave) are included in the definition of computer-readable media. The optical discs and disks used in this article include CDs, laser discs, optical discs, digital versatile discs (DVDs), floppy disks, and Blu-ray discs, where disks typically reproduce data magnetically, while optical discs reproduce data optically using lasers. Combinations of these are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0232] As used herein, the word "or" used in enumeration in the claims (e.g., enumerations beginning with such as "at least one" or "one or more") indicates an inclusive enumeration, such as at least one of A, B, or C meaning A or B or C or AB or AC or BC or ABC (i.e., A and B and C). Furthermore, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of conditions. For example, an exemplary step described as "based on condition A" may be based on conditions A and B without departing from the scope of this disclosure. In other words, as used herein, the phrase "based on" should be interpreted in the same manner as the phrase "at least partially based on".

[0233] In the accompanying drawings, similar components or features may have the same reference numerals. Furthermore, various components of the same type can be distinguished by adding a dash after the reference numeral and a second numeral to differentiate between similar components. If only the first reference numeral is used in the specification, the description applies to any similar component having the same first reference numeral, regardless of the second or other subsequent reference numerals.

[0234] This document describes example configurations with reference to the accompanying drawings and does not represent all possible implementations or all examples within the scope of the claims. The term "example" as used herein means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration," and not "preferred" or "superior to other examples." Detailed descriptions, including specific details, are provided to provide an understanding of the described techniques. However, these methods can be implemented without these specific details. In some cases, known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the concept of the described examples.

[0235] This description is intended to enable those skilled in the art to make or use this disclosure. Various modifications to this disclosure will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein can be applied to other variations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Therefore, this disclosure is not limited to the examples and designs described herein, but is consistent with the widest scope of the principles and novel features disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication at a passive channel engineering device, comprising: The passive channel engineering device receives a first control signaling instruction from a network node indicating multiple beamforming configurations for performing beamforming and deflection on signals transmitted from the network node to corresponding multiple user equipments. The first control signaling instruction indicates multiple time periods associated with the passive channel engineering device performing deflection and beamforming on the signals in multiple directions to the corresponding multiple user equipments. The time periods are time slots, symbol periods, micro-time slots, or combinations thereof. as well as During a first time period of the plurality of time periods, the passive channel engineering equipment is configured to perform beamforming and deflection of the received signal energy in a first direction of the user equipment in the respective plurality of user equipments according to a first beamforming configuration of the plurality of beamforming configurations.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The passive channel engineering device is configured using a corresponding index from a plurality of group indices that correspond to a corresponding beamforming configuration in the plurality of beamforming configurations.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period of the plurality of time periods is associated with the first beamforming configuration.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first time period in which the first beamforming configuration is applied and a second time period in which a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is applied.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Receiving the first control signaling includes: The first beamforming configuration among the plurality of beamforming configurations is applied during the first time period of the plurality of time periods, at least in part based on the first control signaling.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Receiving the first control signaling includes: Receive the first control signaling, the first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration; and Receive a switching command indicating to switch between the first beamforming configuration and the second beamforming configuration.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Receiving the first control signaling includes: The first control signaling is received, indicating that the first beamforming configuration includes a list of one or more beamforming settings.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: The first control signaling is received before the time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary being before the time period for which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein, Receiving the first control signaling includes: The system receives the first control signaling indicating the application of the first beamforming configuration until it receives the second control signaling indicating the application of a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first beamforming configuration indicates one or more settings to adjust the electronic metamaterial of the passive channel engineering device to focus the received signal energy, reflect the received signal energy, refract the received signal energy, filter the received signal energy, or any combination thereof.

11. A method for wireless communication at a network node, comprising: Sending a first control signaling instruction indicating multiple beamforming configurations for a passive channel engineering device to perform beamforming and deflection on signals transmitted from the network node to corresponding multiple user equipments, wherein the first control signaling indicates multiple time periods associated with the passive channel engineering device deflecting and beamforming the signals in multiple directions to the corresponding multiple user equipments, wherein the time periods are time slots, symbol periods, micro-time slots, or combinations thereof; as well as The passive channel engineering device is sent signals at least in part based on the first control signaling during a first time period of the plurality of time periods, the first time period being associated with a first beamforming configuration of the plurality of beamforming configurations.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: A second control signaling is sent, which configures the passive channel engineering device using a corresponding index from a plurality of group indices that correspond to the corresponding beamforming configuration in the plurality of beamforming configurations.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first control signaling indicates a first time period in which the first beamforming configuration is applied and a second time period in which a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is applied.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Sending the first control signaling includes: Send the first control signaling, the first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration; and Send a switching command to the passive channel engineering device, indicating a switch between the first beamforming configuration and the second beamforming configuration.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Receiving the first control signaling includes: Update the list of one or more beamforming settings corresponding to the first beamforming configuration; and The first control signaling, indicating a list of one or more beamforming settings, is sent to the passive channel engineering equipment.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The first control signaling is sent before the time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary being before the time period in which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein, Sending the first control signaling includes: Send the first control signaling indicating the application of the first beamforming configuration until a second control signaling indicating the application of a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration is received.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first beamforming configuration indicates one or more settings to adjust the electronic metamaterial of the passive channel engineering device to focus received signal energy, reflect the received signal energy, refract the received signal energy, filter the received signal energy, or any combination thereof.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication at a passive channel engineering device, comprising: One or more memories that store processor-executable code; as well as One or more processors coupled to the one or more memories and operable to execute the code to cause the one or more processors to: The passive channel engineering device receives a first control signaling instruction from a network node indicating multiple beamforming configurations for performing beamforming and deflection on signals transmitted from the network node to corresponding multiple user equipments. The first control signaling instruction indicates multiple time periods associated with the passive channel engineering device performing deflection and beamforming on the signals in multiple directions to the corresponding multiple user equipments. The time periods are time slots, symbol periods, micro-time slots, or combinations thereof. as well as During a first time period of the plurality of time periods, the passive channel engineering equipment is configured to perform beamforming and deflection of the received signal energy in a first direction of the user equipment in the respective plurality of user equipments according to a first beamforming configuration of the plurality of beamforming configurations.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a receiver, wherein the one or more processors are operable to execute the code to cause the one or more processors to: The receiver receives a second control signaling, which configures the passive channel engineering device using a corresponding index from a plurality of group indices that correspond to a corresponding beamforming configuration in the plurality of beamforming configurations.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first time period of the plurality of time periods is associated with the first beamforming configuration.

22. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, In order to receive the first control signaling, the one or more processors are able to operate to execute the code to cause the one or more processors to: The first beamforming configuration among the plurality of beamforming configurations is applied during the first time period of the plurality of time periods, at least in part based on the first control signaling.

23. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, In order to receive the first control signaling, the one or more processors are able to operate to execute the code to cause the one or more processors to: Receive the first control signaling, the first control signaling indicating a second beamforming configuration different from the first beamforming configuration; as well as Receive a switching command indicating to switch between the first beamforming configuration and the second beamforming configuration.

24. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, In order to receive the first control signaling, the one or more processors are able to operate to execute the code to cause the one or more processors to: The first control signaling is received, indicating that the first beamforming configuration includes a list of one or more beamforming settings.

25. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein, The one or more processors are operable to execute the code so that the one or more processors: The first control signaling is received before the time period boundary between adjacent time periods, the time period boundary being before the time period for which the first beamforming configuration is to be applied.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication at a network node, comprising: One or more memories that store processor-executable code; as well as One or more processors coupled to the one or more memories and operable to execute the code to cause the one or more processors to: Sending a first control signaling instruction indicating multiple beamforming configurations for a passive channel engineering device to perform beamforming and deflection on signals transmitted from the network node to corresponding multiple user equipments, wherein the first control signaling indicates multiple time periods associated with the passive channel engineering device deflecting and beamforming the signals in multiple directions to the corresponding multiple user equipments, wherein the time periods are time slots, symbol periods, micro-time slots, or combinations thereof; as well as The passive channel engineering device is sent signals at least in part based on the first control signaling during a first time period of the plurality of time periods, the first time period being associated with a first beamforming configuration of the plurality of beamforming configurations.

27. A computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a passive channel engineering device, the code being executable by a processor of the passive channel engineering device to cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 1-10.

28. A computer-readable medium storing code for wireless communication at a network node, the code being executable by a processor of the network node to cause the processor to perform the method according to any one of claims 11-18.

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