Method and user equipment for wireless communication

Abstract

Methods and user equipment for wireless communication are presented. A network node configures one or more AGCs. Each AGC can include at least one AGC index. Each AGC can include a number of ports or layers that the UE can support. In addition, each AGC can include an enabled panel state. The enabled panel state can indicate whether the UE can perform UL transmission to the network node and / or whether the UE can perform DL reception from the network node. The UE can determine one of the AGCs for each CRI or SSBRI in a beam report. The UE can enable and select one or more panels for DL reception and UL transmission, and the UE can receive and measure reference signals corresponding to the CRIs or SSBRIs in the beam report. By utilizing the present invention, wireless communication can be better performed.

Description

[0001] Cross-references to related applications

[0002] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 048,738, filed July 7, 2020, entitled “Antenna Group Configuration for Beam Reporting”; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 070,351, filed August 26, 2020, entitled “Antenna Group Configuration for Beam Reporting”; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 150,158, filed February 17, 2021, entitled “Antenna Group Configuration for Beam Reporting”, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates generally to wireless communication, and more specifically to methods and user equipment for wireless communication. Background Technology

[0004] The increasing bandwidth shortage experienced by mobile operators has prompted the exploration of the underutilized millimeter wave (mmWave) spectrum between 3G and 300GHz for next-generation broadband cellular communication networks. The available spectrum in the millimeter wave band is 200 times that of traditional cellular systems. Millimeter wave wireless networks use narrow-beam directional communication and can support data rates of several gigabits. The underutilized bandwidth of the millimeter wave spectrum ranges in wavelength from 1mm to 100mm. The very small wavelength of the millimeter wave spectrum allows a large number of small antennas to be placed in a small area. This miniaturized antenna system can generate high beamforming gain by producing electrically steerable arrays that enable directional transmission.

[0005] With the latest developments in millimeter-wave semiconductor circuits, millimeter-wave wireless systems have become a promising solution for real-world applications. However, the heavy reliance on directional transmission and the vulnerability of the propagation environment present unique challenges to millimeter-wave networks. Generally, cellular network systems are designed to achieve the following objectives: 1) simultaneously serve many users under a wide range of dynamic operating conditions; 2) be robust to dynamic changes in channel variations, traffic load, and varying Quality of Service (QoS) requirements; and 3) effectively utilize resources such as bandwidth and power. Beamforming adds to the difficulty of achieving these objectives.

[0006] In principle, for compact mobile devices, different panels equipped on User Equipment (UE) can not have the same configuration, e.g. number of ports, due to the limited and different size of the footprint of the antenna modules. The UE can report the maximum number of ports or layers supported for uplink (UL) transmission through capability signaling. However, this number is usually determined according to the panel with the least number of antennas, as each panel that can be used for UL transmission needs to support this number. Moreover, even if the panel capability is reported from the UE, the network cannot know whether the selected network node (e.g. gNB) beam is used for UL transmission, and what is the maximum number of ports or layers that the UE-selected UL panel can support.

[0007] Furthermore, for a UE equipped with multiple panels with the same configuration, the panel configuration can still be changed to save the power of the UE. Downlink (DL) Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) layer adjustment supported by Bandwidth Part (BWP) switching can be used to save the power of the UE. For UL, it is also beneficial for power saving of the UE if the maximum UL MIMO layers on the UL panel can be dynamically adjusted. However, based on the current specification, the network cannot be informed of the change of UL panel configuration.

[0008] Moreover, even if there are multiple activated panels, the UE can only select one UL panel from them. For example, to avoid the transmit power back-off due to Maximum Permissible Exposure (MPE), the UE can select a panel for UL transmission to replace the panel for DL reception. If multiple panels are activated and only one panel is selected for UL transmission, the network needs to know how to schedule the UL transmission on this UL panel. However, the network cannot distinguish which gNB beam corresponds to the UE-selected UL panel based on the beam report.

[0009] Therefore, the beam report for activated panels is an important part to be determined. SUMMARY

[0010] A beam reporting method associated with one or more Antenna Group Configurations (AGCs) is proposed. A network node configures one or more AGCs. Each AGC can include at least one AGC index. Each AGC can include a number of ports or layers that the UE can support. In addition, each AGC can include an enabled panel state. The enabled panel state can indicate whether the UE can perform UL transmission to the network node and / or whether the UE can perform DL reception from the network node. The UE can determine one of the AGCs for each CRI or SSBRI in a beam report. The UE can enable and select one or more panels for DL reception and UL transmission, and the UE can receive and measure reference signals corresponding to the CRIs or SSBRIs in the beam report. The UE can perform UL transmission to the network node according to the RSs and / or perform DL reception from the network node according to the RSs.

[0011] In one embodiment, a UE receives one or more AGCs configured by a network node in a beamformed wireless communication network, wherein each AGC includes at least one AGC index. The UE reports at least one AGC index to the network node in a beam report.

[0012] By utilizing the present application, wireless communication can be better performed.

[0013] Other embodiments and advantages will be described in the following detailed description. This summary is not intended to define the application. The application is defined by the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0014] The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the application, wherein like numbers refer to like parts.

[0015] Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of a network node and a user equipment implementing some embodiments of the application.

[0016] Figure 2 An example of an AGC configured by a network node is illustrated.

[0017] Figure 3 A first embodiment of a panel-aware beam report by a UE with multiple panels is illustrated.

[0018] Figure 4 A second embodiment of a panel-aware beam report by a UE with multiple panels is illustrated.

[0019] Figure 5 A third embodiment of a panel-aware beam report by a UE with multiple panels is illustrated.

[0020] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a novel approach to beam reporting from the UE's perspective in a beamforming wireless communication system. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Reference will now be made in detail to some embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0022] Figure 1 This is a simplified block diagram of a network node and a UE implementing some embodiments of the present invention. Network node 101 may be a base station (BS) or gNB, but the invention is not limited thereto. UE 102 may be a smartphone, wearable device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, tablet computer, etc. Alternatively, UE 110 may be a laptop or personal computer (PC) with a data card inserted or installed, which may include a modem and a radio frequency (RF) transceiver to provide wireless communication capabilities.

[0023] Network node 101 includes: an antenna array 111 having multiple antenna elements for transmitting or receiving radio signals; one or more RF transceiver modules 112 coupled to the antenna array, receiving RF signals from the antennas 111, converting the RF signals into baseband signals, and transmitting the baseband signals to a processor 113. The RF transceivers 112 also convert the baseband signals received from the processor 113 into RF signals and transmit them outward to the antennas 111. The processor 113 processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules to implement the features in network node 101. A memory 114 can store program instructions and data 115 for controlling the operation of network node 101. According to an embodiment of the invention, network node 101 further includes multiple functional modules for implementing different tasks.

[0024] Similarly, the UE 102 has an antenna 131 for transmitting and receiving radio signals. An RF transceiver module 132 coupled with the antenna 131 receives RF signals from the antenna 131, converts the RF signals to baseband signals and sends the baseband signals to a processor 133. The RF transceiver 132 also converts baseband signals received from the processor 133, converts the baseband signals to RF signals, and sends the RF signals out to the antenna 131. The processor 133 processes the received baseband signals and invokes different functional modules to implement features in the UE 102. A memory 134 stores program instructions for controlling the operation of the UE 102 and data 135. In accordance with embodiments of the present application, the UE 102 also includes a plurality of functional modules and circuits that implement different tasks.

[0025] The functional modules and circuits can be implemented and configured by hardware, firmware, software, and any combination thereof. For example, the network node 101 includes a beam management module 120, which further includes a beamforming circuit 121, a beam monitor 122, a resource allocation circuit 123, and a beam reporting circuit 124. The beamforming circuit 121 can belong to a part of an RF chain that imparts various beamforming weights to a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna 111, thereby forming various beams. The beam monitor 122 monitors received radio signals and performs measurements of the radio signals on various UE beams. The resource allocation circuit 123 allocates one or more AGCs. The beam reporting circuit 124 reports beam monitoring results of the received various UE beams.

[0026] Similarly, the UE 102 includes a beam management module 140, which further includes a beamforming circuit 141, a beam monitor 142, a beam grouping circuit 143, and a beam reporting circuit 144. The beamforming circuit 141 can belong to a part of an RF chain that imparts various beamforming weights to a plurality of antenna elements of the antenna 131, thereby forming various beams. The beam monitor 142 monitors received radio signals and performs measurements of the radio signals on various beams. The beam grouping circuit 143 groups different BS beams into beam groups based on Reference Signal (RS) resource configurations. The beam reporting circuit 144 provides beam quality metrics and sends reports to the network node 101 in beam groups based on beam monitoring results of the various BS beams.

[0027] In accordance with one novel aspect, a beamformed wireless communication network or a beamformed wireless communication network system includes a network node 101 and a UE 102. The beamformed wireless communication network uses directional communication with narrow beams and can support multi-gigabit data rates. The directional communication can be achieved via digital and / or analog beamforming, in which multiple sets of beamforming weights are imparted to a plurality of antenna elements to form a plurality of beams.

[0028] According to one novel aspect, the network node 101 configures one or more AGCs. Each AGC can comprise at least one AGC index. Each AGC can further comprise a number of ports or layers that the UE 102 can support. In addition, each AGC can further comprise an active panel state. Each panel can comprise one or more antennas and / or ports (e.g., a group of antennas). The active panel state can indicate whether the UE 102 can perform UL transmission to the network node 101 and / or whether the UE 102 can perform DL reception from the network node 101.

[0029] According to one novel aspect, the UE 102 can determine one AGC in the AGCs for each Channel-State-Information Reference-Signal (CSI-RS) Resource Index (CRI) or Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) Resource Index (SSBRI) in a beam report. In the beam report, each CRI or SSBRI can correspond to an AGC index of an AGC and a reporting quantity (e.g., L1 Reference Symbol Received Power (RSRP) or L1 Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR)) of the AGC. In addition, the CRI or SSBRI can be associated with an active panel state of the AGC, which indicates whether the UE 102 can perform UL transmission to the network node 101 and / or whether the UE 102 can perform DL reception from the network node 101. The UE 102 can enable and select one or more panels for DL reception and UL transmission, and the UE 102 can receive and measure RSs corresponding to the CRIs or SSBRIs in the beam report on the enabled panels. The processor 233 of the UE 102 can perform UL transmission to the network node 101 according to the RSs and / or perform DL reception from the network node 101 according to the RSs. Each panel enabled by the processor 233 of the UE 102 is associated with an AGC. The UE 102 can send the beam report associated with the AGC to the network node 101. The UE 102 can report at least one AGC index to the network node 101 in the beam report.

[0030] According to a novel aspect, the receiver of UE 102 can simultaneously receive CRIs or SSBRIs associated with different AGCs, but cannot simultaneously receive CRIs or SSBRIs associated with the same AGC.

[0031] Figure 2 An example of an AGC configured by a network node is illustrated. As depicted in Table 210, each AGC may include an AGC index (i.e., AGC index #0, AGC index #1, AGC index #2, and AGC index #3), the number of ports for the enabled panel, and the enabled panel status. In this example, for AGC index #0, the number of ports for the enabled panel is 1, and the enabled panel status is that the enabled panel, selected and enabled by the UE, is available for both DL reception and UL transmission. For AGC index #1, the number of ports for the enabled panel is 2, and the enabled panel status is that the enabled panel, selected and enabled by the UE, is available for both DL reception and UL transmission. For AGC index #2, the number of ports for the enabled panel is 1, and the enabled panel status is that the enabled panel, selected and enabled by the UE, is only used for DL ​​reception; that is, the enabled panel cannot be used for UL transmission. For AGC index #3, the number of ports for the enabled panel is 2, and the enabled panel status is that the enabled panel, selected and enabled by the UE, is only used for DL ​​reception; that is, the enabled panel cannot be used for UL transmission.

[0032] Figure 3 A first implementation of panel-aware beamforming for a UE with multiple panels is illustrated. Figure 3 As depicted, UE 310 has three panels: panel #1, panel #2, and panel #3. In Figure 3 In the first embodiment, panel #1 supports two ports, panel #2 supports one port, and panel #3 supports two ports. When UE 310 selects and enables panel #1 for DL ​​reception and UL transmission and receives reference signals RS#2 and RS#4 on the enabled panel #1, the panel sensing beam report 320 can communicate with... Figure 2 The AGC index #1 depicted in Table 210 is associated with this. Alternatively, the CRI or SSBRI corresponding to reference signals RS#2 and RS#4 in the panel-aware beamforming report 320 can be associated with AGC index #1. Then, when the UE 310 changes to select and enable panel #2 for DL ​​reception and UL transmission and receives reference signals RS#2 and RS#4 on the enabled panel #2, the panel-aware beamforming report 320 can be associated with... Figure 2 The AGC index #0 is associated as depicted in Table 210. Therefore, in Figure 3 In the first implementation, even if the panel enabled by UE 310 changes, the network node can know the maximum number of ports supported by the currently enabled panel based on the panel-aware beam report 320.

[0033] Figure 4 A second implementation of a UE with multiple panels making panel-aware beam reporting is illustrated. As Figure 4 depicted, the UE 410 has three panels, panel #1, panel #2, and panel #3. In Figure 4 the second implementation, panel #1 supports two ports, panel #2 supports two ports, and panel #3 supports two ports. When the UE 410 selects and enables panel #1 for DL reception and UL transmission and receives reference signals RS#2 and RS#4 on the enabled panel #1, the panel-aware beam report 420 can be associated with Figure 2 the AGC index #1 depicted in table 210 of the second implementation. Then, when the UE 410 disables one port of the enabled panel #1 to save power, the panel-aware beam report 420 can be associated with Figure 2 the AGC index #0 depicted in table 210 of the second implementation. Thus, in the second implementation, even though the number of ports supported by the currently enabled panel of the UE 410 changes, the network node can learn the maximum number of ports supported by the currently enabled panel based on the panel-aware beam report 420. Figure 4

[0034] Figure 5 A third implementation of a UE with multiple panels making panel-aware beam reporting is illustrated. As Figure 5 depicted, the UE 510 has three panels, panel #1, panel #2, and panel #3. In Figure 5 the third implementation, panel #1 supports two ports, panel #2 supports two ports, and panel #3 supports two ports. When the UE 510 selects and enables panel #1 for DL reception and UL transmission and receives reference signals RS#2 and RS#4 on the enabled panel #1, the panel-aware beam report 520 can be associated with Figure 2 the AGC index #1 depicted in table 210 of the third implementation. Then, when the UE 510 changes to select and enable panel 1 for DL reception only and select and enable panel #2 for DL reception and UL transmission, and receives reference signals RS#2 and RS#4 on the enabled panel #1 and receives reference signals RS#9 and RS#12 on the enabled panel #2, the panel-aware beam report 520 can be associated with Figure 2 the AGC index #0 and AGC index #3 depicted in table 210 of the third implementation. Thus, in the third implementation, even though the UE 510 enables multiple panels, the network node can learn how to schedule DL reception and UL transmission based on the panel-aware beam report 520. Figure 5

[0035] ​​According to one novel aspect, the network node can configure only one AGC. The UE selects and enables a panel according to the AGC configured by the network node and reports the beam report associated with the AGC. In one example, if the network node configures an AGC with AGC index #0 and the enabled panel state of the AGC indicates that the enabled panel is selected to be used for both UL transmission and DL reception, the UE can select and enable one panel for both DL reception and UL transmission, and the UE can receive and measure the RS corresponding to the CRI or SSBRI in the beam report associated with the AGC on the enabled panel. If the network node configures another AGC with AGC index #2 and the enabled panel state of the AGC indicates that the enabled panel is selected to be used for DL reception only, the UE can select and enable another panel for DL reception, and the UE can receive and measure the RS corresponding to the CRI or SSBRI in the beam report associated with the AGC on the enabled panel. In an implementation of the novel aspect, the receiver of the UE can simultaneously receive the CRI or SSBRI in different beam reports associated with different AGCs; the receiver of the UE cannot simultaneously receive the CRI or SSBRI in different beam reports associated with the same AGC; and the receiver of the UE cannot simultaneously receive the CRI or SSBRI in the same beam report.

[0036] According to one novel aspect, the receiver of the UE receives a set of Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) states configured by the network node via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling. The network node enables one or more TCI states by a Control Element (CE) of Media Access Control (MAC). If the network node enables more than one TCI state, the network node can indicate one of the enabled TCI states that is used to determine the spatial Tx filter for UL transmission. If the network node enables only one TCI state, the network node can use the enabled TCI state to determine the spatial Tx filter for UL transmission. In one implementation, each TCI state is associated with an AGC. In another implementation, each TCI state can be configured with an AGC.

[0037] According to one novel aspect, the transmitter of the UE reports panel-related capabilities to the network node. The panel-related capabilities include at least one of a maximum number of enabled panels, a maximum number of panels, a maximum number of configured AGCs, a maximum number of ports or layers of a panel, and a supported enabled panel state of a panel.

[0038] Figure 6 is a flowchart of a method of beam reporting from a UE perspective in a beamformed wireless communication system according to a novel aspect. In step 601, the UE receives one or more AGCs configured by a network node in a beamformed wireless communication network, wherein each AGC includes at least one AGC index. In step 602, the UE reports at least one AGC index to the network node in a beam report. In one example, each AGC includes at least one of an AGC index, a number of panel-enabled ports, and a panel-enabled status. The panel-enabled status indicates whether the panel-enabled is selected for UL transmission, DL reception, or both UL transmission and DL reception. The beam report includes at least one CRI or SSBRI, and each CRI or SSBRI corresponds to a reporting quantity and an AGC index in the beam report.

[0039] While the application has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the application is not limited to the described embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications, adaptations, and combinations of various features of the described embodiments incorporated within the scope of the application, as set forth in the claims.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising: receiving, by a user equipment, one or more antenna group configurations configured by a network node in a beamformed wireless communication network, wherein each antenna group configuration comprises at least one of an antenna group configuration index, a number of ports or layers that the user equipment is capable of supporting, and a panel state that indicates whether the user equipment is capable of performing uplink transmission to the network node, is capable of performing downlink reception from the network node, or both, wherein each antenna group configuration index corresponds to a respective number of ports or layers that the user equipment is capable of supporting, and a respective panel state that is enabled; and reporting, by the user equipment, the antenna group configuration indices in a beam report to the network node.

2. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein, The beam report comprises at least one channel state information reference signal resource index or synchronization signal block resource index, wherein each channel state information reference signal resource index or synchronization signal block resource index corresponds to a reporting quantity and the antenna group configuration indices in the beam report.

3. The method for wireless communication of claim 2, wherein, Further comprising: performing, by the user equipment, uplink transmission to the network node in accordance with a reference signal corresponding to a channel state information reference signal resource index or a synchronization signal block resource index that is associated with an antenna group configuration that indicates that the user equipment is capable of performing uplink transmission to the network node.

4. The method for wireless communication of claim 2, wherein, Further comprising: performing, by the user equipment, downlink reception from the network node in accordance with a reference signal corresponding to a channel state information reference signal resource index or a synchronization signal block resource index that is associated with an antenna group configuration that indicates that the user equipment is capable of performing downlink reception from the network node.

5. The method for wireless communication of claim 2, wherein, Channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices associated with different antenna group configurations can be simultaneously received by the user equipment, and channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices associated with the same antenna group configuration cannot be simultaneously received by the user equipment.

6. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: selecting and enabling a panel by the user equipment in accordance with an antenna group configuration in an event that the beam report is associated with the antenna group configuration configured by the network node.

7. The method for wireless communication of claim 5, wherein, Channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices in different beam reports associated with different antenna group configurations can be simultaneously received by the user equipment, and channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices in different beam reports associated with the same antenna group configuration cannot be simultaneously received by the user equipment, and channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices in a same beam report cannot be simultaneously received by the user equipment.

8. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: receiving, via radio resource control signaling, a set of transmission configuration indicator states configured by the network node, wherein each transmission configuration indicator state is associated with an antenna group configuration.

9. The method for wireless communication of claim 1, wherein, Also included are: reporting, to the network node, panel-related capabilities, wherein the panel-related capabilities include at least one of a maximum number of panels enabled, a maximum number of panels, a maximum number of configured antenna group configurations, a maximum number of ports or layers of a panel, and a panel-enabled state supported by the panel.

10. A user equipment for wireless communication, comprising: a receiver that receives, in a beamformed wireless communication network, one or more antenna group configurations configured by a network node, wherein each antenna group configuration includes at least one of an antenna group configuration index, a number of ports or layers that the user equipment is capable of supporting, and a panel-enabled state that indicates whether the user equipment is capable of performing uplink transmission to the network node, is capable of performing downlink reception from the network node, or is capable of both uplink transmission to the network node and downlink reception from the network node, wherein each antenna group configuration index corresponds to a respective number of ports or layers that the user equipment is capable of supporting, a respective panel-enabled state; and a beam reporting circuit that reports, to the network node, the antenna group configuration indices in a beam report.

11. The user equipment of claim 10, wherein, The beam report includes at least one channel state information reference signal resource index or synchronization signal block resource index, wherein each channel state information reference signal resource index or synchronization signal block resource index corresponds to a reporting quantity and the antenna group configuration index in the beam report.

12. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein, The processor of the user equipment performs uplink transmission to the network node in accordance with a reference signal corresponding to a channel state information reference signal resource index or a synchronization signal block resource index, wherein the channel state information reference signal resource index or the synchronization signal block resource index is associated with an antenna group configuration that indicates that the user equipment is capable of performing uplink transmission to the network node.

13. The user equipment of claim 11, the processor of the user equipment to perform reception of downlink from the network node in accordance with a reference signal corresponding to a channel state information reference signal resource index or a synchronization signal block resource index, wherein, The channel state information reference signal resource index or the synchronization signal block resource index is associated with an antenna group configuration that indicates that the user equipment is capable of performing downlink reception from the network node.

14. The user equipment of claim 11, wherein, The receiver is capable of simultaneously receiving channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices associated with different antenna group configurations, and the receiver is not capable of simultaneously receiving channel state information reference signal resource indices or synchronization signal block resource indices associated with the same antenna group configuration.

15. The user equipment of claim 10, wherein, The receiver receives, via radio resource control signaling, a set of transmission configuration indicator states configured by the network node, wherein each transmission configuration indicator state is associated with an antenna group configuration.

16. The user equipment of claim 10, wherein, The transmitter of the user equipment reports, to the network node, panel-related capabilities, wherein the panel-related capabilities include at least one of a maximum number of panels enabled, a maximum number of panels, a maximum number of configured antenna group configurations, a maximum number of ports or layers of a panel, and a panel-enabled state supported by the panel.

17. A memory for storing program instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of the method for wireless communication of any one of claims 1-9.

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