Adaptive panel activation in ai / ml-enabled multi-panel terminals

Abstract

The present application relates to adaptive panel activation in AI / ML enabled multi-panel terminal. A method performed by a user equipment (UE) includes sending, to a network, a request for a configuration for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels. The method includes receiving, from the network, the configuration for the plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the network based on the one or more radio conditions. The configuration configures the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) traffic or other traffic for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP traffic and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other traffic for the another task. And the method includes activating, in accordance with the configuration, the plurality of antenna panels for the UP traffic and for the other traffic for the another task.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to wireless communication systems using machine learning, and more particularly to reinforcement learning techniques for multi-panel user equipment in optimizing beam selection and network resource allocation. Background Technology

[0002] A telecommunications system can be viewed as a facility that enables communication between two or more entities, such as between two user equipments (UEs), between a UE and a base station, between two base stations, between a UE and a network function of a communication network, and / or between a base station and other nodes. A telecommunications system may include a communication network and one or more UEs. Communication sessions may include, for example, data communication carrying communications such as voice, video, email, text messages, multimedia, and / or content data. Non-limiting examples of services provided include two-way or multiplexed calls, data communication, or multimedia services, and access to data network systems such as the Internet.

[0003] In telecommunications systems that include wireless communication networks, at least a portion of a communication session between at least two stations occurs over a wireless link. Examples of wireless communication networks include Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs), satellite-based communication networks, and various wireless local area networks, such as Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs). Some wireless communication networks can be divided into cells and are therefore often referred to as cellular networks.

[0004] Users can access the telecommunications system through appropriate communication equipment or terminals. A user's communication equipment may be referred to as user equipment (UE) or user device. The communication equipment is equipped with appropriate signal receiving and transmitting means for implementing communication (e.g., access to a communication network or direct communication with other users). The communication equipment can access a carrier provided by, for example, a base station in a cell, and transmit and / or receive communication on that carrier.

[0005] Telecommunications systems have evolved through multiple generations, each bringing advancements in speed, capacity, and functionality. Evolved Packet System (EPS) represents the 4G architecture, which includes Long Term Evolution (LTE) and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) as its radio access technologies. 5G systems (5GS) are built on EPS, introducing 5G New Radio (5G NR) for enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications. Future 6G systems (6GS) promise to further revolutionize telecommunications with even more advanced capabilities. These systems are interconnected, with 5GS designed to interoperate with EPS for seamless service continuity. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) plays a crucial role in developing and maintaining the standards for these telecommunications systems, ensuring global interoperability and evolution from Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) (3G) to 6G technologies. Summary of the Invention

[0006] An example implementation of this disclosure relates to using a multi-panel user equipment (MPUE) for both reinforcement learning (RL) training and seamless traffic transport. This approach enables the MPUE to dynamically allocate its panels between RL exploration, training, or retraining and regular data transmission, thereby ensuring uninterrupted data transmission while optimizing network performance through learning and exploration / (re)training.

[0007] In a typical scenario, the MPUE can configure some panels for routine data transmission tasks (such as video streaming) while dedicating others to RL exploration / (re)training. This involves transmitting low-priority services (such as ping packets) to evaluate new beam configurations without impacting the performance of critical data flows. The dynamic allocation of panels is determined based on factors such as service requirements and channel quality, allowing the MPUE to seamlessly adapt to changing conditions without interrupting ongoing communications. This setup is supported by signaling exchange between the network and the UE, enabling efficient resource management and ensuring that RL training does not compromise the quality of service for routine services.

[0008] Therefore, this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the following example embodiments.

[0009] Some example implementations provide an apparatus for implementing a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: send a request to a network for a configuration for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; receive from the network a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels generated at the network based on one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) services or for other services for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task; and, according to the configuration, activate the plurality of antenna panels for UP services and for other services for another task.

[0010] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a user equipment (UE) comprising: sending a request to a network for a configuration for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; receiving from the network a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels generated at the network based on one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) services or for other services for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task; and activating the plurality of antenna panels for UP services and for other services for another task according to the configuration.

[0011] Some example implementations provide an apparatus for implementing a network node of a network, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a request for a configuration from a user equipment (UE) for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; generate a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels based on the one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) services or other services for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task; and transmit the configuration to the UE.

[0012] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a network, the method comprising: receiving a request for a configuration from a user equipment (UE) for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; generating a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels based on the one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) services or for other services for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task; and sending the configuration to the UE.

[0013] Some example implementations provide an apparatus for implementing a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive information from a network indicating at least one of a service type or service availability for at least one of a user plane (UP) service or another service for another task; generate a configuration based on at least one of the service type or service availability, the configuration configuring a plurality of antenna panels per panel for the UP service or the other service for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for another task; and activate the plurality of antenna panels for the UP service and the other service for another task according to the configuration.

[0014] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving information from a network indicating at least one of a service type or service availability for at least one of a user plane (UP) service or another service for another task; generating a configuration based on at least one of the service type or service availability, the configuration configuring a plurality of antenna panels per panel for the UP service or the other service for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for another task; and activating the plurality of antenna panels for the UP service and the other service for another task according to the configuration.

[0015] Some example embodiments provide an apparatus for implementing a network node of a network, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: send information to a user equipment (UE) indicating at least one of a service type or service availability for at least one of a user plane (UP) service or another service for another task; receive from the UE a configuration for a plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the UE based on at least one of a service type or service availability, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for the UP service or another service for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for another task; perform an evaluation of the configuration; and based on the evaluation, send a response to the UE indicating whether the configuration is acknowledged or not.

[0016] Some example implementations provide a method performed by a network, the method comprising: sending information to a user equipment (UE) indicating at least one of a service type or service availability for at least one of a user plane (UP) service or another service for another task; receiving from the UE a configuration for a plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the UE based on at least one of a service type or service availability, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for the UP service or the other service for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for the other task; performing an evaluation of the configuration; and based on the evaluation, sending a response to the UE indicating whether the configuration is acknowledged or not.

[0017] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which are briefly described below. This disclosure includes any combination of two, three, four, or more features or elements set forth in this disclosure, whether or not such features or elements are explicitly combined in the particular exemplary embodiments described herein or otherwise narrated. This disclosure is intended to be read holistically such that any separable feature or element of this disclosure should be considered composable in any aspect and exemplary embodiment, unless the context of this disclosure expressly provides otherwise.

[0018] Therefore, it should be understood that the content of this invention is provided merely to outline some exemplary embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of this disclosure. Consequently, it should be understood that the above-described exemplary implementations are merely examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope or spirit of this disclosure in any way. Other exemplary embodiments, aspects, and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the principles of some of the described exemplary embodiments by way of example. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Therefore, exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described in general terms. Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and in which: Figure 1 The present disclosure illustrates a telecommunications system comprising one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs) coupled to one or more external data networks, according to some example embodiments thereof; Figure 2 A PLMN according to some example embodiments is shown; Figure 3 The illustration shows a solution provided by some example implementations of this disclosure in the context of reinforcement learning (RL) training for maintaining non-exploratory and exploratory operations; Figure 4 The diagram illustrates a process, implemented according to some examples, for dynamically allocating and managing the resources of multiple antenna panels of a user equipment (UE) between RL training and user plane (UP) services; Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method performed by a UE according to various example embodiments; Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method performed by a network according to various example embodiments; Figure 7A and Figure 7B This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method performed by a UE according to various example embodiments; Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method performed by a network according to various example embodiments; and Figure 9 An apparatus according to some example embodiments is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0020] Some embodiments of this disclosure will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some, but not all, of the embodiments of this disclosure. In fact, various embodiments of this disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. The same reference numerals always refer to the same elements. Unless otherwise stated or clear from the context, references to first, second, etc., should not be construed as implying a particular order, but are used only to distinguish one item or operation from another, such as due to engineering tolerances, etc.

[0021] As used herein, unless otherwise stated or clearly indicated from the context, an "OR" of a set of operands is an "inclusive OR," meaning it is true if and only if one or more operands are true, not a "XOR" which is false if all operands are true. Thus, for example, "[A] OR [B]" is true if [A] is true, or if [B] is true, or if both [A] and [B] are true. Furthermore, the articles "a" and "one" mean "one or more," unless otherwise stated or clearly indicated from the context to refer to the singular form. Additionally, it should be understood that, unless otherwise stated, the terms "data," "content," "digital content," "information," and similar terms are sometimes used interchangeably. The term "network" can refer to a group of interconnected computers, including clients and servers; and within a network, these computers can be interconnected directly or indirectly by various means, including via one or more switches, routers, gateways, access points, etc.

[0022] This disclosure discusses telecommunications systems, their mobile or cellular networks, and user equipment, and while specific terminology may be used, it is broadly applicable to a wide range of technologies. For example, while this disclosure may refer to radio access technologies such as 5G NR and 5G Advanced, it is equally relevant to next-generation radio access technologies such as 6G. The example implementations of this disclosure described herein also refer to Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMNs) and Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), but the example implementations are similarly applicable to Standalone Non-Public Networks (SNPNs).

[0023] While some examples and figures focus on radio access networks (RANs), particularly radio access networks operating according to the 3GPP standards for 5G NR (often referred to as 3GPP access or 3GPP access networks), the example implementations are applicable to any type of access network. The applicability of any type of access network includes not only 3GPP access networks but also non-3GPP access networks connected to the core network of a mobile or cellular network (e.g., a 5G core network (5GC) or a 6G core network (6GC)) using Radio Access Gateway Functions (W-AGF), Non-3GPP Interoperability Functions (N3IWF), or Trusted Non-3GPP Gateway Functions (TNGF), such as wired access, untrusted non-3GPP access networks, and trusted non-3GPP access networks.

[0024] Furthermore, as used in this application, the term "circuit system" may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) a hardware circuit implementation only (such as an implementation only in analog circuit systems and / or digital circuit systems); (b) a combination of hardware circuits and software, such as (if applicable): (i) a combination of (multiple) analog and / or digital hardware circuits with software / firmware, and (ii) any part of (multiple) hardware processors (including (multiple) digital signal processors), software, and (multiple) memories working together to enable a device (such as a mobile phone or server) to perform various functions, and (c) (multiple) hardware circuits and / or (multiple) processors that require software (e.g., firmware) to operate (but such software may not exist when it is not required to operate), such as (multiple) microprocessors or a portion thereof.

[0025] This definition of "circuit" applies to all uses of the term in this application, including in any claim. As another example, as used herein, the term "circuit" also covers only hardware circuitry or a processor (or processors) or a portion thereof and its accompanying software and / or firmware implementation. For example, if applicable to a particular claim element, the term "circuit" also covers baseband integrated circuits or processor integrated circuits for mobile devices, or similar integrated circuits in servers, cellular network devices, or other computing or network devices.

[0026] Figure 1A telecommunications system 100 according to various example embodiments of the present disclosure is illustrated. Examples of suitable telecommunications systems include UMTS, EPS, and 5GS, as well as future 6GS. A telecommunications system (also referred to as a system) typically includes one or more mobile or cellular networks that can interoperate between telecommunications systems. As shown, for example, a system includes one or more PLMNs 102 coupled to one or more other external data networks 104, particularly including wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet. As will be appreciated, a PLMN can be a self-contained PLMN including a 5GC, or a non-self-contained PLMN including both an evolved packet core (EPC) and a 5GC connected to a RAN.

[0027] Each PLMN 102 includes a core network (CN) 106, such as an EPC, 5GC, or 6GC; and each CN is coupled to one or more RANs 108 implementing one or more Radio Access Technologies (RATs). Examples of these RANs include the Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) for 4G LTE, the Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) for 5G NR, and the 6G RAN. As used herein, “network equipment” refers to any suitable equipment within the RAN, or the core network of a telecommunications system. Examples of suitable network equipment are described in more detail below.

[0028] Examples of RATs include 3GPP radio access technologies such as GSM, CDMA2000 1x EV-DO (HRPD), CDMA2000 1x (1xRTT), UTRA, E-UTRA, 5G NR, 5G Advanced, and 6G. Other examples of RATs include IEEE 802 technologies such as IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.15 (including 802.15.1 (WPAN / Bluetooth), 802.15.4 (Zigbee), and 802.15.6 (WBAN)), Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Ultra Wideband (UWB), etc. Generally, RAT can refer to any 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G, or higher generation RAT and its different versions, as well as any other RAT that can be deployed to interoperate with such a RAT to provide access to CN 106 of the MNO.

[0029] Telecommunication system 100 also includes one or more communication devices, which may be referred to differently as user equipment (UE) 110, terminal equipment, terminal device, mobile station, etc. The UE is typically a device configured to communicate with network equipment in the telecommunications system (e.g., access nodes, such as the RAN node of RAN 108) or another UE. The UE may be a portable computer (e.g., laptop computer, notebook computer, tablet computer), a mobile phone (e.g., cellular phone, smartphone), a wearable computer (e.g., smartwatch), etc. In other examples, the UE may be an Internet of Things (IoT) device, an Industrial IoT (IIoT) device, a vehicle equipped with Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication technology, etc. In some examples, as referenced by 3GPP, the UE may be a narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) device, an enhanced machine-type communication (eMTC) device, a redcap device, an environmental IoT device, or something similar.

[0030] In operation, these UEs 110 can connect to one or more RAN nodes of RAN 108 based on their specific RAT, thereby accessing a specific CN 106 of PLMN 102, or accessing one or more external data networks 104 (e.g., the Internet), or accessing services provided by the PLMN. External data networks can provide Internet access or third-party services. For example, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has categorized 5G mobile network services (e.g., services provided by 5G mobile networks) into three classes: enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), ultra-reliable and low-latency communications (URLLC), and massive machine-type communications (mMTC) or massive Internet of Things (MIoT).

[0031] In various examples, RAN 108 can be configured to provide one or more macro cells, micro cells, pico cells, femto cells, etc. RAN typically includes one or more RAN nodes that interact with UE 110. In various examples, RAN nodes can be referred to as base stations (BS), access points (AP), base transceiver stations (BTS). Examples of RAN nodes include node B (NB), evolved NB (eNB), macro BS, NB (MNB) or eNB (MeNB), home BS, NB (HNB) or eNB (HeNB), next-generation NB (gNB), enhanced gNB (en-gNB), next-generation eNB (ng-eNB), 6G NB (6gNB), or the like. The term “gNB” in 5G NR can correspond to eNB in ​​4G LTE. Furthermore, next-generation RAN nodes can refer to gNB or ng-eNB. And, unless otherwise stated, gNB in ​​5G NR or 6gNB in ​​6G can sometimes be more generally referred to as (6)gNB, or more simply as gNB.

[0032] RAN 108 may include some type of network control / management entity responsible for controlling RAN nodes. The network control / management entity and RAN nodes may be separate or integrated into a single device. The network control / management entity may include a processing circuitry configured to perform various management functions for controlling the RAN nodes. The processing circuitry may be associated with a memory, computer-readable storage medium, or data storage device, including a database for maintaining information required for the various management functions.

[0033] Figure 2 An example of a PLMN 102 (such as a 4G LTE, 5G NR, or 6G PLMN) communicating with a UE 110 of a telecommunications system 100 and an external data network 104 is shown. As illustrated, a RAN 108 (e.g., E-UTRAN, NG-RAN, 6G RAN) includes one or more RAN nodes 202 configured to connect one or more UEs to the RAN, thereby accessing CN 106 (e.g., EPC, 5GC, 6GC). In 4G LTE, the UE, E-UTRAN, and EPC constitute EPS. Similarly, in 5G NR, the UE, NGRAN, and 5GC constitute 5GS. And in 6G, the UE, 6G RAN, and 6GC constitute 6GS.

[0034] In some implementations, the operation of a gNB or other RAN node can be distributed across components including one or more Remote Radio Headers (RRHs) or Radio Units (RUs) and Baseband Units (BBUs), or functionally split into these components; and in some implementations, the BBU can be split into a Central Unit (CU) (central node) and a Distributed Unit (DU) (distributed node). A CU can be, for example, a server, host, or node. In some implementations, RRHs / RUs and DUs can be co-located at network devices. The operation of a gNB or RAN node may also be distributed among multiple servers, hosts, or nodes.

[0035] It should also be understood that the division of labor between core network operations and RAN node operations can vary depending on the implementation. For example, 5G or 6G network architectures can be based on so-called CU-DU splitting. One gNB-CU (CU 204) can control one or more gNB-DUs (DU 206). A gNB-CU can control multiple spatially separated gNB-DUs, at least acting as transmit / receive (Tx / Rx) nodes. However, in some example implementations, a gNB-DU may include, for example, the Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and Physical (PHY) layer, while the gNB-CU may include layers above the RLC layer, such as the Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer, Radio Resource Control (RRC), and Internet Protocol (IP) layer. Other functional splitting is also possible. Those skilled in the art are considered familiar with the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model and the functions within each layer.

[0036] In some example implementations, the server or CU 204 can generate a virtual network through which the server communicates with the radio nodes. Typically, virtual networking can involve the process of combining hardware and software network resources and functions into a single software-based management entity (virtual network). Such a virtual network can provide flexible distribution of operations between the server and the radio head end / node. In fact, any digital signal processing task can be performed in the CU or DU 206, and the boundaries through which responsibility is transferred between the CU and DU can be selected according to the embodiment.

[0037] Higher frequency ranges are important for meeting the bandwidth requirements of next-generation networks, but they present challenges in mobile environments, such as increased signal strength loss. A possible solution to this problem is the implementation of a UE 110 (sometimes called a multi-panel user equipment (MPUE)) that includes multiple antenna panels, offering two key advantages. First, MPUEs provide higher directional antenna gain compared to UEs with isotropic radiation patterns. Second, MPUEs can suppress interference from neighboring cells and ensure robust link quality by enabling communication via different panels. However, this approach complicates the signal measurement and reporting process, as panel activation and deactivation must be managed accordingly.

[0038] As an illustrative use case, consider a device equipped with an MPUE and hosting a reinforcement learning (RL) agent (sometimes more generally referred to as an "agent"). RL is a goal-based optimization approach where the RL agent takes actions based on observed states and receives rewards to learn optimal actions. The RL model lifecycle includes the following phases: exploration, training or retraining, and exploitation. In the first phase, the initial online training of the RL model is performed along with exploration / (re)training to identify dynamic characteristics of the environment. Once converged, the model enters the second phase. Unlike supervised learning, RL typically requires frequent training to accelerate convergence.

[0039] The decision to explore depends on the exploration / (re)training strategy used by the RL agent and its associated hyperparameters. For example, ε-greedy exploration / (re)training is one of the most common methods used. In typical RL algorithms, the RL agent explores more frequently during the initial part of its interaction with the environment to quickly learn the optimal action. However, in order to continuously learn changes in a non-static environment, the RL agent must continuously explore the action space to some extent.

[0040] Current solutions for managing MPUE include approaches that coordinate measurement gaps during idle periods to avoid interrupting ongoing services. Another approach involves frameworks for activating and deactivating panels via UE 110 or RAN 108. However, these solutions do not address the need to simultaneously perform RL training and data transmission without interrupting services such as user plane (UP) services. They primarily focus on binary activation / deactivation decisions and do not provide content / situation-aware decision-making and signaling frameworks to better utilize network resources.

[0041] In a multi-panel UE setup, different tasks can be assigned to each antenna panel, such as regular UP service transmission, RL exploration / (re)training, performance monitoring of the RL model after convergence and online training, and data collection for supervised learning methods. For example, two antenna panels of UE 110 (MPUE) can be configured for regular data transmission (video streaming service) with specific MAC control element (CE) resource configurations, while a third antenna panel is used for RL exploration / (re)training with a different configuration. RAN node 202 can dynamically allocate resources, dedicating all antenna panels to data transmission during high-traffic periods or isolating one antenna panel for RL during low-traffic periods. The key lies in the MAC CE configuration, which allows the RAN node to dynamically allocate and manage resources, including per-panel configurations for different tasks.

[0042] Example implementations of the present disclosure mainly focus on the training phase of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms for multiple antenna panels of a UE 110. Accordingly, some example implementations may include multi-panel transmission for two (or more) purposes, such as RL exploration or (re)training, and seamless service transmission. This approach can ensure that ongoing data transmission remains uninterrupted while optimizing network performance through learning and exploration / (re)training. However, currently there is no known method that enables sharing of the UE's antenna panels between exploration / (re)training of an RL model and maintaining connection with a RAN 108 for user plane (UP) service (e.g., DL / UL data service). This creates a gap in the utilization of RL in a UE 110 having multiple antenna panels, which the present disclosure addresses.

[0043] As Figure 3 illustrated, according to some example embodiments, some example embodiments provide (a) solution(s) for maintaining non-exploration service and exploration service in the context of RL. However, it should be understood that example implementations are more generally applicable to service for tasks other than connection with RAN 108. As shown, the UE 110 may comprise a plurality of antenna panels (e.g., N panels). The plurality of antenna panels may include at least one antenna panel (e.g., m<N) configured for user plane (UP) service and at least one other antenna panel (e.g., N-m) configured for other service for another task (e.g., data collection for machine learning (ML) or exploration / (re)training for RL).

[0044] In some example implementations, the UE 110 may send a request for a configuration to a RAN node 202, where the configuration is for the plurality of antenna panels of the UE. The request may include information indicating one or more radio conditions (e.g., radio measurements) per antenna panel among the plurality of antenna panels. The UE may also send UE capability information to the RAN node, where the UE capability information indicates that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task. The RAN node may generate the configuration for the plurality of antenna panels based on the one or more radio conditions. The configuration may configure the plurality of antenna panels per panel for UP service or for other service of another task.

[0045] This configuration can also be generated based on information indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for either UP service or another task. The configuration for multiple antenna panels can be generated based on UE110's capability information for another task. This configuration may include a panel activation bitmap, which includes bits associated with corresponding antenna panels among the multiple antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel can be set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service (e.g., "0") or configured for another task (e.g., "1"). For example, in a UE with three antenna panels, the activation bitmap [0 1 0] can configure the first and third antenna panels for UP service and the second antenna panel for another task.

[0046] Each of the multiple antenna panels may include antenna elements, and the configuration can be configured panel-by-panel for at least one of the multiple antenna panels. The configuration can indicate the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task. For example, in a UE 110 with three antenna panels, two antenna panels can be configured for 80% UP services and 20% of another task. The other task can operate independently to avoid impacting the UP services. This ratio can be adjusted based on the RAN node 202's prioritization of factors such as latency, throughput, and packet error rate. Upon receiving this configuration from the RAN node, the UE can activate multiple antenna panels for UP services and other services for the other task according to this configuration.

[0047] In some example embodiments, UE 110 may receive information from RAN node 202 indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for at least one of the following: UP service or other service for at least one of the following: data collection for ML or exploration / (re)training for RL. The UE may generate a configuration based on at least one of the service type or service availability. The UE's multiple antenna panels may include at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for the other task.

[0048] In other example implementations, UE 110 may generate a configuration based on one or more conditions indicated by RAN node 202. As an example, the UE may receive information from the RAN node indicating one or more conditions, such as one or more of the following: a) using the strongest k Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) values ​​for data (user plane), and the second strongest RSRP (if above a threshold) for exploration / (re)training; or b) allocating other panels for exploration / (re)training if the throughput obtained using a single antenna panel is sufficient.

[0049] This configuration can also be generated based on information indicating one or more radio conditions for each antenna panel among the multiple antenna panels. UE 110 can also send UE capability information to RAN node 202, indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication. This configuration can include a panel activation bitmap, which includes bits associated with corresponding antenna panels among the multiple antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel can be set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP services (e.g., "0") or configured for another task (e.g., "1"). For example, in a UE with three antenna panels, the activation bitmap [0 1 0] can configure the first and third antenna panels for UP services and the second antenna panel for another task.

[0050] Each of the multiple antenna panels may include antenna elements, and the configuration can be configured on a panel-by-panel basis for at least one of the multiple antenna panels. This configuration can indicate the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task. For example, in a UE 110 with three antenna panels, two antenna panels can be configured for 80% UP services and 20% of another task. The other task can operate independently to avoid impacting UP services. This ratio can be adjusted based on the RAN node 202's prioritization of factors such as latency, throughput, and packet error rate.

[0051] UE 110 can send this configuration to RAN node 202. The RAN node can perform an evaluation of the configuration. The evaluation can be based on at least one of the following: availability of one or more network resources for UP services, other services for another task, or at least one of UP services or other services for another task. Based on the evaluation, the RAN node can send a response to the UE indicating whether the configuration has been acknowledged or not. When the response indicates that the configuration has been acknowledged, multiple antenna panels can be activated according to the configuration. When the response indicates that the configuration has not been acknowledged (due to, for example, pending buffered services for the UE that must be transmitted, or service priority type), the UE can regenerate the configuration, and multiple antennas can be activated according to the regenerated configuration.

[0052] Some example implementations of this disclosure provide solutions including a dual-function framework in which some antenna panels of the UE 110 can be activated to explore new channel and beam configurations for a task (e.g., data collection for ML or exploration / (re)training) for RL), while other antenna panels can continue to handle UP traffic. Some example implementations may involve signaling exchange between the RAN node 202 and the UE, enabling the UE to seamlessly adapt to changing channel conditions and varying traffic loads without interrupting ongoing data transmission. Therefore, these solutions ensure seamless RL exploration / (re)training and learning while active UP traffic communication is ongoing.

[0053] Figure 4 Figure 400 illustrates a process for dynamically allocating and managing MPUE resources between RL training and UP services, according to some example embodiments. Figure 4 As shown, at step 401, UE 110 may send UE capability information to RAN node 202, indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task. At step 402, the RAN node may provide the UE with a configuration for RL agent exploration / (re)training and training. This configuration may include authorized time intervals (e.g., for exploration / exploitation in an ε-greedy exploration / (re)training method). At step 403, the UE may initiate RL training and exploration / (re)training procedures (e.g., for beam selection of multiple antenna panels).

[0054] In some example implementations, at step 404, UE 110 may send a request to RAN node 202 for a configuration specific to multiple antenna panels of the UE. This request may include information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel among the multiple antenna panels. At step 405, the RAN node may generate a configuration for the multiple antenna panels based on one or more radio conditions. This configuration may be per panel for UP services or for other services for a different task (e.g., data collection for ML or exploration / (re)training) for RL). The multiple antenna panels may include at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for a different task.

[0055] In some examples, the configuration may also be generated based on information for UE 110 indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for either UP service or service for another task. The configuration may include a panel activation bitmap comprising bits associated with corresponding antenna panels among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel may be set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task. Each of the UE's plurality of antenna panels may include antenna elements, and the configuration may configure antenna elements per panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna elements. The configuration may indicate the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP service to antenna elements configured for another task. At step 406, RAN node 202 may send the configuration to the UE.

[0056] In some example embodiments, at step 407, RAN node 202 may send information to UE 110 indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for at least one of the UP service or other services for another task (e.g., data collection for ML or exploration / (re)training) for RL). At step 408, the UE may generate a configuration based on at least one of the service type or service availability. This configuration may be configured per panel for multiple antenna panels for the UP service or other services for another task. The multiple antenna panels may include at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task.

[0057] In some examples, the configuration may include a panel activation bitmap, which includes bits associated with corresponding antenna panels among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel may be set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP services or for another task. Each antenna panel may include antenna elements, and the configuration may configure antenna elements per panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels. The configuration may include a ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task. At step 409, the UE may send the configuration to the RAN node, and the RAN node may perform an evaluation of the configuration. The evaluation of the configuration may be performed based on at least one of the following: the availability of one or more network resources for UP services, other services for another task, or at least one of UP services or other services for another task. At step 410, the RAN node may send a response to the UE indicating whether the configuration is acknowledged or not based on the evaluation.

[0058] At step 411, UE 110 can activate multiple antenna panels for UP services and other services for another task according to the configuration. When the response from step 410 indicates that the configuration is confirmed, the multiple antenna panels can be activated according to the configuration. Alternatively, when the response from step 410 indicates that the configuration is not confirmed, the UE can regenerate the configuration and activate the multiple antenna panels according to the regenerated configuration.

[0059] At step 412, UE 110 may prepare the input state to infer the next action (e.g., select the optimal beam), and at step 413, send the inferred RL action, such as a specific beam index, to RAN node 202. At step 414, the RAN node may activate the selected beam and initiate data transmission using the selected antenna panel(s). At step 415, the UE may measure the reward from the data transmission (e.g., throughput or signal quality) and use this feedback to further train the RL model. In steps 416 and 417, the UE and RAN node may participate in model monitoring to ensure ongoing optimization. Model monitoring may include monitoring by the RAN node to ensure sufficient transmission resources, and measurements provided by the UE for further refinement of the RL model. Measurements may include RL-specific key performance indicators (KPIs), such as reward values.

[0060] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in method 500 performed by a user equipment (UE) according to various example embodiments. The method includes: sending a request to the network for a configuration of a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels, as shown in box 502. The method further includes: receiving from the network a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the network based on one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) services or other services for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task, as shown in box 504. The method also includes: activating the plurality of antenna panels for UP services and other services for another task according to the configuration, as shown in box 506.

[0061] In some examples, method 500 further includes sending UE capability information to the network, which instructs the UE to support multi-antenna panel communication for another task. In some of these examples, the configuration for multiple antenna panels is generated at the network based on the UE capability information.

[0062] In some examples, the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap that includes bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel is set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0063] In some examples, each of the multiple antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the configuration configures the antenna elements per panel for at least one of the multiple antenna panels. In some of these examples, the configuration indicates the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0064] In some examples, another task includes data collection for machine learning (ML), or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0065] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in method 600 performed by a network according to various example embodiments. The method includes: receiving a request from a user equipment (UE) for a configuration of a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels, as shown in block 602. The method includes: generating a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels based on one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane (UP) services or other services for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services for another task, as shown in block 604. The method also includes: sending the configuration to the UE, as shown in block 606.

[0066] In some examples, the configuration at box 604 is also based on generating information indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for either the UP service or the service for another task.

[0067] In some examples, method 600 further includes receiving UE capability information from the UE, which indicates that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task. In some of these examples, the configuration for multiple antenna panels is generated based on the UE capability information at block 604.

[0068] In some examples, the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap that includes bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel is set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0069] In some examples, each of the multiple antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the configuration is used to configure the antenna elements per panel for at least one of the multiple antenna panels. In some of these examples, the configuration indicates the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0070] In some examples, another task includes data collection for machine learning (ML), or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0071] Figure 7A and Figure 7B This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in method 700 performed by a user equipment (UE) according to various example embodiments. The method includes: receiving information from a network indicating at least one of a service type or service availability for at least one of a user plane (UP) service or another service for another task, such as... Figure 7A As shown in box 702. The method includes: generating a configuration based on at least one of service type or service availability, the configuration configuring multiple antenna panels per panel for either a UP service or another service for another task, the multiple antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for another service for another task, as shown in box 704. The method also includes: activating the multiple antenna panels for the UP service and the other service for another task according to the configuration, as shown in box 706.

[0072] In some examples, the configuration is also based on the following generation: information indicating one or more radio conditions by antenna panels among multiple antenna panels.

[0073] In some examples, method 700 further includes sending UE capability information to the network, which instructs the UE to support multi-antenna panel communication for another task.

[0074] In some examples, the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap that includes bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel is set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0075] In some examples, each of the multiple antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the configuration configures the antenna elements per panel for at least one of the multiple antenna panels. In some of these examples, the configuration indicates the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0076] In some examples, another task includes data collection for machine learning (ML), or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0077] In some examples, method 700 also includes: sending the configuration to the network, such as Figure 7B As shown in box 708. In some of these examples, the method further includes receiving a response from the network indicating whether the configuration is acknowledged or unacknowledged, as shown in box 710. Also in some of these examples, when the response indicates that the configuration is acknowledged, at box 706, multiple antenna panels are activated according to the configuration.

[0078] In some examples, method 700 further includes regenerating the configuration when the response indicates that the configuration has not been acknowledged. In some of these examples, multiple antenna panels are activated based on the regenerated configuration.

[0079] Figure 8 This is a flowchart illustrating various steps in a method 800 performed by a network according to various example embodiments. The method includes: sending information to a user equipment (UE) indicating at least one of a service type or service availability for at least one of a user plane (UP) service or another service for another task, as shown in box 802. The method includes: receiving from the UE a configuration for a plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the UE based on at least one of a service type or service availability, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for the UP service or another service for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for another task, as shown in box 804. The method includes: performing an evaluation of the configuration, as shown in box 806. And the method includes: based on the evaluation, sending a response to the UE indicating whether the configuration is acknowledged or unacknowledged, as shown in box 808.

[0080] In some examples, method 800 further includes receiving UE capability information from the UE, which indicates that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task.

[0081] In some examples, the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap that includes bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel is set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0082] In some examples, each of the multiple antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the configuration configures the antenna elements per panel for at least one of the multiple antenna panels. In some of these examples, the configuration includes a ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0083] In some examples, another task includes data collection for machine learning (ML), or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0084] In some examples, at box 806, the evaluation of the configuration is performed based on at least one of the following: the availability of one or more network resources for UP services, other services for another task, or at least one of UP services or other services for another task.

[0085] In some examples, the response indicates that the configuration was not acknowledged. The method also includes receiving the regenerated configuration from the UE.

[0086] According to the example implementations of this disclosure, the telecommunications system 100 or PLMN 102 and its components (such as UE 110, CN 106, RAN 108, RAN node 202, CU 204, and / or DU 206) can be implemented by various parts. Parts used to implement the system and its components can include hardware, firmware, software, or combinations thereof. In some instances, one or more devices can be configured to act as or otherwise implement the system and its components shown and described herein. In examples involving more than one device, the respective devices can be connected to or otherwise communicate with each other in a variety of different ways, such as directly or indirectly via wired or wireless networks.

[0087] According to some example embodiments, regarding Figure 5 At least some of the described methods 500 can be performed by means including components for performing functions corresponding to the steps of the method. Similarly, regarding Figure 6 At least some of the methods 600 described can be performed by means including components for performing functions corresponding to the steps of the method. Regarding Figure 7A and Figure 7BAt least some of the methods 700 described can be performed by means including components for performing functions corresponding to the steps of the method. And at least some of the methods 800 described with respect to 8 can be performed by means including components for performing functions corresponding to the steps of the method. Examples of suitable means may include user equipment, user terminal, etc. Other examples of suitable means may include RAN nodes (e.g., ng-eNB, gNB, gNB-DU, gNB-CU), or any suitable means such as a server, host, or node.

[0088] Figure 9 An apparatus 900 according to some example embodiments of the present disclosure is shown, wherein components for performing various operations include separate hardware or hardware directed by one or more computer programs from a computer-readable storage medium or other memory, such as computer memory. The apparatus may include one or more of a number of components, such as, for example, a processing circuitry system 902 connected to a computer-readable storage medium or other memory 904.

[0089] The processing circuit system 902 may consist of one or more processors individually or in combination with one or more computer-readable storage media. A processing circuit system is generally any computer hardware capable of processing information such as data, computer programs, computer code, and / or other suitable electronic information. A processing circuit system consists of a collection of electronic circuits, some of which may be packaged as integrated circuits or multiple interconnected integrated circuits (integrated circuits are sometimes more commonly referred to as “chips”). The processing circuit system may be configured to execute computer programs, which may be stored on the processing circuit system or otherwise stored in memory 904 (of the same or another device).

[0090] Depending on the specific implementation, the processing circuitry system 902 may include multiple processors, a multi-core processor, or some other type of processor, such as a central processing unit, a graphics processing unit, a tensor processing unit, or an accelerator. Furthermore, the processing circuitry system may be implemented using a variety of heterogeneous processor systems, where the main processor resides on a single chip along with one or more auxiliary processors. As another illustrative example, the processing circuitry system may be a symmetric multiprocessor system comprising multiple processors of the same type. In yet another example, the processing circuitry system may be embodied as or otherwise include one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc. Therefore, while the processing circuitry system may be able to execute a computer program to perform one or more functions, various example processing circuitry systems may be able to perform one or more functions without the assistance of a computer program. In any case, the processing circuitry system may be appropriately programmed to perform the functions or operations according to the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure.

[0091] Memory 904 is typically any computer hardware capable of temporarily and / or permanently storing information (e.g., data, computer programs, instructions 906 (e.g., computer-readable program code), and / or other suitable information). Memory may include volatile and / or non-volatile memory and may be fixed or removable. Examples of suitable memory include recording media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), hard disk drives, flash memory, thumb drives, removable computer disks, optical disks, or some combination thereof.

[0092] Memory 904 is a non-transitory device capable of storing information. An example of a suitable memory is a computer-readable storage medium, which is distinguishable from a computer-readable transmission medium capable of carrying information from one location to another. Examples of suitable computer-readable transmission media include electronic carrier signals, telecommunication signals, or some combination thereof. As used herein, the term "non-transitory" is a limitation on the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not signaling), not a limitation on the persistence of data storage (e.g., RAM and ROM). As used herein, a computer-readable medium generally refers to a computer-readable storage medium or a computer-readable transmission medium. A computer-readable medium is any entity or device capable of storing and carrying information, such as one or more computer programs or portions thereof.

[0093] In addition to memory 904 (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium), processing circuitry 902 may also be connected to one or more interfaces for displaying, sending, and / or receiving information. Interfaces may include communication interface 908 and / or one or more user interfaces. Communication interfaces may be configured to send and / or receive information to and / or from other devices(s), networks(s), etc. Communication interfaces may be configured to send and / or receive information via physical (wired) and / or wireless communication links. Examples of suitable communication interfaces include network interface controllers (NICs), wireless NICs (WNICs), etc.

[0094] The user interface may include a display 910 and / or one or more user input interfaces 912. The display may be configured to present or otherwise display information to a user; suitable examples include liquid crystal displays (LCDs), light-emitting diode (LED) displays, organic LED (OLED) displays, active-matrix OLEDs (AMOLEDs), etc. The user input interface may be wired or wireless and may be configured to receive information from the user into the device, such as for processing, storage, and / or display. Suitable examples of the user input interface include a microphone, image or video capture device, keyboard or keypad, joystick, touch-sensitive surface (separate from or integrated into the touchscreen), biometric sensors, etc. The user interface may also include one or more interfaces for communicating with peripheral devices such as printers, scanners, etc.

[0095] The combination of operations supporting the implementation of the example implementation of this disclosure is supported by the processing circuitry system 902 executing instructions 906 or storing instructions in memory 904. In this way, the apparatus 900 may include at least one processing circuitry system and at least one memory coupled to the at least one processing circuitry system, wherein the at least one processing circuitry system is configured to execute instructions stored in the at least one memory. It will also be understood that one or more functions, and combinations thereof, may be implemented by a dedicated hardware-based computer system and / or processing circuitry system performing the specified functions, or by a combination of dedicated hardware and program code instructions.

[0096] Some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure can also be performed as a computer process defined by one or more computer programs or portions thereof. Exemplary embodiments of this disclosure can be performed by executing at least a portion of a computer program including instructions. The computer program can be in source code form, object code form, or some intermediate form. The computer program can be stored in a computer-readable medium readable by a computer, processing circuitry system, or other suitable means. As mentioned above, for example, the computer program can be stored in memory such as a computer-readable storage medium. Additionally or alternatively, for example, the computer program can be stored in a computer-readable transmission medium. The coding of software used to perform the exemplary embodiments of this disclosure is entirely within the scope of those skilled in the art.

[0097] As will be understood, any suitable instructions may be loaded from memory or a computer-readable medium (e.g., a computer-readable storage medium, a computer-readable transmission medium) onto a computer, processor, processing circuitry system, or other programmable means to produce a particular machine, such that the particular machine becomes a component for implementing the functions specified herein. Instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable medium that can direct a computer, processor, processing circuitry system, or other programmable means to operate in a particular manner to produce a particular machine or a particular article of manufacture. In some examples, instructions stored in a computer-readable medium can produce an article of manufacture, wherein the article of manufacture becomes a component for implementing the functions described herein. Instructions may be retrieved from a computer-readable medium and loaded onto a computer, processor, processing circuitry system, or other programmable means to configure the computer, processor, processing circuitry system, or other programmable means to perform operations to be performed on or by the computer, processor, processing circuitry system, or other programmable means.

[0098] The retrieval, loading, and execution of instructions (including program code instructions) can be performed sequentially, such that one instruction is retrieved, loaded, and executed at a time. In some example implementations, retrieval, loading, and / or execution can be performed in parallel, such that multiple instructions are retrieved, loaded, and / or executed together. The execution of program code instructions can produce computer-implemented processes, such that the instructions, executed by a computer, processor, processing circuitry system, or other programmable device, provide operations for implementing the functions described herein.

[0099] As explained above and reiterated below, this disclosure includes, but is not limited to, the appended example embodiments.

[0100] Furthermore, various implementations of this disclosure can be described with reference to the following entries, and their features can be combined in any reasonable manner.

[0101] Item 1. An apparatus for implementing a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: send a request to a network for a configuration, the configuration being for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including: information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; receive from the network a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the network based on one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane UP services or for other services of another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services of another task; and, according to the configuration, activate the plurality of antenna panels for UP services and for other services of another task.

[0102] Item 2. The apparatus according to Item 1, wherein at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute instructions to cause the apparatus to further: send UE capability information to the network, the UE capability information indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task, and wherein the configuration for the multiple antenna panels is generated at the network based on the UE capability information.

[0103] Item 3. The apparatus according to Item 1 or Item 2, wherein the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap, the panel activation bitmap including bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel being set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0104] Item 4. An apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein each of a plurality of antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the antenna elements are configured per panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels, and wherein the configuration indicates the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0105] Item 5. An apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein another task includes data collection for machine learning ML, or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0106] Item 6. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: sending a request to a network for a configuration, the configuration being for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; receiving from the network a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the network based on one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for a user plane UP service or for another service of a different task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service of the different task; and activating the plurality of antenna panels for the UP service and for the other service of the different task according to the configuration.

[0107] Item 7. The method according to Item 6, wherein the method further comprises: sending UE capability information to the network, the UE capability information indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task, and wherein the configuration for the multiple antenna panels is generated at the network based on the UE capability information.

[0108] Item 8. According to the method of Item 6 or Item 7, wherein the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap, the panel activation bitmap including bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel is set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0109] Item 9. The method according to any one of Items 6 to 8, wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the antenna element is configured per panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels, and wherein the configuration indicates the ratio of an antenna element configured for UP service to an antenna element configured for another task.

[0110] Item 10. The method according to any one of Items 6 to 9, wherein another task includes data collection for machine learning ML, or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0111] Item 11. An apparatus for implementing a network node of a network, the apparatus comprising: at least one memory configured to store instructions; and at least one processing circuitry configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: receive a request for configuration from a user equipment (UE), the configuration being for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; generate a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels based on the one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane UP services or for other services of another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for UP services and at least one other antenna panel configured for other services of another task; and transmit the configuration to the UE.

[0112] Item 12. The apparatus according to Item 11, wherein the configuration is further based on generating information indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for at least one of the services for UP services or services for another task.

[0113] Item 13. The apparatus according to Item 11 or Item 12, wherein at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute instructions to cause the apparatus to further: receive UE capability information from the UE, the UE capability information indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task, and wherein the configuration for the multiple antenna panels is generated based on the UE capability information.

[0114] Item 14. An apparatus according to any one of Items 11 to 13, wherein the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap, the panel activation bitmap including bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel being configured to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0115] Item 15. An apparatus according to any one of items 11 to 14, wherein each of a plurality of antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the antenna elements are configured per panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels, and wherein the configuration indicates the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0116] Item 16. An apparatus according to any one of items 11 to 15, wherein another task includes data collection for machine learning ML, or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0117] Item 17. A method performed by a network, the method comprising: receiving from a user equipment (UE) a request for configuration, the configuration being for a plurality of antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions per antenna panel of the plurality of antenna panels; generating a configuration for the plurality of antenna panels based on the one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for a user plane UP service or for another service for another task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for another service for another task; and sending the configuration to the UE.

[0118] Item 18. According to the method of Item 17, wherein the configuration is also based on generating information indicating at least one of the service type or service availability for at least one of the services for UP services or services for another task.

[0119] Item 19. The method according to Item 17 or Item 18, wherein the method further comprises: receiving UE capability information from the UE, the UE capability information indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for another task, and wherein the configuration for the multiple antenna panels is generated based on the UE capability information.

[0120] Item 20. The method according to any one of Items 17 to 19, wherein the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap, the panel activation bitmap including bits associated with a respective antenna panel among a plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel being set to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for UP service or configured for another task.

[0121] Item 21. The method according to any one of Items 17 to 20, wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the antenna elements are configured per panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels, and wherein the configuration indicates the ratio of antenna elements configured for UP services to antenna elements configured for another task.

[0122] Item 22. The method according to any one of Items 17 to 21, wherein another task includes data collection for machine learning ML, or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

[0123] Benefiting from the teachings presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings, those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains will conceive of numerous modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure set forth herein. Therefore, it should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed, and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, although the foregoing description and associated drawings describe exemplary embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and / or functions, it should be understood that different combinations of elements and / or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In this regard, for example, combinations of elements and / or functions different from those explicitly described above, as set forth in some of the appended claims, are contemplated. Although specific terminology is used herein, it is used only in a general and descriptive sense and not for limiting purposes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for implementing a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising: At least one memory configured to store instructions; as well as At least one processing circuitry system is configured to access the at least one memory and execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to at least: Send a request to the network for a configuration that is specific to multiple antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions for each antenna panel among the multiple antenna panels; Receive from the network the configuration for the plurality of antenna panels, the configuration being generated at the network based on the one or more radio conditions, the configuration configuring the plurality of antenna panels per panel for either a user plane UP service or another service for a different task, the plurality of antenna panels including at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for the different task; and According to the configuration, the plurality of antenna panels are activated for the UP service and the other services for the other task.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processing circuitry is configured to execute the instructions to cause the apparatus to further: send UE capability information to the network, the UE capability information indicating that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for the other task, and The configuration for the plurality of antenna panels is generated at the network based on the UE capability information.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap, the panel activation bitmap including bits associated with a respective antenna panel among the plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel being configured to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for the UP service or for the other task.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the configuration is configured for the antenna element panel-by-panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels, and The configuration indicates the ratio of the antenna element configured for the UP service to the antenna element configured for the other task.

5. The apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the other task includes data collection for machine learning ML, or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

6. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: Send a request to the network for a configuration that is specific to multiple antenna panels of the UE, the request including information indicating one or more radio conditions for each antenna panel among the multiple antenna panels; The configuration for the plurality of antenna panels is received from the network. The configuration is generated at the network based on the one or more radio conditions. The configuration configures the plurality of antenna panels per panel for user plane UP services or for other services for another task. The plurality of antenna panels includes at least one antenna panel configured for the UP service and at least one other antenna panel configured for the other service for the other task. as well as According to the configuration, the plurality of antenna panels are activated for the UP service and the other services for the other task.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises: The network sends UE capability information, which indicates that the UE supports multi-antenna panel communication for the other task. The configuration for the plurality of antenna panels is generated at the network based on the UE capability information.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the configuration includes a panel activation bitmap, the panel activation bitmap including bits associated with a respective antenna panel among the plurality of antenna panels, and each bit associated with an antenna panel is configured to indicate whether the antenna panel is configured for the UP service or for the other task.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of antenna panels includes an antenna element, and the configuration configures the antenna element panel-by-panel for at least one of the plurality of antenna panels, and The configuration indicates the ratio of the antenna element configured for the UP service to the antenna element configured for the other task.

10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the other task includes data collection for machine learning ML, or exploration, training, or retraining for reinforcement learning.

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