Enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) or beam operations

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to devices, methods, apparatuses and a non-transitory computer readable medium for enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations. In an aspect, a terminal device may transmit, to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device. The terminal device may monitor an indication from the network device, and the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. The terminal device may perform an operation based on monitoring of the indication. Embodiments of the present disclosure can enhance communication between a terminal device and a network device.

Description

ENHANCED PROCEDURES FORCHANNEL STATE INFORMATION (CSI) OR BEAM OPERATIONSFIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments relate to the field of communications, and in particular, to devices, methods, apparatuses and a computer readable storage medium for enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations or beam operations.BACKGROUND

[0002] Channel state information (CSI) represents channel properties of a communication link between a network device and a terminal device. To obtain the CSI, the network device may configure a resource for a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) and transmit one or more CSI-RS resources to the terminal device. The terminal device may measure relevant parameters related to CSI based on the CSI-RS resource(s), and report the measurements to the network device through a CSI report. The network device may receive the CSI report and control a transmit parameter for transmission.

[0003] Typically, the terminal device transmits a CSI report in a periodic manner, a semi- persistent manner, or an aperiodic manner. Either manner for transmitting the CSI report is triggered by the network device based on a CSI report configuration. Accordingly, as long as the network device transmits CSI-RS reference signals, the terminal device may transmit the CSI report to the network device. There may be a potential transmission overhead for an uplink CSI report as the CSI report is triggered by the network device. It is desirable for the terminal device to trigger or initiate an operation related to CSI reporting, beam reporting or switching, as well as other related operations for decreasing the transmission overhead.SUMMARY

[0004] In general, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for enhanced procedures for CSI operations or beam operations.

[0005] In a first aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first device at least to: transmit, to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beamat the terminal device; monitor an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and perform, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0006] In a second aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to: receive, from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; transmit an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and perform at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

[0007] In a third aspect, there is provided a method. The method includes: transmitting, at a terminal device and to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; monitoring an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and performing, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0008] In a fourth aspect, there is provided a method. The method includes: receiving, at a network device and from a terminal device, information about triggering an operationrelated to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; transmitting an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and performing at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msg 1, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

[0009] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus includes: means for transmitting, at a terminal device and to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; means for monitoring an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and means for performing, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0010] In a sixth aspect, there is provided an apparatus. The apparatus includes: means for receiving, at a network device and from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; means for transmitting an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and means for performing at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the informationis transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

[0011] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method in the third or fourth aspect.

[0012] In an eighth aspect, there is provided a computer program comprising instructions, which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least the method in the third or fourth aspect.

[0013] In a ninth aspect, there is provided a terminal device. The terminal device includes: transmitting circuitry, configured to transmit, to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; monitoring circuitry, configured to monitor an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and execution circuitry, configured to perform, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0014] In a tenth aspect, there is provided a network device. The network device may include: receiving circuitry, configured to receive, from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device; transmitting circuitry, configured to transmit an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and execution circuitry, configured to perform at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msg 1, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

[0015] It is to be understood that the summary section is not intended to identify key or essential features of embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become easily comprehensible through the following description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a network environment in which some example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented;

[0018] Fig. 2 illustrates an example signaling process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] Fig. 3 illustrates an example 4-step RACH procedure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] Fig. 4 illustrates an example 2-step RACH procedure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] Fig. 5 illustrates an example signaling process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations in a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Fig. 6 illustrates an example flowchart of a process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] Fig. 7 illustrates an example flowchart of a process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0025] Fig. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0026] Fig. 10 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing some example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0027] Fig. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Principles of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to some example embodiments. It is to be understood that these embodiments are described only for the purpose of illustration and help those skilled in the art to understand and implement the present disclosure, without suggesting any limitation as to the scope of the disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0030] In the following description and claims, unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skills in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0031] References in the present disclosure to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but it is not necessary that every embodiment includes the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0032] It shall be understood that although the terms “first” and “second” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0033] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “has”, “having”, “includes” and / or “including”, when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, elements, and / or components etc., but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components and / or combinations thereof. As used herein, “at least one of the following: ” and “at least one of ” and similar wording, where the list of two or more elements are joined by “and” or “or”, mean at least any one of the elements, or at least any two or more of the elements, or at least all the elements.

[0034] As used in this application, the term “circuitry” may refer to one or more or all of the following:(a) hardware-only circuit implementations (such as implementations in only analog and / or digital circuitry) and(b) combinations of hardware circuits and software, such as (as applicable):(i) a combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuit(s) with software / firmware and(ii) any portions of hardware processor(s) with software (including digital signal processor(s)), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions) and(c) hardware circuit(s) and or processor(s), such as a microprocessor s) or a portion of a microprocessor s), that requires software (for example, firmware) for operation, but the software may not be present when it is not needed for operation.

[0035] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application, the term circuitry also covers an implementation of merely a hardware circuit or processor (or multiple processors) or portion of a hardware circuit or processor and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware. The term circuitry also covers, for example and if applicable to the particular claim element, a baseband integrated circuit or processor integrated circuit for a mobile device or a similar integrated circuit in server, a cellular network device, or other computing or network device.

[0036] As used herein, the term “communication network” refers to a network following any suitable communication standards, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) and so on. Furthermore, the communications between a terminal device and a network device in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation communication protocols, including, but not limited to, the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the future fifth generation (5G) communication protocols, the future sixth generation (6G) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols either currently known or to be developed in the future. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Given the rapid development in communications, there will of course also be future type communication technologies and systems with which the present disclosure may be embodied. It should not be seen as limiting the scope of the present disclosure to only the aforementioned system.

[0037] As used herein, the term “network device” or “network node” refers to a node in a communication network via which a terminal device accesses the network and receives services therefrom. The network device may refer to a system simulator, a base station (BS) or an access point (AP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), a NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a transmission-reception point (TRP), a relay, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology.

[0038] The term “terminal device” refers to any end device that may be capable of wireless communication. By way of example rather than limitation, a terminal device may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), a Subscriber Station (SS), a Portable Subscriber Station, a Mobile Station (MS), or an Access Terminal (AT). The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a smart phone, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, a tablet, a wearable terminal device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), portable computers, desktop computer, image capture terminal devices such as digital cameras, gaming terminal devices, music storage and playback appliances, vehicle-mounted wireless terminal devices, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), laptop-mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer-premises equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things(loT) device, a watch or other wearable, a head-mounted display (HMD), a vehicle, a drone, a medical device and applications (for example, remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (for example, a robot and / or other wireless devices operating in an industrial and / or an automated processing chain contexts), a consumer electronics device, a device operating on commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, and the like. In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0039] A channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) is terminal device- specifically configured in radio resource control (RRC). CSI-RS reference signals may be shared among many terminal devices, i.e., more than one terminal device are configured to receive a same resource element (RE). Typically, in order to save on downlink (DL) resources, a network device may try to use network device-specific or group-specific CSI- RS resources. The worst case of DL overhead is with terminal device specific CSI-RS in which the DL overhead increases linearly with the number of terminal devices in a cell.

[0040] A CSI-RS signal may have multiple functions in New Radio (NR). For example, a CSI-RS signal may be used for a DL CSI acquisition. In addition, based on Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power (Ll-RSRP), a CSI-RS signal may be used for a beam management (BM). In some applications, e.g., CSI-RS for BM, CSI-RS are spatially beamformed into different directions. Moreover, a CSI-RS signal may also function to track, e.g., via a tracked resource set (TRS). In addition, a CSI-RS signal may also be used for uplink CSI acquisition in reciprocity-based UL precoding.

[0041] Typically, a terminal device may be configured with up to 48 report configurations (CSI-ReportConfig) per component carrier (CC) or 4 report configurations (CSI- ReportConfig) per bandwidth part (BWP). One CSI resource configuration within one report configuration may be configured with up to 16 resource sets for an aperiodic CSI and one resource set for other situations. In each CSI resource set, there are up to 64 non-zero power (NZP) CSI-RS resources with one NZP-CSI-RS resource for up to 32 antenna ports.

[0042] For CSI acquisition, the terminal device is configured with a codebook type. Given the measured channel across a CSI-RS resource, the terminal device may select a specific code word from the specified codebook, i.e., precoding matrix indicator (PMI), along with channel quality indicator (CQI), and / or rank indicator (RI). The terminal device may also be configured to measure one or more CSI-RS resources (e.g., up to 8) within a resource setand report the resource, a CSI-RS resource indicator (CRI), along with PMI, CQI and RI which corresponds to that selected resource.

[0043] From the perspective of a time domain, a CSI-RS resource may start at any orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) symbol of a slot and spans 1, 2, or 4 OFDM symbols depending on the number of ports as configured.

[0044] For the CSI reporting, the terminal device may report a CSI measurement to the network device with periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic manners, which is so-called report types in NR report configuration. However, the terminal device periodic report may operate only based on the configured periodic CSI-RS resource-set, the terminal device semi- persistent report may operate based on both a configured periodic CSI-RS resource-set and a semi-persistent CSI-RS resource-set, and the terminal device aperiodic report may operate based on all periodic, semi-persistent, and aperiodic CSI-RS resource-sets. In other words, the periodic CSI-RS resources may be used to generate any report type, the semi-persistent and periodic CSI-RS resources may be used to generate semi-persistent CSI reports, and the aperiodic CSI-RS may only be utilized only to generate the aperiodic report. On the basis of the CSI report type and corresponding CSI-RS resource set as stated above, there may be some limitations for the CSI report.

[0045] From a perspective of frequency-granularity, the CSI report setting also defines which part of the bandwidth the CSI may correspond to, and in addition, what granularity in frequency the CSI may have. To accomplish this, a bandwidth of a BWP may be divided into a number of subbands.

[0046] Moreover, all CSI-RS resources within one set are configured with the same density and same number of ports, except for the NZP CSI-RS resources used for an interference measurement.

[0047] For semi-persistent and aperiodic CSI-RS resources, an actual triggering of CSI-RS transmission is per CSI-RS resource-set via either medium access control -control element (MAC-CE) or downlink control information (DCI). A resource set may be used as a part of a report configuration describing what to be measured, and correspondingly, which measurement reporting are to be performed by the terminal device. Specifically, if a CSI- RS resource-set is configured as “aperiodic” by RRC, the CSI-RS resource set configuration may include a slot offset as well as a parameter of ^aperiodicTriggeringOffsef that defines a time interval between triggering of DCI and transmitting of CSI-RS.

[0048] For an aperiodic CSI reporting, up to 16 different reporting settings may be triggered with a single DCI (e.g. for multiple component carriers), while a semi-persistent CSI reporting may trigger only one report setting with a single DCI. In order to trigger multiple semi-persistent CSI reports (each in different slots), multiple DCIs are needed, accordingly.

[0049] For beam management, a unified transmission configuration indicator (TCI) framework indicating that TCI states so far providing Quasi Co-Location (QCL) assumptions for a reception of DL signals and channels would be used to provide spatial sources for the transmission of UL signals and channels to determine UL transmission spatial filter. Furthermore, the unified TCI framework may also define a concept of an indicated TCI state. That means that one or more (in case of multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs) for instance) of the configured TCI states may be indicated one or more TCI states at a time. The indicated TCI state(s) can be either joint DL and UL TCI state(s) or separate DL and separate UL TCI state(s). An indicated TCI state provides a QCL source (DL) and a spatial source (UL) for a set of downlink signals and channels and for a set of uplink signals and channels, respectively. Currently, there may be one indicated joint DL and UL TCI state or one indicated DL and one indicate UL TCI state for the terminal device.

[0050] The conventional technology may provide supports for both terminal device nongroup and group-based beam reporting schemes. The network device may configure up to four CRIs or beams with Ll-RSRP values to be reported, for example, via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) or a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0051] Currently, a terminal device-triggered (a terminal device-initiated or a terminal device-centric) operation related to CSI reporting and / or beam reporting or switching has attracted great attention because such a terminal device-triggered operation allows to significantly reduce the overall latency of operations, as well as reducing the uplink (UL) reporting overhead.

[0052] In view of the potential use of a terminal device-triggered operation, for example, an operation related to CSI or beam, example embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, the terminal device may transmit, to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device. The terminal device may monitor an indication from the network device, and the indicationindicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. The terminal device may perform, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0053] Example embodiments of the present disclosure provides a flexible solution for enhanced procedures of channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations. Particularly, an efficient operation to fallback to one or more proposed procedures in a situation of failure or absence of response has provided, and the solutions as provided in the present disclosure can enhance communication between a terminal device and a network device with respect to a failure of transmitting (by the terminal device) / receiving (by the network device) information about a terminal device-initiated or event-based operation from the terminal device to the network deice and / or a failure of response from the network device to the terminal device. In such a way, the communication / operation efficiency has been significantly improved and the communication / operation may effectively complete overall.

[0054] According to embodiments of the present disclosure, a terminal device-triggered (or a terminal device-initiated or a terminal device-centric or an event-based or event-triggered) operation may include an operation that is triggered by the terminal device at the terminal device when a condition is satisfied or an event occurs. A terminal device-triggered operation may include an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam. The terminal device-triggered operation may include one or more of the following operations. An operation may be detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs. Another operation may be detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs (or not). A further operation may be detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs (or not). A further operation can be providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied (or not). A further operation can be updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state. A further operation may be switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state. A further operation may be requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition. A further operation may be requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam. A further operation may be requesting an update or a switch of at least one indicated or active TCI state. A further operation may be requesting a beamreport or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied. The terminal device-triggered operation may include requesting an update, or directly updating, at least one parameter in one or more CSI report configuration.

[0055] The terminal device-triggered operation may alternatively include: detecting whether at least one event / condition has occurred / is satisfied (or not), sending information to the network device in response to a detection that at least one event / condition has occurred / is satisfied (or not), and activating (or deactivating) a sub-operation, such as CSI / beam reporting or beam refinement etc., after sending the information or after receiving a confirmation / indication from the network device in response to the information. In some embodiments, the at least one event / condition may include a change in a beam (e.g., a best beam), a change in a channel state information reference signal resource indicator (e.g., a best channel state information reference signal resource indicator), or a change in a synchronization signal block resource indicator (e.g., a best synchronization signal block resource indicator). In some embodiments, the at least one event / condition may include a change in a set of one or more beams (e.g., a set of one or more best beams), a change in a set of one or more channel state information reference signal resource indicators (e.g., a set of one or more best channel state information reference signal resource indicators), or a change in a set of one or more synchronization signal block resource indicators (e.g., a set of one or more best synchronization signal block resource indicators). Alternatively, the at least one event / condition may include a change of at least one of a set of beam pairs or channel state information reference signal resource indicator pairs (for example, at least one of a set of best beam pairs or channel state information reference signal resource indicator pairs). The at least one event / condition may include that a reference signal received power value associated with a beam (e.g., best beam) or at least one of a set of beams or at least one beam pair (e.g., at least one of a set of best beams or at least one beam pair) is lower or higher than a threshold or changes more than an offset value. The at least one event / condition may include that a value related to reference signal received power values associated with at least part of the set of beams or at least part of least one beam pair (e. g., at least part of a set of best beams or at least part of least one beam pair) is lower or higher than a threshold or changes more than an offset value. In some embodiments, the at least one event or condition may include that a measurement value of at least one reference signal associated with a transmission configuration indicator state is higher or lower than a measurement value of a reference signal associated with another transmission configuration indicator state by athreshold. In some embodiments, the at least one event or condition may include a reference signal received power value associated with a transmission configuration indicator state is lower or higher than a threshold or changes more than an offset value.

[0056] It should be understood that, the at least one event / condition as listed above is for the purposes of illustration, any other appropriate event / condition may also be applied herein for a terminal device-triggered (or a terminal device-initiated or a terminal device-centric or an event-based or event-triggered) operation according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Alternatively, the terminal device-triggered operation may include any combination listed above.

[0057] However, it should be understood that, the terminal device-triggered operation is not limited to the examples as listed above, any other operations related to communication between a terminal device and a network device and may be triggered by the terminal device may be referred to as “terminal device-triggered operation” according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0058] Fig. 1 illustrates an example of a network environment 100 in which some example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. In the descriptions of the example embodiments of the present disclosure, the network environment 100 may also be referred to as a communication system 100 (for example, a portion of a communication network).

[0059] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the communication system 100 may include a terminal device (hereinafter may also be referred to as user equipment or a UE) 110 and a network device 130. In some other embodiments, the terminal device 110 and network device 130 may be any electronic device supporting wired / wireless communication. The network device 130 may communicate with the terminal device 110. In the communication network environment 100, a link from the network device 130 to the terminal device 110 may be referred to as a downlink (DL), a link from the terminal device 110 to the network device 130 may be referred to as an uplink (UL), and a link between the terminal device 110 and a peer terminal device may be referred to as sidelink.

[0060] In downlink, the network device 130 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) while the terminal device 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In uplink, the terminal device 110 is a transmitting TX device (or a transmitter) while the network device 130 is a RX device (or a receiver). In some embodiments, the network device 130 and theterminal device 110 may communicate with direct links / channels.

[0061] It is to be understood that the number of the terminal devices and the number of the network devices as shown in the environment 100 in Fig. 1 are only for the purpose of illustration, without any limitation to the scope of the present disclosure. In some example embodiments, the environment 100 may include any number of terminal devices and / or any number of network devices.

[0062] Communications between devices in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any appropriate communication protocol(s), including, but not limited to, cellular communication protocols of the first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), the fifth generation (5G), the sixth generation (6G) and on the like, wireless local network communication protocols such as Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 and the like, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. Moreover, the communication may utilize any appropriate wireless communication technology, comprising but not limited to: Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Frequency Division Duplex (FDD), Time Division Duplex (TDD), Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM), Discrete Fourier Transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) and / or any other technologies currently known or to be developed in the future.

[0063] Fig. 2 illustrates an example signaling process 200 for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 200 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The process 200 may involve a terminal device, e.g., the terminal device 110 as shown in Fig. 1. The process 200 may further involve a network device. In some embodiments, the network device may include the network device 130 as shown in Fig. 1. It may be understood that, in the process 200, it is possible to add, omit, modify one or more operations, or the operations may also be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0064] In the process 200, the network device 130 may transmit (210) a monitoring configuration to the terminal device 110 for configuring the terminal device 110 to monitor an indication. The indication to be monitored will be transmitted by the network device 130based on reception of information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device.

[0065] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may be configured, by the monitoring configuration, to monitor the indication generated and transmitted by the network device 130 based on reception of the information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device.

[0066] The terminal device 110 may transmit (220) an uplink (UL) transmission including the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit the UL transmission via a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH), a sounding reference signal (SRS), or a physical random access channel (PRACH), etc.

[0067] In some embodiments, the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may include, but not limited to, one or more of the following. An example of information may include a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event. An example of information may include an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event. An example of information may include a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event. An example of information may include an update of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event.

[0068] In some embodiments, the information may include at least one first event occurring or at least one second event not occurring. The information may include a beam report or a channel state information report for the at least one first event. The information may include a beam report or a channel state information report for the at least one second event. The information may include at least one event occurring and an indication of a corresponding cell or a corresponding component carrier. The information may include at least one event not occurring and an indication of a corresponding cell or a corresponding component carrier. The information may include at least one event occurring and an indication of a corresponding channel state information report configuration. The information may include at least one event not occurring and an indication of a correspondingchannel state information report configuration. The information may include an indication that the at least one event has occurred. The information may include a beam reporting or a triggering of a beam reporting. The information may include a beam or transmission configuration indicator state update or change, or triggering beam or transmission configuration indicator state update or change. The information may include a channel state information update or change, or triggering channel state information update or change. The information may include measurements for one or more beams or transmission configuration indicator states. The information may include a reference signal received power or signal to interference noise ratio being below or above a threshold. The information may include a triggering of or a request for beam refinement. The information may include at least one best or preferred beam or at least one best or preferred transmission configuration indicator. The information may include at least one event occurring, and an indication of a corresponding reference signal resource group. The information may include at least one event not occurring, and an indication of a corresponding reference signal resource group. The information may include at least one event occurring, and an indication of a corresponding control resource set pool index or a corresponding physical cell identity or a corresponding sounding reference signal resource set or a corresponding transmissionreception point or a corresponding group of beams or a corresponding group of reference signals. The information may include at least one event not occurring, and an indication of a corresponding control resource set pool index or a corresponding physical cell identity or a corresponding sounding reference signal resource set or a corresponding transmissionreception point or a corresponding group of beams or a corresponding group of reference signals. The information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may include any combination as listed above.

[0069] In some embodiments, upon transmitting (220) the information to the network device 130, the terminal device 110 may start a timer for counting a time.

[0070] After transmitting the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device, the terminal device 110 may monitor (230) an indication that is transmitted by the network device 130 based on reception of the information. In some embodiments, the indication may indicate the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device 110, and / or the indication may indicate an acknowledgment of reception of the information. The terminal device 110 may perform the monitoring operation as configured by the monitoring configuration provided by the network device 130.

[0071] The network device 130 may generate and transmit (240) an indication (e.g. a first indication) based on a reception of the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device. The indication transmitted by the network device 130 may indicate the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device 110, and / or the indication may indicate an acknowledgment of reception of the information. For example, if the information transmitted by the terminal device 110 includes information about triggering a CSI report, the indication generated by the network device 130 may indicate / confirm that the operation of CSI reporting is to be applied at the terminal device 110. It should be understood that, the example herein is for the purposes of illustration, and information as well as the indication may include any appropriate element.

[0072] In some embodiments, the indication in response to the information may be transmitted on a PDCCH / DCI, or on a medium access control -control element (MAC-CE) transmitted on a PDSCH scheduled by a PDCCH, transmitted on a specific at least one CORESET and / or at least one search space set. The terminal device 110 may be configured or indicated to monitor for such PDCCH(s) on such CORESET or search space set, e.g., according to the monitoring configuration received from the network device 130.

[0073] In some embodiments, the indication transmitted by the network device 130 may include, but not limited to, one or more of the following indications. An indication may include an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device. An indication may include a trigger or an activation of at least one CSI report. An indication may include a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state switch or activation. An indication may include a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state switch or activation. An indication may include a TCI state update or indication. An indication may further include a trigger of at least one beam report. An indication may include a CSI-RS repetition or a beam refinement. In some embodiments, the indication may include any combination as listed above.

[0074] Based on monitoring of the indication, the terminal device 110 may apply (252) the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110. The terminal device 110 may initiate (254) a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure based on monitoring of the indication. Alternatively, the terminal device may transmit (256) or retransmit (256) at least part of the information based on monitoring of the indication. Alternatively, or additionally, the terminal device 110 may transmit a failure / success indication to indicate the failure / success of reception of theindication from the network device 130, where this indication may be sent via dedicated or shared UL resources such as PUCCH resources (e.g., scheduling request (SR)-like resources) which may be periodic and according to an SR configuration) or even via (UL) MAC-CE. In some embodiments, the failure / success indication may be sent per cell or cell group, e.g., the terminal device 110, through a same message, may indicate a cell index or cell group index and the corresponding information on whether there has been (at least one) failure or success of the reception of the indication from the network device 130 for that cell or cell group.

[0075] In some embodiments, if the terminal device 110 receives the indication or correctly decode the indication transmitted by the network device 130 within a time period (for example, a first time period) e.g., after the information is transmitted by the terminal device 110 at 220, the terminal device 110 may apply (252) the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110. In other words, the terminal device 110 may apply the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110 based on a determination that the indication is obtained by the terminal device 110. For example, the terminal device 110 may activate the operation as indicated by the indication. The terminal device 110 may further terminate the timer to stop counting the time when the terminal device 110 obtains the indication and apply the operation as indicated by the indication. For example, if the indication is indicative of activating an operation of CSI reporting at the terminal device 110, upon receiving the indication within the first time period, the terminal device 110 may activate the operation of CSI reporting and transmit a CSI report to the network device 130 when a condition is satisfied.

[0076] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine a failure of obtaining the indication, and the terminal device 110 may enter into a first stage of recovery or retransmission, in which the terminal device 110 may initiate (254) a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit (256) or retransmit (256) at least part of the information in the first stage of recovery or retransmission.

[0077] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may initiate (254) a random access procedure (for example, random access channel (RACH) procedure), a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine the failure of obtaining the indication if the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the indication within a first time period. For example, if the terminal device110 fails to receive the indication or if the terminal device 110 fails to decode the indication correctly within the first time period, the terminal device 110 may determine that the failure of obtaining the indication occurs. In some embodiments, the first time period may be configured via radio resource control (RRC) signalling.

[0078] In some embodiments, based on a failure of obtaining the indication, for example, within a first time period, the terminal device 110 may enter into the first stage of recovery or retransmission, in which the terminal device 110 may initiate (254) the RACH procedure or the beam failure procedure or a radio link failure recovery procedure.

[0079] In some embodiments, the RACH procedure may be either based on contention free random access (CFRA) or based on contention-based random access (CBRA). In some embodiments, a RACH procedure may be implemented with a 4-step RACH, or a 2-step RACH. In some embodiments, each of a 4-step RACH, or a 2-step RACH may be CBRA or CFRA. A detailed description of a 4-step RACH procedure and a 2-step RACH procedure may be provided with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, respectively.

[0080] Fig. 3 shows an example 4-step RACH procedure according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 3, the terminal device 110 may transmit Msgl to the network device 130 at 301. In some embodiments, the Msgl may include at least one of: (i) information indicative of the failure of obtaining the indication (e.g., within the first time period after the information is transmitted at 220), or (ii) at least part of the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110. The network device 130 may transmitMsg2 at 303. The terminal device 110 may transmit Msg3 at 305 and the network device 130 may transmit Msg4 at 307. Then the network device 130 may obtain the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110 via the RACH procedure.

[0081] In some embodiments, the Msg3 may include at least one of: (i) information indicative of the failure of obtaining the indication (e.g., within the first time period after the information is transmitted at 220), or (ii) at least part of the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110. In some embodiments, if CFRA is used in the 4-step RACH, Msg3 and Msg4 may not needed or transmitted.

[0082] Fig. 4 shows an example 2-step RACH procedure according to embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in Fig. 4, the terminal device 110 may transmit MsgA to the network device 130 at 401. In some embodiments, the MsgA may include at least one of:(i) information indicative of the failure of obtaining the indication (e.g., within the first time period after the information is transmitted at 220), or (ii) at least part of the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110. The network device 130 may transmit MsgB at 403. Then the network device 130 may obtain the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110 via the RACH procedure.

[0083] In some embodiments, for CFRA, corresponding resources, such as preambles, RACH occasions, PRACH configuration, etc., may be configured via RRC. For example, corresponding resources may be a part of a corresponding CSI report configuration or may be configured based on a message associated with a corresponding CSI report configuration.

[0084] Now back to Fig. 2, as described above, in some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the indication within the first time period, the terminal device 110 may alternatively initiate (254) a beam failure indication and / or a radio link failure recovery procedure. For example, when a quality of a beam dropped below a threshold, the terminal device 110 may initiate a beam failure recovery procedure. The terminal device 110 may transmit a beam failure recovery request to perform a beam recovery procedure between the terminal device 110 and the network device 130. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit a radio link failure recovery request to perform a radio link recovery procedure between the terminal device 110 and the network device 130.

[0085] In some other embodiments, based on a failure of obtaining the indication, for example, within a first time period, the terminal device 110 may enter into the first stage of recovery or retransmission, in which the terminal device may transmit (256) or retransmit (256) at least part of the information to the network device 130. A detailed description of the transmission or retransmission is provided below.

[0086] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may retransmit an UL transmission one or more times, and each UL transmission may include the at least part of the information. In some embodiments, one or more copies of information may be included for each UL transmission.

[0087] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may retransmit an UL transmission including at least part of the information with a boosted power. The boosted power may be determined based on a power parameter indicative of a value of the boosted power or an offset for the boosted power. If the power parameter includes the offset for the boostedpower, the terminal device 110 may determine the boosted power based on a sum of the offset and an initial power. For example, if the initial power is P0, the offset is Poffset, then the boosted power Pl is: P0+PoffSet. In some embodiments, the power parameter may be configured via RRC as a part of CSI report configuration. In some embodiments, the power parameter may be configured by the network device 130 via the monitoring configuration. In some embodiments, the power parameter may be specified for the terminal device 110.

[0088] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may retransmit at least part of the information to the network device 130 via a UL transmission with or without the boosted power. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may repeat the UL transmission based on a value indicating a configured uplink transmission times with or without the boosted power. For example, if the (configured) value is 4, the UL transmission times may be 4. In some embodiments, the (configured) value may be configured via RRC as a part of CSI report configuration or associated with a corresponding CSI report configuration or a corresponding sub-configuration and the (configured) value may be indicated to the terminal device 110. Alternatively, a reference UL transmission times may be used, and the terminal device 110 may be configured with a rule to increase the UL transmission times by a certain offset or a number.

[0089] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit the information or a part of the information to the terminal device at 256. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit (256) or retransmit (256) at least part of the information to the network device 130 according to an information reduction configuration, e.g., configured via RRC. According to the information reduction configuration, one or more bits in the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may be removed from the information. The one or more bits to be removed from information may include one or more bits that are less relevant to information about triggering operation. In some embodiments, the information may include a first part indicative an operation to be triggered by the terminal device, and include a second part indicative a result obtained from a previously performed operation. For example, the information may include an indication of triggering an operation of CSI reporting if a condition is satisfied and a previously obtained CSLRS measurement result (such as a CSI or beam report). The previously obtained CSLRS measurement result may be removed from the information and the remained information including the indication of triggering the operation of a CSI reporting may be retransmitted to the network device 130.

[0090] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit (256) or retransmit (256) the information without deleting any bit from the information, such that the network device 130 may receive the complete information during the retransmission procedure.

[0091] In some embodiments, the indication may include a positive acknowledgement for the terminal device to activate an operation related to CSI or beam; alternatively, the indication may include a negative acknowledgement for the terminal device not to activate an operation related to CSI or beam. In some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 receives the positive acknowledgement, the terminal device 110 may apply the operation at the terminal device. In some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 receives the negative acknowledgement, the terminal device 110 may not apply the operation, according to the negative acknowledgement.

[0092] Example embodiments of the present disclosure providing a flexible solution for enhanced procedures of channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations. Advantageously, by providing a solution with respect to a failure of transmitting (by the terminal device) / receiving (by the network device) information and / or a failure of response from the network device, the communication / operation efficiency has been significantly improved and the communication / operation may effectively complete overall.

[0093] In addition, to enhance the communication efficiency, a second stage of recovery or retransmission may be performed after 256. A detailed description will be provided below with reference to Fig. 5.

[0094] Fig. 5 illustrates an example signaling process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations in a communication system according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the process 500 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. The process 500 may involve a terminal device, e.g., the terminal device 110 as shown in Fig. 1. The process 500 may further involve a network device. In some embodiments, the network device may include the network device 130 as shown in Fig. 1. It may be understood that, in the process 500, it is possible to add, omit, modify one or more operations, or the operations may also be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The steps 530, 540, 554, and 556 in signaling process 500 are implemented after the terminal device 110 transmits (256) or retransmits (256) the information. Step 250 in signaling process 500 is an implementation of transmitting (256) or retransmitting (256) theinformation in signaling process 200.

[0095] As shown in Fig. 5, at least part of the information may be transmitted or retransmitted by the terminal device 110 to the network device 130, for example, at 520, which is an implementation of transmitting (256) or retransmitting (256) at least part of the information. The terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit an UL transmission including one or more copies of the at least part of the information. The terminal device 110 may monitor an indication (e.g., a second indication) that is transmitted by the network device 130 (e.g., at 540) based on reception of the information transmitted at 520. In some embodiments, the second indication may indicate at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the at least part of the information that is transmitted at 520. Based on failure of obtaining the second indication from the network device 130, the terminal device 110 may enter into the second stage of recovery or retransmission, in which the terminal device may initiate a random access procedure, a radio link failure recovery procedure, or another beam failure recovery procedure at 554. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit at least part of the information at 556 in the second stage of recovery or retransmission.

[0096] To determine the failure of obtaining the second indication, the terminal device 110 may consider one or more of: a value indicating a configured transmission times of UL retransmission, or a second time period. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may determine that a failure of obtaining the second indication occurs if the second indication is failed to be obtained by the terminal device after the UL transmission times of the at least part of the information reach the (configured) value as described above. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may determine that the failure occurs if no indication is received within the second time period (e.g., from transmitting the information at 220 or 256, depending on different start timing, the second time period may be configured differently). It is noted that the second indication may be just another attempt from the network device 130 for re-sending the first indication, i.e., the first indication and the second indication from the network device 130 may carry the same or similar information.

[0097] Based on a determination that the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the second indication at the second stage, the terminal device 110 may initiate a random access procedure, a radio failure recovery procedure or a beam failure recovery procedure at 554. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit at least part of theinformation at 556.

[0098] In some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 initiate the random access procedure at 554, the initiated random access procedure is similar to the procedure as described above with reference to Figs. 3-4. For a 4-step RACH procedure, the terminal device 110 may transmit Msgl and / or Msg3 to the network device, and one or more of the Msgl and / or Msg3 may include at least one of: (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information. For 2-step RACH procedure, the device 110 may transmit MsgA to the network device, and the MsgA may include at least one of: (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0099] In some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the second indication, the terminal device 110 may initiate a beam failure recovery procedure or radio failure recovery procedure. For example, when a quality of a beam dropped below a threshold, the terminal device 110 may initiate a beam failure recovery procedure. The terminal device 110 may transmit a beam failure recovery request to perform a beam recovery procedure between the terminal device 110 and the network device 130. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may initiate a radio link failure recovery procedure. The terminal device 110 may transmit a radio link failure recovery request to perform a radio link recovery procedure between the terminal device 110 and the network device 130.

[0100] Alternatively, when the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the indication at the second stage during the process 500, the terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit at least part of the information to the network device 130 at 556.

[0101] Specifically, the terminal device 110 may transmit an UL transmission including one or more copies of at least part of the information with a boosted power compared to the transmit power at 256. The boosted power may be determined based on a power parameter indicative of a value of the boosted power or an offset for the boosted power. If the power parameter includes the offset for the boosted power, the terminal device 110 may determine the boosted power based on a sum of the offset and a previous power, e.g. the transmit power at 256. For example, if the transmit power at 256 is Pl, the offset is Poffset, then the boosted power P2 to be apply at 556 is: Pl+PoffSet. In some embodiments, the power parameter may be configured via RRC as a part of CSI report configuration. In some embodiments, the power parameter may be configured by the network device 130 via the monitoringconfiguration. In some embodiments, the power parameter may be specified for the terminal device 110.

[0102] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may retransmit an UL transmission including one or more copies of at least part of the information to the network device 130 with or without the boosted power. The terminal device 110 may repeat the UL transmission based on a value indicating a configured transmission times. For example, if the (configured) value indicating the configured transmission times is 4, the terminal device 110 may transmit the UL transmission 4 times. In some embodiments, the (configured) value indicating the configured transmission times may be configured via RRC as a part of CSI report configuration or associated with a corresponding CSI report configuration or a corresponding sub-configuration and the repetition number may be indicated to the terminal device 110. In some embodiments, the (configured) value indicating a configured transmission times in the second stage of recovery or retransmission may be greater than the (configured) value indicating a configured transmission times in the first stage of recovery or retransmission. In some embodiments, the (configured) value indicating a configured transmission times in the second stage of recovery or retransmission may be equal to the (configured) value indicating a configured transmission times in the first stage of recovery or retransmission. Alternatively, a reference number of transmission times may be used, and the terminal device 110 may be configured with a rule to increase the number of transmission times by a certain offset or number.

[0103] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit the information or a part of the information to the terminal device at 554 or 556. In some embodiments, the at least part of the information may be obtained according to an information reduction configuration, e.g., via RRC. The process of obtaining the at least part of the information is similar to that described above, and accordingly, the detailed description is omitted here for the purposes of clarity and brevity.

[0104] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may transmit the information without deleting any bit from the information at 554 or 556, such that the network device 130 may receive the complete information during the retransmission procedure.

[0105] In some embodiments, if the terminal device 110 obtains the second indication provided by the network device 130 at 540 within the second time period or before a value of transmission times of the UL transmission including the at least part of the informationreaches the (configured) value, the terminal device 110 may apply the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device, according to the second indication provided by the network device 130 at 540. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may continue retransmitting the at least part of the information before the failure of obtaining the second indication.

[0106] In some embodiments, if the terminal device 110 receives the second indication as provided by the network device 130 at 540, the terminal device 110 may stop the timer to terminate time counting.

[0107] In some embodiments, in a situation that the terminal device 110 transmits the UL transmission based on a value indicating configured transmission times, the network device 130 may be configured to transmit the second indication at 540 in various ways. In some embodiments, the network device 130 may be configured to transmit the second indication each time upon receiving one UL transmission including the information. In this situation, the terminal device 110 may receive the second indication before the transmission times of UL transmissions reach the (configured) value indicating configured transmission times, and the terminal device 110 may terminate the UL transmission when the second indication is received. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may continue retransmitting the UL transmission including at least part of the information before the transmission times reach the value, e.g., the configured value, if has not received the second indication.

[0108] In some embodiments, the network device 130 may be configured to transmit the second indication when receiving more than one UL transmission including the information. If the network device 130 is configured to transmit the second indication until more than one UL transmission is received, the terminal device 110 may receive the second indication before the transmission times of UL transmissions reach the (configured) value indicating configured transmission times, and the terminal device 110 may terminate the UL transmission when the second indication is received. In this situation, the terminal device may continue retransmitting the UL transmission including at least part of the information before the transmission times reach the value, e.g., the configured value, if has not received the second indication.

[0109] Alternatively, the network device 130 may be configured to transmit the second indication when all the transmission times of the UL transmissions are received. The network device 130 may transmit the second indication when the all the UL transmissionsare received. In this situation, the terminal device may continue retransmitting the UL transmission including at least part of the information before the transmission times reach the value, e.g., the configured value.

[0110] Alternatively, or additionally, the terminal device 110 may transmit a failure / success indication to indicate the failure / success of reception of the second indication from the network device 130, where this second indication may be sent via dedicated or shared UL resources such as PUCCH resources ((e.g., scheduling request (SR)-like resources) which may be periodic and according to an SR configuration) or even via (UL) MAC-CE. In some embodiments, the failure / success indication may be sent per cell or cell group, e.g., the terminal device 110, through a same message, may indicate a cell index or cell group index and the corresponding information on whether there has been (at least one) failure or success of the reception of the second indication from the network device 130 for that cell or cell group.

[0111] In some embodiments, the value (e.g., the configured value) indicating the configured transmission times may be represented by a period of time. For those skilled in the art, it may be understood that the configured transmission times may be represented in any appropriated ways.

[0112] For those skilled in the art, it may be understood that, the network device 130 may be configured in a flexible way for transmitting the indication based on the UL transmission as received, the terminal device 110 may monitor the indication from the network device 130, and may initiate a random access procedure, a radio link failure recovery, or a beam failure recovery procedure at 554, or transmit or retransmit at least part of the information at 556 when a failure of obtaining the second indication occurs.

[0113] In some embodiments, when the terminal device 110 obtains the second indication from the network device, the terminal device 110 may apply the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110.

[0114] Advantageously, an efficient operation to fallback to one or more proposed procedures in a situation of failure or absence of response has provided, and the solution as provided in the present disclosure can enhance CSI or beam configuration at the terminal device with respect to a failure of transmitting (by the terminal device) / receiving (by the network device) information about a terminal device-initiated or event-based operation from the terminal device to the network deice and / or a failure of response from the network deviceto the terminal device. In such a way, the communication / operation efficiency has been significantly improved and the communication / operation may effectively complete overall.

[0115] Fig. 6 illustrates an example flowchart of a process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 600 may be performed by the terminal device 110. It may be understood that, in the process 600, it is possible to add, omit, modify one or more operations, or the operations may also be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0116] In Fig. 6, at 610, the terminal device 110 may receive a monitoring configuration from the network device 130. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may be configured based on the monitoring configuration to monitor an indication that will be transmitted by the network device 130 based on receiving information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device.

[0117] At 620, the terminal device 110 may transmit an uplink (UL) transmission including the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device. The information may be similar to an implementation of the information as described with reference to Fig. 2, to avoid repetition, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted herein.

[0118] The terminal device 110 may monitor an indication from the network device 130 at 630. The terminal device 110 may perform the monitoring operation as configured by the monitoring configuration. In some embodiments, the network device 130 may generate and transmit the indication based on reception of the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device. The indication may indicate at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. The indication may be similar to an implementation of the information as described with reference to Fig. 2, to avoid repetition, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted herein.

[0119] The terminal device 110 may determine at 640 if the indication has been received within a first time period, e.g., after the information is transmitted at 620. The first time period may be configured in a CSI report configuration or to be associated with on a CSI report configuration. The configuration for the first time period is not limited in the present disclosure.

[0120] If the terminal device 110 obtains that the indication within the first time period,the process 600 goes to 650, in which the terminal device 110 may apply or perform the operation as indicated by the indication. For example, the terminal device 110 may activate the operation as indicated by the indication.

[0121] If the terminal device 110 fails to obtain (e.g., fails to receive or fails to correctly decode) the indication, the process 600 goes to 660, in which the terminal device 110 may retransmit at least part of the information to the network device 130. For example, the terminal device 110 may retransmit at least part of the information to the network device 130 via a UL transmission with or without the boosted power. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit or retransmit the UL transmission based on a value indicating configured transmission times. The retransmission process may be understood in combination with the detail description as provided above in combination with Fig. 2, and the detailed description is omitted herein for the purposes of brevity and clarity.

[0122] Alternatively, if the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the indication within a first time period, the terminal device 110 may initiate a RACH procedure, a radio link failure recovery procedure, or a beam failure recovery procedure as described above. In addition, if the terminal device 110 fails to receive another indication after retransmitting the at least part of the information at 660, a second stage of recovery or retransmission as described in combination with Fig. 5 will be implemented. The detailed description is omitted herein for the purposes of brevity and clarity.

[0123] Fig. 7 illustrates an example flowchart of a process for performing enhanced procedures for channel state information (CSI) operations and / or beam operations method according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The process 700 may be performed by the terminal device 110. Fig. 7 is a more specific flowchart of the flowchart as shown in Fig. 6. It may be understood that, in the process 700, it is possible to add, omit, modify one or more operations, or the operations may also be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0124] In Fig. 7, at 710, the terminal device 110 may receive a monitoring configuration from the network device 130. In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may be configured based on the monitoring configuration to monitor an indication that will be transmitted by the network device 130 based on reception of information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device.

[0125] At 720, the terminal device 110 may detect that an event occurs. In someembodiments, the occurrence of the event may be a condition that the terminal device 110 may triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110. At 730, the terminal device 110 may transmit information related to an occurrence of the event to the network 130, the information may also about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam, because upon the occurrence of the event, the terminal device 110 may trigger an operation related to CSI or beam. The information transmitted to the network device 130 may inform the network device 130 that the operation related to CSI or beam will be triggered at the terminal device 110.

[0126] The terminal device 110 may monitor a first indication from the network device 130. The first indication may indicate at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device 110 or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. In some embodiments, the first indication may include a positive acknowledgement for the terminal device 110 to activate a CSI / beam related reporting or TCI state switching or any of the operation in general. Alternatively, the first indication may include a negative acknowledgement for the terminal device 110 not to activate a CSI / beam related reporting or TCI state switching or any of the operation in general. The terminal device 110 may determine at 740 if the first indication has been obtained in a first time period, e.g., after the information is transmitted at 730. The first time period may be configured based on a CSI report configuration.

[0127] If the terminal device 110 determines that the indication has been obtained within the first time period, the process 700 goes to 750, in which the terminal device 110 may apply or perform the operation as indicated by the first indication. For example, the terminal device 110 may activate the operation as indicated by the first indication.

[0128] If the terminal device 110 fails to obtain (e.g., fails to receive or fails to correctly decode) the first indication, the process 700 goes to 760, in which the terminal device 110 may retransmit the information related to the occurrence of the event and / or about triggering the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device 110 to the network 130. For example, the terminal device 110 may retransmit at least part of the information to the network device 130 via a UL transmission with or without the boosted power. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit the UL transmission one or more times with or without the boosted power. For each UL transmission, there may be one or more copies of the information. The retransmission process may be understood in combination with the detail description as provided in combination with Fig. 2, and the description is omitted herein forthe purposes of brevity and clarity.

[0129] At 770, the terminal device 110 may determine if a second indication is obtained within the second predetermined time period after the information is retransmitted and / or after the transmission times of UL retransmission reach a value. The second indication is generated and transmitted by the network device 130 based on a reception of the information transmitted at 760. The second indication may indicate at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information.

[0130] In some embodiments, the second indication may include a positive acknowledgement for the terminal device to activate (or to proceed with) a CSI / beam related reporting or a TCI state update / switching or any operation in general. Alternatively, the second indication may include a negative acknowledgement for the terminal device not to activate (or not to proceed with) a CSI / beam related reporting or a TCI state update / switching or any operation in general. The second indication may be just another attempt for transmitting the first indication, i.e., the first and second indication may include / carry the same or similar information.

[0131] If the terminal device 110 determines that the second indication has been obtained within the second time period and / before the transmission times of UL retransmission reach a value, the process 700 goes to 772, in which in which the terminal device 110 may apply or perform the operation as indicated by the second indication. For example, the terminal device 110 may activate the operation as indicated by the second indication. Before the failure of obtaining the second indication is determined, the process 700 continues transmitting the UL transmission. If the terminal device 110 determines that the second indication has been obtained within the second time period and / before the transmission times of UL retransmission reach a value, the process 700 goes to 772, in which the terminal device 110 may apply or perform the operation as indicated by the second indication. For example, the terminal device 110 may activate an operation as indicated by the indication.

[0132] If the terminal device 110 fails to obtain (e.g., fails to receive or fails to correctly decode) the second indication, the process 700 goes to 780, in which the terminal device 110 may decides to initiate a RACH procedure. The terminal device 110 may transmit a physical RACH (PRACH) to the network device 110 at 790. The RACH procedure may be understood in combination with the detail description as provided in combination with Fig.3 and Fig. 4, and the description is omitted herein for the purposes of brevity and clarity.

[0133] Alternatively, if the terminal device 110 fails to obtain the second indication, the terminal device 110 may initiate a beam failure recovery or radio failure recovery procedure at 780. For example, when a quality of a beam dropped below a threshold, the terminal device 110 may initiate a beam failure recovery procedure. The terminal device 110 may transmit a beam failure recovery request to perform beam recovery procedures between the terminal device 110 and the network device 130. Alternatively, the terminal device 110 may transmit a radio failure recovery request to perform beam recovery procedures between the terminal device 110 and the network device 130.

[0134] It should be understood by those skilled in the art, that the process 700 as shown in Fig. 7 is for the purpose of illustration, and it is possible to add, omit, modify one or more operations, or the operations may also be performed in any suitable order without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

[0135] It should be understood by those skilled in the art the described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured per at least one transmissionreception point (TRP), or per at least one CORESETpoolIndex. The described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured per at least one SRS resource set, per at least one set of reference signals (such as SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, demodulation reference signal (DMRS)), or per at least one set of reference signal resources, serving cell or component carrier, PCI (physical cell identity), bandwidth part. The described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured per at least one capability value set index, per at least one UE panel, per at least one UE-centric or UE-triggered event, or per at least one set of beams or TCI state. Any of the above or any combination of the above may be referred to as: communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed per each TRP or any other element mentioned above (such as per PCI, per CORESETPoolIndex, per panel, etc.).

[0136] Moreover, the described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured across two or more TRPs, or across two or more CORESETpoolIndex. Thedescribed operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured across two or more SRS resource sets, across two or more sets of reference signals (such as SSB, CSI-RS, TRS, DMRS), or across two or more sets of reference signal resources. The described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured across two or more serving cells or component carriers, or bandwidth parts, across two or more PCIs, across two or more capability value set indexes, across two or more UE panels. Alternatively, the described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured across two or more UE-centric or UE-triggered events, or across two or more sets of beams or TCI state. Alternatively, the described operations of the present disclosure, including information transmission and indication / response and operations performed by the terminal device may be configured across two or more of any combination as listed above. Any of the above or any combination of the above may be referred to as: communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed across two or more TRPs or across two or more of any other element listed above (such as across two or more PCIs, across two or more CORESETPoolIndexes, across two or more panels, etc.)

[0137] In some embodiments, the indication in response to the information sent by the terminal device 110 may be sent on a PDCCH / DCI, or on a MAC CE sent on a PDSCH scheduled by a PDCCH, sent on a specific at least one CORESET and / or at least one search space set. The terminal device 110 may be configured or indicated to monitor for such PDCCH(s) on such CORESET or search space set.

[0138] Those skilled in the art may also understand that, although the embodiments are described with reference to a CSI report configuration, one or more reference signal configurations such as demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration or tracking reference signal configuration, or one or more physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) configurations, one or more physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) configurations may also be applied to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0139] Fig. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a terminal device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 800 will be described from the perspective of the terminal device 110 with reference to Fig. 1.

[0140] At 810, the terminal device 110 may transmit, to a network device 130, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device. At 820, the terminal device 110 may monitor an indication from the network device 130, and in some embodiments, the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. At 830, the terminal device 110 may perform at least one of the following based on monitoring of the indication: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information; or any combination thereof.

[0141] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 is caused to determine the indication is obtained; and apply the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device based on the determining that the indication is obtained.

[0142] In some embodiments, the terminal device 110 may be caused to determine a failure of obtaining the indication; and initiate the random access procedure, the beam failure recovery procedure, or the radio link failure recovery procedure based on the determining the failure of obtaining the indication.

[0143] In some embodiments, the terminal device is caused to initiate the random access procedure by: transmitting at least one of Msg 1 or Msg3 to the network device, wherein at least one of the Msgl or Msg3 includes at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information; or transmitting MsgA to the network device, wherein the MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0144] In some embodiments, the terminal device is caused to: determine a failure of obtaining the indication; and transmit or retransmit the at least part of the information based on determining the failure of obtaining the indication.

[0145] In some embodiments, the terminal device is caused to determine the failure of obtaining the indication by determining that the indication is failed to be obtained within a first time period.

[0146] In some embodiments, the indication may include a first indication, and the terminal device is further caused to: monitor a second indication from the network device, wherein the second indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is tobe applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the at least part of the information; determine a failure of obtaining the second indication; and perform, based on determine the failure of obtaining the second indication, at least one of the following: initiating a random access procedure, a radio link failure recovery procedure, or a beam failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0147] In some embodiments, the terminal device is caused to determine the failure of obtaining the second indication by: determining the second indication is failed to be obtained within a second time period; or determining the second indication is failed to be obtained after uplink transmission times of the at least part of the information reaches a value.

[0148] In some embodiments, the terminal device is further caused to: before the failure of obtaining the second indication is determined, continue retransmitting the at least part of the information.

[0149] In some embodiments, the terminal device is caused to initiate a random access procedure by: transmitting at least one of Msg 1 or Msg3 to the network device, wherein the at least one of Msg 1 or Msg3 may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information; or transmitting MsgA to the network device, wherein the MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0150] In some embodiments, the terminal device is caused to transmit or retransmit the least part of the information with a boosted power.

[0151] In some embodiments, the value or the second time period is configured via radio resource control (RRC) or medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling.

[0152] In some embodiments, the indication may include at least one of the following: an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) report; a transmission configuration indicator(TCI) state switch or activation; a TCI state update or indication; a trigger of at least one beam report; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) measurement; a trigger or activation of CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) repetition or a beam refinement; or any combination thereof.

[0153] In some embodiments, the operation related to CSI or beam may include at least one of the following: detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs;detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs; providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state; switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition; requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam; requesting an update or a switch of at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; or any combination thereof.

[0154] In some embodiments, the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may include at least one of the followings: a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an update of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; or any combination thereof.

[0155] In some embodiments, the terminal device is further caused to: receive a monitoring configuration from the network device, wherein the terminal device monitors the indication based on the monitoring configuration.

[0156] In some embodiments, communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed per each of the at least one of the following: at least one transmissionreception point (TRP); at least one CORESETpoolIndex; at least one sounding reference signal, SRS, resource set; at least one set of reference signals; at least one set of reference signal resources; at least one of serving cell or component carrier, or bandwidth part; at least one of physical cell identity (PCI); at least one capability value set index; at least one terminal device panel; at least one terminal device-centric or terminal device-triggered operation; at least one set of beams or TCI states; or any combination thereof.

[0157] In some embodiments, communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed across each of at least one of the following: across multiple transmissionreception points TRPs; across multiple CORESETpoolIndexes; across multiple SRS resource sets; across multiple sets of reference signals; across multiple sets of reference signalresources; across multiple serving cells or component carriers, or bandwidth parts; across multiple physical cell identities PCIs; across multiple capability value set indexes; across multiple one terminal device panels; across multiple terminal device-centric or terminal device-triggered operations; across multiple sets of beams or TCI states, or across any combination thereof.

[0158] Fig. 9 illustrates a flowchart 900 of a method implemented at a network device in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 900 will be described from the perspective of the network device 130 with reference to Fig. 1.

[0159] At 910, the network device receives, from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device. At 920, the network device transmits an indication to the terminal device, and the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. At 930, the network device performs at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, and the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

[0160] In some embodiments, the network device is further caused to: transmit a monitoring configuration to the terminal device for configuring the terminal device to monitor the indication.

[0161] In some embodiments, at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0162] In some embodiments, the determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication is determined based on a determination that the indication is failed to be obtained within a first time period.

[0163] In some embodiments, indication may include a first indication, and the network device is further caused to: transmit a second indication based on reception of the at least partof the information, wherein the second indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of the reception of the at least part of the information.

[0164] In some embodiments, the network device is further caused to: perform at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, and the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the second indication.

[0165] In some embodiments, the determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the second indication is determined based on a determination that the indication is failed to be obtained within a second time period or after uplink transmission times of the at least part of the information reach a value.

[0166] In some embodiments, the at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) at least part of the information.

[0167] In some embodiments, the indication may include at least one of the following: an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) report; a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state switch or activation; a TCI state update or indication; a trigger of at least one beam report; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) measurement; a trigger or activation of CSI reference signal (CSI-RS) repetition or a beam refinement; or any combination thereof.

[0168] In some embodiments, the operation related to CSI or beam may include at least one of the following: detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs; providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state; switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition; requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam; requesting an update or aswitch of at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting a beam report or a C SI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; or any combination thereof.

[0169] In some embodiments, the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may include at least one of the followings: a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an update of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; or any combination thereof.

[0170] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 800 (for example, the terminal device 110) may include means for performing the respective steps of the method 800. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0171] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for transmitting, to a network device 130, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device. The apparatus may include means for monitoring an indication from the network device 130, and in some embodiments, the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. The apparatus may include means for performing at least one of the following based on monitoring of the indication: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information; or any combination thereof.

[0172] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for determining the indication is obtained, and include means for applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device.

[0173] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for determining a failure of obtaining the indication, and include means for initiating the random access procedure, thebeam failure recovery procedure, or the radio link failure recovery procedure based on the failure of obtaining the indication.

[0174] In some embodiments, the random access procedure is initiated by: transmitting at least one of Msg 1 or Msg3 to the network device, wherein at least one of the Msgl or Msg3 includes at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information; or transmitting MsgA to the network device, wherein the MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0175] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for determining a failure of obtaining the indication, and means for transmitting or retransmitting the at least part of the information based on the failure of obtaining the indication.

[0176] In some embodiments, the failure of obtaining the indication is determined by determining that the indication is failed to be obtained within a first time period.

[0177] In some embodiments, the indication may include a first indication, and the apparatus may include means for monitoring a second indication from the network device, wherein the second indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the at least part of the information. The apparatus may include means for determining a failure of obtaining the second indication. The apparatus may include means for performing at least one of the following: initiating a random access procedure, a radio link failure recovery procedure, or a beam failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

[0178] In some embodiments, the failure of obtaining the second indication is determined by: determining the second indication is failed to be obtained within a second time period; or determining the second indication is failed to be obtained after uplink transmission times of the at least part of the information reaches a value.

[0179] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for continuing retransmitting the at least part of the information before the failure of obtaining the second indication is determined.

[0180] In some embodiments, the random access procedure is initiated by: transmitting at least one of Msgl or Msg3 to the network device, wherein the at least one of Msgl or Msg3 may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the secondindication, or (ii) the at least part of the information; or transmitting MsgA to the network device, wherein the MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0181] In some embodiments, the least part of the information is transmitted or retransmitted with a boosted power.

[0182] In some embodiments, the value or the second time period is configured via radio resource control (RRC) or medium access control-control element (MAC-CE) signaling.

[0183] In some embodiments, the indication may include at least one of the following: an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) report; a transmission configuration indicator(TCI) state switch or activation; a TCI state update or indication; a trigger of at least one beam report; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) measurement; a trigger or activation of CSI reference signal(CSI-RS) repetition or a beam refinement; or any combination thereof.

[0184] In some embodiments, the operation related to CSI or beam may include at least one of the following: detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs; providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state; switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition; requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam; requesting an update or a switch of at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; or any combination thereof.

[0185] In some embodiments, the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may include at least one of the followings: a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an update of at least one ofa beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; or any combination thereof.

[0186] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for receiving a monitoring configuration from the network device, wherein the terminal device monitors the indication based on the monitoring configuration.

[0187] In some embodiments, communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed per each of the at least one of the following: at least one transmissionreception point (TRP); at least one CORESETpoolIndex; at least one sounding reference signal, SRS, resource set; at least one set of reference signals; at least one set of reference signal resources; at least one of serving cell or component carrier, or bandwidth part; at least one of physical cell identity (PCI); at least one capability value set index; at least one terminal device panel; at least one terminal device-centric or terminal device-triggered operation; at least one set of beams or TCI states; or any combination thereof.

[0188] In some embodiments, communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed across each of at least one of the following: across multiple transmissionreception points TRPs; across multiple CORESETpoolIndexes; across multiple SRS resource sets; across multiple sets of reference signals; across multiple sets of reference signal resources; across multiple serving cells or component carriers, or bandwidth parts; across multiple physical cell identities PCIs; across multiple capability value set indexes; across multiple one terminal device panels; across multiple terminal device-centric or terminal device-triggered operations; across multiple sets of beams or TCI states, or across any combination thereof

[0189] In some embodiments, the apparatus further may include means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 800. In some embodiments, the means may include at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0190] In some example embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing the method 900 (for example, the network device 130) may include means for performing the respective steps of the method 900. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module.

[0191] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for receiving, from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information (CSI) or beam at the terminal device. The apparatus may include means for transmitting an indication to the terminal device, and the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information. The apparatus may include means for performing at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, and the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

[0192] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for transmitting a monitoring configuration to the terminal device for configuring the terminal device to monitor the indication.

[0193] In some embodiments, at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

[0194] In some embodiments, the determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication is determined based on a determination that the indication is failed to be obtained within a first time period.

[0195] In some embodiments, the indication may include a first indication, and the apparatus may include means for transmitting a second indication based on reception of the at least part of the information, wherein the second indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of the reception of the at least part of the information.

[0196] In some embodiments, the apparatus may include means for performing at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, and the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radiolink failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the second indication.

[0197] In some embodiments, the determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the second indication is determined based on a determination that the indication is failed to be obtained within a second time period or after uplink transmission times of the at least part of the information reaches a value.

[0198] In some embodiments, the at least one of Msg 1, Msg3, or MsgA may include at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) at least part of the information.

[0199] In some embodiments, the indication may include at least one of the following: an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) report; a transmission configuration indicator(TCI) state switch or activation; a TCI state update or indication; a trigger of at least one beam report; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information (CSI) measurement; a trigger or activation of CSI reference signal, (CSI-RS) repetition or a beam refinement; or any combination thereof.

[0200] In some embodiments, the operation related to CSI or beam may include at least one of the following: detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs; providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state; switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition; requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam; requesting an update or a switch of at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; or any combination thereof.

[0201] In some embodiments, the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device may include at least one of the followings: a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beamoperation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an update of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; or any combination thereof

[0202] In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes means for performing other steps in some embodiments of the method 900. In some embodiments, the means comprises at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the performance of the apparatus.

[0203] Fig. 10 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device 1000 that is suitable for implementing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1000 may be provided to implement a device, for example, the terminal device or the network device as shown in Fig. 1. As shown, the device 1000 includes one or more processors 1010, one or more memories 1020 coupled to the processor 1010, and one or more communication modules 1040 coupled to the processor 1010.

[0204] The communication module 1040 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1040 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements.

[0205] The processor 1010 may be of any type suitable to the local technical network and may include one or more of the following: general purpose computers, special purpose computers, microprocessors, digital signal processors (DSPs) and processors based on multicore processor architecture, as non-limiting examples. The device 1000 may have multiple processors, such as an application specific integrated circuit chip that is slaved in time to a clock which synchronizes the main processor.

[0206] The memory 1020 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of the non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a Read Only Memory (ROM) 1024, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random access memory (RAM) 1022 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0207] A computer program 1030 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1010. The program 1030 may be stored in the ROM 1024. The processor 1010 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1030 into the RAM 1022.

[0208] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1030 so that the device 1000 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to Figs. 1 to 9. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0209] In some example embodiments, the program 1030 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1000 (such as in the memory 1020) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1000. The device 1000 may load the program 1030 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1022 for execution. The computer readable medium may include any types of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like.

[0210] Fig. 11 illustrates a block diagram of an example of a computer readable medium 1000 in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The computer readable medium 1100 has the program 1030 stored thereon. It is noted that although the computer readable medium 1000 is depicted in form of CD or DVD in Fig. 10, the computer readable medium 1100 may be in any other form suitable for carry or hold the program 1030.

[0211] Generally, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, while other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. While various aspects of embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described as block diagrams, flowcharts, or using some other pictorial representations, it is to be understood that the block, apparatus, system, technique or method described herein may be implemented in, as non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controller or other computing devices, or some combination thereof.

[0212] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer programproduct includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target real or virtual processor, to carry out the method 800 or 900 as described above with reference to Fig. 8 or Fig. 9. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split between program modules as desired in various embodiments. Machine-executable instructions for program modules may be executed within a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0213] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, such that the program codes, when executed by the processor or controller, cause the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams to be implemented. The program code may execute entirely on a machine, partly on the machine, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine or entirely on the remote machine or server.

[0214] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program codes or related data may be carried by any suitable carrier to enable the device, apparatus or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of the carrier include a signal, computer readable medium, and the like.

[0215] The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable medium may include but not limited to an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific examples of the computer readable storage medium would include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The term “non-transitory,” as used herein, is a limitation of the medium itself (i.e., tangible, not a signal) as opposed to a limitation on data storage persistency (e.g., RAM vs. ROM).

[0216] Further, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Likewise, while several specific implementation details are contained in the above discussions, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the present disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0217] Although the present disclosure has been described in languages specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the present disclosure defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A terminal device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to: transmit, to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device; monitor an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and perform, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

2. The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the terminal device is caused to: determine the indication is obtained; and apply the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device based on the determining the indication is obtained.

3. The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the terminal device is caused to: determine a failure of obtaining the indication; and initiate the random access procedure, the beam failure recovery procedure, or the radio link failure recovery procedure based on the determining the failure of obtaining the indication.

4. The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the terminal device is caused to initiate the random access procedure by: transmitting at least one of Msg 1 or Msg3 to the network device, wherein at least one of the Msgl or Msg3 comprises at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information; ortransmitting MsgA to the network device, wherein the MsgA comprises at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

5. The terminal device of claim 1, wherein the terminal device is caused to: determine a failure of obtaining the indication; and transmit or retransmit the at least part of the information based on the determining the failure of obtaining the indication.

6. The terminal device of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the terminal device is caused to determine the failure of obtaining the indication by: determining that the indication is failed to be obtained within a first time period.

7. The terminal device of claim 5, wherein the indication comprises a first indication, and the terminal device is further caused to: monitor a second indication from the network device, wherein the second indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the at least part of the information; determine a failure of obtaining the second indication; and perform, based on the determining the failure of obtaining the second indication, at least one of the following: initiating a random access procedure, a radio link failure recovery procedure, or a beam failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

8. The terminal device of claim 7, wherein the terminal device is caused to determine the failure of obtaining the second indication by: determining the second indication is failed to be obtained within a second time period; or determining the second indication is failed to be obtained after uplink transmission times of the at least part of the information reaches a value.

9. The terminal device of claims 7 or 8, wherein the terminal device is further caused to:before the failure of obtaining the second indication is determined, continue retransmitting the at least part of the information.

10. The terminal device of claim 7, wherein the terminal device is caused to initiate a random access procedure by: transmitting at least one of Msg 1 or Msg3 to the network device, wherein the at least one of Msgl or Msg3 comprises at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information; or transmitting MsgA to the network device, wherein the MsgA comprises at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

11. The terminal device of any of claims 1, 4, 5, 7, 9 or 10, wherein the terminal device is caused to transmit or retransmit the least part of the information with a boosted power.

12. The terminal device of any of claim 8, wherein the value or the second time period is configured via radio resource control, RRC, or medium access control -control element, MAC-CE, signaling.

13. The terminal device of any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information, CSI, report; a transmission configuration indicator, TCI, state switch or activation; a TCI state update or indication; a trigger of at least one beam report; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information, CSI, measurement; or a trigger or activation of CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, repetition or a beam refinement.

14. The terminal device of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the operation related to CSI or beam comprises at least one of the following:detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs; providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state; switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition; requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam; requesting an update or a switch of at least one indicated or active TCI state; or requesting a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied.

15. The terminal device of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device comprises at least one of the followings: a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; or an update of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event.

16. The terminal device of any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the terminal device is further caused to: receive a monitoring configuration from the network device, wherein the terminal device monitors the indication based on the monitoring configuration.

17. The terminal device of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed per each of the at least one of the following:- at least one transmission-reception point, TRP;- at least one CORESETpoolIndex;- at least one sounding reference signal, SRS, resource set;- at least one set of reference signals;- at least one set of reference signal resources;- at least one of serving cell or component carrier, or bandwidth part;- at least one of physical cell identity, PCI;- at least one capability value set index;- at least one terminal device panel;- at least one terminal device-centric or terminal device-triggered operation; or- at least one set of beams or TCI states.

18. The terminal device of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein communication between the terminal device and the network device is performed across each of at least one of the following:- a plurality of transmission-reception points TRPs;- a plurality of CORESETpoolIndexes;- a plurality of SRS resource sets;- a plurality of sets of reference signals;- a plurality of sets of reference signal resources;- a plurality of serving cells or component carriers, or bandwidth parts;- a plurality of physical cell identities PCIs;- a plurality of capability value set indexes;- a plurality of one terminal device panels;- a plurality of terminal device-centric or terminal device-triggered operations; or- a plurality of sets of beams or TCI states.

19. A network device comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network device at least to: receive, from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device; transmit an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and perform at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

20. The network device of claim 19, wherein the network device is further caused to: transmit a monitoring configuration to the terminal device for configuring the terminal device to monitor the indication.

21. The network device of claim 19 or 20, wherein at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA comprises at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the indication, or (ii) the at least part of the information.

22. The network device of any of claims 19 to 21, wherein the determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication is determined based on a determination that the indication is failed to be obtained within a first time period.

23. The network device of any of claims 19 to 22, wherein the indication comprises a first indication, and the network device is further caused to: transmit a second indication based on reception of the at least part of the information, wherein the second indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of the reception of the at least part of the information.

24. The network device of claim 23, wherein the network device is further caused to: perform at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msg 1, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the second indication.

25. The network device of claim 24, wherein the determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the second indication is determined based on a determination that the indication is failed to be obtained within a second time period or after uplink transmission times of the at least part of the information reaches a value.

26. The network device of claim 24 or 25, wherein the at least one of Msgl, Msg3, or MsgA comprises at least one of (i) information indicative of a failure of obtaining the second indication, or (ii) at least part of the information.

27. The network device of any of claims 19 to 26, wherein the indication comprises at least one of the following: an acknowledgement of receipt of the information at the network device; a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information, CSI, report; a transmission configuration indicator, TCI, state switch or activation; a TCI state update or indication; a trigger of at least one beam report;a trigger or an activation of at least one channel state information, CSI, measurement; or a trigger or activation of CSI reference signal, CSI-RS, repetition or a beam refinement.

28. The network device of any of claims 19 to 27, wherein the operation related to CSI or beam comprises at least one of the following: detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one beam occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one TCI state occurs; detecting or indicating whether an event related to at least one CSI quantity occurs; providing a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied; updating at least one beam or at least one indicated or active TCI state; switching at least one beam state or at least one indicated or active TCI state; requesting beam refinement or a CSI-RS repetition; requesting an update or a switch of at least one beam; requesting an update or a switch of at least one indicated or active TCI state; or requesting a beam report or a CSI report if an event occurs or a predetermined condition is satisfied.

29. The network device of any of claims 19 to 28, wherein the information about triggering an operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device comprises at least one of the followings: a request of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; an indication of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; a trigger of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event; or an update of at least one of a beam, a beam report, a CSI quantity, a CSI report, a beam operation, a CSI operation, or a terminal device-triggered event.

30. A method comprising:transmitting, at a terminal device and to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device; monitoring an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and performing, based on monitoring of the indication, at least one of the following: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

31. A method, comprising: receiving, at a network device and from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device; transmitting an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and performing at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msg 1, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery request from the terminal device; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

32. An apparatus comprising: means for transmitting, at a terminal device and to a network device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device;means for monitoring an indication from the network device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and means for performing at least one of the following based on monitoring of the indication: applying the operation related to CSI or beam at the terminal device; initiating a random access procedure, a beam failure recovery procedure, or a radio link failure recovery procedure; or transmitting or retransmitting at least part of the information.

33. An apparatus comprising: means for receiving, at a network device and from a terminal device, information about triggering an operation related to channel state information, CSI, or beam at the terminal device; means for transmitting an indication to the terminal device, wherein the indication indicates at least one of that the operation related to CSI or beam is to be applied by the terminal device or an acknowledgment of reception of the information; and means for performing at least one of the following: receiving at least one of Msg 1, Msg3, or MsgA from the terminal device via a random access procedure; receiving a beam failure recovery request from the terminal device; receiving a radio link failure recovery procedure; or receiving at least part of the information, wherein the at least one of the Msgl, Msg3, MsgA, the beam failure recovery request, the radio link failure recovery, or the at least part of the information is transmitted by the terminal device based on a determination that the terminal device fails to obtain the indication.

34. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method of claim 30 or 31.

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