Performance monitoring for beam prediction

Abstract

A method for performance monitoring for beam prediction in a communication network comprises receiving at a first apparatus 110 from a second apparatus 120, configuration information about a performan

Description

FIELD

[0001] Various example embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of telecommunication and in particular, to methods, devices, apparatuses and computer readable storage medium for performance monitoring for beam prediction. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the application of Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML) techniques, the accuracy and efficiency of beam prediction have been significantly improved, enabling more precise and reliable communication. In the aspect of performance monitoring, AI / ML helps to collect, analyze and process a large amount of data in real-time, and accordingly adjust and optimize the parameters and strategies related to beam prediction and other aspects, so as to achieve better communication effects and user experiences. SUMMARY

[0003] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to: receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; determine an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode; and transmit, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

[0004] In a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises at least one processor; and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to: transmit, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; and receive, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0005] In a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: receiving, at a first apparatus, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode; and transmitting, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

[0006] In a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method. The method comprises: transmitting, at a second apparatus, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; and receiving, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0007] In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a first apparatus. The first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; means for determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode; and means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

[0008] In a sixth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a second apparatus. The second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0009] In a seventh aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the third aspect.

[0010] In an eighth aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a computer readable medium. The computer readable medium comprises instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus to perform at least the method according to the fourth aspect.

[0011] 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

[0012] Some example embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented;

[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates BM-Casel vs. BM-Case2 in AI / ML Beam prediction;

[0015] FIG. 3A illustrates an example of performance monitoring for BM-Casel with UE-sided model;

[0016] FIG. 3B illustrates an example of comparing how Option 1 and Option 2 work for performance monitoring for BM-Casel with UE-sided model;

[0017] FIG. 4 illustrates an example signalling chart for performance monitoring for beam prediction in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 5 illustrates another example signalling chart for performance monitoring for beam prediction in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates an example signalling chart for performance monitoring for beam prediction in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 7 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 8 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 9 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 10 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 11 illustrates a simplified block diagram of a device that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure; and

[0025] FIG. 12 illustrates a block diagram of an example computer readable medium in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numerals represent the same or similar element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] Principle 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. Embodiments described herein can be implemented in various manners other than the ones described below.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] It shall be understood that although the terms “first,” “second,”..., etc. in front of noun(s) and the like 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 and they do not limit the order of the noun(s). 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.

[0031] 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.

[0032] As used herein, unless stated explicitly, performing a step “in response to A” does not indicate that the step is performed immediately after “A” occurs and one or more intervening steps may be included.

[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.

[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 (e.g., 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 New Radio (NR), 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 first generation (1G), the second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, the third generation (3G), the fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, the fifth generation (5G), 5.5G, the 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” 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 base station (BS) or an access point (AP), or a Transmission and Reception Point (TRP), for example, a node B (NodeB or NB), an evolved NodeB (eNodeB or eNB), an NR NB (also referred to as a gNB), a Remote Radio Unit (RRU), a radio header (RH), a remote radio head (RRH), a relay, an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node, a low power node such as a femto, a pico, a non terrestrial network (NTN) or non-ground network device such as a satellite network device, a low earth orbit (LEO) satellite and a geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO) satellite, an aircraft network device, and so forth, depending on the applied terminology and technology. In some example embodiments, radio access network (RAN) split architecture comprises a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) at an IAB donor node. An IAB node comprises a Mobile Terminal (IAB-MT) part that behaves like a UE toward the parent node, and a DU part of an IAB node behaves like a base station toward the nexthop IAB node.

[0038] The term “TRP” refers to an entity that is configured to transmit and to receive. A TRP may, for example, be a base station (e.g. a gNB). A TRP may, for example, be a lower layer part of a base station (e.g. a DU of a base station). A TRP may, for example, be a repeater. The TRP may in some examples be a satellite that supports transparentsatellite radio access. For example, the radio access network is terrestrial and the Uu interface between terrestrial base station and UE is via a gateway and satellite TRP. The TRP may in some examples be a satellite that supports regenerative-satellite radio access. For example, the radio access network extends to the satellite and the Uu interface is between satellite and UE. The satellite TRP may, for example, be provided by an on-board base station (e.g. gNB) or be provided by an on-board DU.

[0039] 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 (e.g., remote surgery), an industrial device and applications (e.g., 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. The terminal device may also correspond to a Mobile Termination (MT) part of an IAB node (e.g., a relay node). In the following description, the terms “terminal device”, “communication device”, “terminal”, “user equipment” and “UE” may be used interchangeably.

[0040] As used herein, the term “resource,” “transmission resource,” “resource block,” “physical resource block” (PRB), “uplink resource,” or “downlink resource” may refer to any resource for performing a communication, for example, a communication between a terminal device and a network device, such as a resource in time domain, a resource in frequency domain, a resource in space domain, a resource in code domain, or any other combination of the time, frequency, space and / or code domain resource enabling a communication, and the like. In the following, unless explicitly stated, a resource in both frequency domain and time domain will be used as an example of a transmission resource for describing some example embodiments of the present disclosure. It is noted that example embodiments of the present disclosure are equally applicable to other resources in other domains.

[0041] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication environment 100 in which example embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented. In the communication environment 100, a first apparatus 110 and a second apparatus 120 can communicate with each other. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may comprise a terminal device (for example, a UE), and the second apparatus 120 may comprise a network device (for example, a gNB).

[0042] In the example of FIG. 1, the first apparatus 110 may be a UE and the second apparatus 120 may be a base station serving the UE. The serving area of the second apparatus 120 may be called a cell 102.

[0043] It is to be understood that the number of first apparatus 110 and second apparatus 120 shown in FIG. 1 is given for the purpose of illustration without suggesting any limitations. The communication environment 100 may include any suitable number of first apparatus 110 and second apparatus 120. Although not shown, it would be appreciated that one or more additional devices may be located in the cell 102, and one or more additional cells may be deployed in the communication environment 100.

[0044] In the following, for the purpose of illustration, some example embodiments are described with the first apparatus 110 operating as a terminal device (such as a UE) and the second apparatus 120 operating as a network device (such as a gNB). However, in some example embodiments, operations described in connection with a terminal device may be implemented at a network device or other device, and operations described in connection with a network device may be implemented at a terminal device or other device.

[0045] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 is a terminal device or included in a terminal device and the second apparatus 120 is a network device or is included in a network device, a link from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110 is referred to as a downlink (DL), and a link from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120 is referred to as an uplink (UL). In DL, the second apparatus 120 is a transmitting (TX) device (or a transmitter) and the first apparatus 110 is a receiving (RX) device (or a receiver). In UL, the first apparatus 110 is a TX device (or a transmitter) and the second apparatus 120 is a RX device (or a receiver). In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 is a first terminal device (for example, a UE), and the second apparatus 120 is a second terminal device (for example, another UE), a link between the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120 is referred to as sidelink (SL).

[0046] Communications in the communication environment 100 may be implemented according to any proper communication protocol(s), comprising, 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 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 proper 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.

[0047] As mentioned above, AI / ML techniques facilitate the accuracy and efficiency of beam prediction have been significantly improved. Radio access network (RAN) working groups (WGs) discussed the progress of the Release (Rel)-18 air interface AI / ML study item (SI) and the potential plan for the Rel-19 work item (WI). It is considered that the work item is supported for Rel-19 and that the one-sided model is relatively mature for normative work. Limiting the scope in Rel-19 is discussed, e.g., assuming off-line training only, UE-sided, or NW-sided model only, based on selective sub-use cases that demonstrate sufficient benefit vs complexity / cost during the Rel-18 Air Interface AI / ML SI.

[0048] For AI / ML enhancements related to beam management, two sub-use cases have been identified in Rel-18 including beam prediction in the spatial domain (hereinafter BM-Casel) and beam prediction in the time domain (hereinafter BM-Case2).

[0049] FIG. 2 illustrates BM-Casel vs. BM-Case2 in AI / ML Beam prediction. As shown in FIG. 2, the gNB supports DL Tx beams #0 to #M. BM-Casel is used to predict the best DL Tx beam and / or DL Tx / Rx beam pairs in different spatial locations. Conversely, BM-Case2 aims to predict the best DL Tx beam and / or DL Tx / Rx beam pairs to use for next time instants such as t and t+T2, where t represents a time instant where measurements are performed and t+T2 represents a time instant where the prediction is performed. For example, beams are measured at time t to predict beams at time t+T2. The primary motivation is to support a reduced overhead and lower beam measurements and reporting latency. Based on the evaluation, the benefits and gains were verified based on given metrics, and they could be supported by single-sided models and consider supporting the necessary / recommended Life Cycle Management (LCM) components for selected sub-use cases.

[0050] The following in Table 1 was proposed as part of the Rel-19 WID objective to provide specification support applying AI / ML techniques to NR air interface on beam management. Table 1 - Beam management - DL Tx beam prediction for both UE-sided model and NW-sided model, encompassing [RAN1 / RAN2]: o Spatial-domain DL Tx beam prediction for Set A of beams based on measurement results of Set B of beams (“BM-Casel”) o Temporal DL Tx beam prediction for Set A of beams based on the historic measurement results of Set B of beams (“BM-Case2”) o Specify necessary signalling / mechanism(s) to facilitate LCM operations specific to the Beam Management use cases, if any o Enabling method(s) to ensure consistency between training and inference regarding NW-side additional conditions (if identified) for inference at UE NOTE: Strive for common framework design to support both BM-Casel and BM-Case2

[0051] In Rel-19, one-sided model regarding beam management use case is focused on and the scope is limited to assuming off-line training only, UE-sided or NW-sided model only, based on selective sub use cases that demonstrate sufficient benefit vs complexity / cost during the Rel-18 Air Interface AI / ML SI.

[0052] Other background information includes various technical aspects of the Channel State Information (CSI) framework, configuration, Layer 1 Reference Signal Received Power (Ll-RSRP) reporting, and Uplink Control Information (UCI) bit sequence generation in technical specifications such as TS 38.306, TS 38.331, TS 38.214, and TS 38.212.

[0053] Regarding CSI reporting framework capability, TS 38.306 clause 4.2.7 describes the capability of the UE to support CSI reporting. It includes parameters defining the maximum number of periodic / aperiodic CSI reports that can be configured per Component Carrier (CC), per Bandwidth Part (BWP) and per beam. Moreover, it specifies the concurrent CSI reports per CC that the UE can measure and process, including periodic, semi-persistent and aperiodic CSI, including beam reports.

[0054] Regarding CSI report configuration, TS 38.331 describes the configuration parameters used to set up periodic, aperiodic or semi-persistent CSI reports sent on the PUCCH or PUSCH for a particular cell or triggered by Downlink Control Information (DCI). It includes fields such as report quantity, frequency domain configuration, time domain behavior and channel measurement resource allocation that affect how the UE performs reports based on different configurations.

[0055] Regarding Ll-RSRP reporting, TS 38.214 clause 5.2.1 defines how the UE calculates and reports Ll-RSRP. It covers configurations involving CSI-Reference Signal (CS1-RS) resources, Synchronization Signal / Physical Broadcast Channel (SS / PBCH) block resources or both, detailing limitations on the number of CSI-RS resource sets and resources within those sets. It also explains how Ll-RSRP is quantized and reported based on different scenarios, considering group-based reporting, differential reporting, and channel measurement timing with respect to SS / PBCH or Non-zero Power (NZP) CSI-RS.

[0056] Regarding UCI bit sequence generation, TS 38.212 clauses 6.3.1.1 and 6.3.2.1 deal with the generation of UCI bit sequences for uplink transmission. It defines the 5 specific order or mapping of CSI fields within a report for different reporting scenarios such as CSI-RS Resource Indicator (CRI) / RSRP, Synchronization Signal Block Resource Indicator (SSBRI) / RSRP or Capability Index reporting. It provides details on the structure of the CSI reports, including CRI, RSRP and Capability Index, for transmission within the UCI. 10

[0057] These descriptions are integral for defining how CSI is handled, reported, and utilized in the communication system by UE devices. Each section covers specific technical aspects, configurations and procedures related to CSI reporting, Ll-RSRP calculation and UCI bit sequence generation, which are critical for establishing and maintaining the communication link in cellular networks, enabling efficient use of CSI 15 for data transmission and reception.

[0058] As shown in Table 2, the following agreement was made concerning performance monitoring mechanisms for UE-sided model beam prediction. Table 2 Agreement For BM-Casel and BM-Case2 with a UE-side AI / ML model: • Support Type 1 performance monitoring, including the following two options: o Option 1 (NW-side performance monitoring): ■ UE sends a report to NW (for the calculation of performance metric at NW) • Measurement results from resource set for monitoring, e.g., Ll-RSRP and / or RS index is supported as the content of the report. • FFS on other contents. ■ The report is at least configured / triggered by NW ■ Note: this may or may not have additional spec impact o Option 2 (UE-assisted performance monitoring): ■ UE calculates performance metric(s) • FFS how to report and what to report o FFS whether to trigger the report based on event(s) for Option 1 and / or Option 2 • FFS Type 2 performance monitoring.

[0059] Type 1 - Option 1 (which is also referred to as Option 1) performance monitoring approach in the above agreement is referred to as NW-side performance monitoring for beam prediction at the UE where the NW may need to configure / indicate an RS resource set to be considered as monitoring RS resources, where the UE can measure these monitoring RS resources and report back to the NW. Based on the reported measurements corresponding to the monitoring RS resources and inference-related reports (corresponding to a CSI reporting configuration that enables the beam prediction operation), the NW can calculate performance metrics or relevant Key Performance Indications (KPIs) (such as beam prediction accuracy, RSRP differences, etc.). As a result, the calculated performance metric or relevant KPI(s) can be used to evaluate the operability of the CSI report associated with the beam prediction.

[0060] Type 1 - Option 2 (which is also referred to as Option 2) performance monitoring approach in the above agreement is referred to as NW-side performance monitoring with UE assistance for beam prediction at the UE where the NW can configure the UE for AI / ML functionality monitoring with dedicated resources that can be measured and used by the UE to calculate performance metrics or relevant KPIs (such as beam prediction accuracy, RSRP differences, etc.). As a result, the calculated performance metric or relevant KPI(s) can be reported to enable the NW to evaluate the operability of the functionality.

[0061] FIG. 3A illustrates an example 300A for the inference phase for BM-Casel with the UE-sided model. In the example 300A, Set B of measured beams includes CSI-RS#1 and CSI-RS#3, and Set A of predicted beams includes CSI-RS#2. In the inference phase, the UE therefore measures RSRP1 for CSI-RS#1 and RSRP3 for CSI-RS&3, while it predicts RSRP2 for CSI-RS#2. Then, the UE reports these RSRPs depending on the configuration (e.g., Top-1, Top-4....). Herein, underlined “RSRP” refers to a predicted RSRP.

[0062] FIG. 3B illustrates an example 300B of comparing how Option 1 and Option 2 work for performance monitoring phase for BM-Casel with UE-sided model. During the performance monitoring phase, the gNB transmits CSI-RS#2 as well and the UE can then measure RSRP2 for such reference signal, besides obtaining RSRP1, RSRP2, and RSRP3 as in the inference phase. The difference among the two options appears now.

[0063] With Option 1, the UE reports back measurement(s) and prediction(s). Specifically, the gNB transmits CSI-RS#2 besides CSI-RS#! and CSI-RS#3. The UE measures RSRP1 for CSI-RS# 1 and RSRP3 for CSI-RS#3. Further, the UE predicts RSRP2 and measures RSRP2 for CSI-RS#2. Then, the UE reports at least RSRP2 and RSRP2 and the gNB computes performance metric / (RSRP2, RSRP2). In the example 300B for instance at least RSRP2 and RSRP2 are reported, such that the gNB can evaluate the UE beam prediction performance via computing performance monitoring function / (RSRP2, RSRP2). It is noted that function / mapping “ / ” may not be standardized, but just be gNB implementation specific.

[0064] With Option 2, the gNB transmits CSI-RS#2 besides CSI-RS#1 and CSI-RS#3. The UE measures RSRP1 for CSI-RS#! and RSRP 3 for CSI-RS#3. The UE predicts RSRP2 and measures RSRP2 for CSI-RS#2. Then, the UE computes performance metric g(RSRP2, RSRP2) and reports at least g(RSRP2. RSRP2) In this way, the UE first computes a performance monitoring function g(RSRP2, RSRP2), and then reports back such metric (or a quantity related to such metric) to the gNB.

[0065] The function “g” reported to the NW may be “Top-K beam prediction accuracy” corresponding to predicted Top-K beam IDs. Optionally, the function “g” may be “Ll-RSRP difference” corresponding to Top-1 predicted beam. Optionally, the function “g” may be “Ll-RSRP difference predicted” corresponding to predicted Ll-RSRP of Top-1 predicted beam, if predicted Ll-RSRP is supported by AI / ML model output.

[0066] It is noted that the performance metric function “g” is expected to be down selected out of the above options, which will be standardized, to allow the gNB and UE to have a common understanding of what the UE reports. In some cases, “g” in Option 2 is different from “ / ’ in Option 1 to highlight that different metrics can be used in the two options. Furthermore, multiple performance monitoring functions “g” out of the above options may be available / standardized, and the UE may select or be configured by the gNB to use one of them.

[0067] The benefits of Option 1 and / or Option 2 have been identified. However, when it comes to applying the performance monitoring mechanism, the UE behavior or preferences switching between Option 1 and Option 2, which can be applied within the existing CSI measurement and report framework while applying a UE-sided model, has not been discussed yet.

[0068] Performance monitoring with AI / ML-based BM plays a crucial role. Considering a UE-sided model, a more or less accurate prediction of RSRP of certain beams may have an impact on how these quantities are evaluated by the gNB when performing scheduling and resource allocation. As a very simple example related to both Options 1 and 2 above, the performance monitoring functions and “g” may be in one of the simplest forms the absolute value between measured and predicted RSRPs, i.e., = g(x,y) = |x - y|.

[0069] The gNB may then evaluate (and that is gNB implementation specific) a prediction to be accurate enough if such metric is below a certain threshold. For example, with Option 1, RSRP prediction is evaluated to be accurate enough if |RSRP - RSRP| <THoptioni; with Option 2, RSRP prediction is evaluated to be accurate enough if |RSRP -RSRP I <THoption2.

[0070] Note that thresholds THoptioni and THoPtion2 may also be gNB implementation specific, not shared with the UE and, even in the case that “ / ’ and “g” are the same function, such thresholds may differ for several reasons. In some examples, performance monitoring with Option 2 may be evaluated by the gNB to be more accurate than performance monitoring with Option 1 because measured and predicted RSRP values with Option 1 are quantized, whereas they are not quantized in Option 2.

[0071] Therefore, in the case that performance monitoring with Option 1 is evaluated by the gNB to be not as accurate as with Option 2, in the case of the same values of the reported (measured and predicted) RSRPs, the gNB may decide to schedule the UE on a predicted beam with Option 2 but not with Option 1. With reference to the example 300B, that may mean that for instance RSRP1 = RSRP3 = -90 dBm and RSRP2 = -70 dBm, but with Option 1 performance monitoring at the gNB degrades due to configuring inaccurate threshold margin dedicated to the metric (e.g., Ll-RSRP) and the UE is never scheduled on CSI-RS#2 (which provides higher gain). While with Option 2 the UE may be scheduled on CSI-RS#2 as the prediction is evaluated by the gNB to be accurate enough, thus with a rough 20 dB gain. Note that in this simple example the role of the two Options may as well be reversed.

[0072] It is expected to address the problem to determine which performance monitoring option between NW-side (Option 1) and UE-assisted (Option 2) should be preferred by the UE for AI / ML-based BM and how the UE could assist the NW in configuring that.

[0073] In accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure, a first apparatus (for example, a UE) determines a performance monitoring mode (for example Option 1 or Option 2) from a plurality of performance monitoring modes for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus. The first apparatus transmits, to a second apparatus (for example a gNB), mode information at least indicating the determined performance monitoring mode.

[0074] In this way, the first apparatus is allowed to determine a suitable or preferred performance monitoring mode, and informs the second apparatus of the determined performance monitoring mode. For example, the UE is allowed to determine which Option between NW-side (Option 1) and UE-assisted (Option 2) performance monitoring is to be preferred.

[0075] Furthermore, the benefit of having the UE signalling to indicate its preference among Options 1 and Options 2 could be energy efficiency. In fact, for certain UE implementations, Option 1 may be more energy-consuming, as it may require more reports to be sent when compared to Option 2. Indeed, in Option 1, the UE must always report the RSRP of the beams in Set A that are transmitted by the gNB during the monitoring phase, whereas in Option 2 the performance metric “g” may be transmitted not that frequently, as it may be computed by the UE over a certain number of configured time instants. For certain other UE implementations, Option 2 may be more energy-consuming, as the UE is required to compute the performance metric “g”. Thus, throughput and UE energy efficiency can be improved with AI / ML based beam management by properly configuring the performance monitoring.

[0076] Example embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0077] Reference is now made to FIG. 4, which illustrates an example signalling chart 400 for performance monitoring for beam prediction in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 4, the signalling chart 400 involves the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120. For the purpose of discussion, reference is made to FIG. 1 to describe the signaling chart 400. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may be or be comprised in a terminal device (e.g., UE), and the second apparatus 120 may be or be comprised in a network device (e.g., gNB).

[0078] As shown in FIG. 4, in some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may transmit 402 capability information to the second apparatus 120. The capability information may indicate a support in a plurality of performance monitoring modes for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus 110.

[0079] In some example embodiments, the plurality of performance monitoring modes may include a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120, and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus 120 based on the measurement result. Such a mode is also referred to as a first mode. A prediction result of the beam prediction may be also reported to from the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120. For example, the measurement result may include the measured RSRP and the prediction result may include the predicted RSRP. As an example, the first mode may include a mode related to NW-side performance monitoring (e.g., Option 1).

[0080] In some example embodiments, the plurality of performance monitoring modes may include a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus 110 based on the measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus 110 to the second apparatus 120. Such a mode is also referred to as a second mode. For example, the performance metric may be determined based on the measured RSRP and the predicted RSRP by the first apparatus 110, and the first apparatus 110 may report the performance metric to the second apparatus 120. As an example, the second mode may include a mode related to UE-assisted performance monitoring (e.g., Option 2).

[0081] The second apparatus 120 may receive 404 the capability information and determines configuration information about a performance monitoring mode. In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 110 may transmit 406, to the first apparatus 110, the configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus 120. The performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus may be considered as or referred to as an initial performance monitoring mode. The first apparatus 110 may receive 408 the configuration information about the initial performance monitoring mode.

[0082] In the example embodiments of FIG. 4, the initial performance monitoring mode is configured by the second apparatus 120. However, it is merely an example without any limitation. In some example embodiments, the initial performance monitoring mode may be default or predefined, for example, predefined in a technical specification.

[0083] The first apparatus 110 determines 410 a performance monitoring mode from the plurality of performance monitoring modes. For example, the first apparatus 110 may select a preferred performance monitoring mode from the plurality of performance monitoring modes. The determination of the performance monitoring mode may be based on any suitable manner, for example by monitoring behavior of the second apparatus 120. Such example embodiments will be described below.

[0084] The determined performance monitoring mode may be the same as the initial performance monitoring mode (i.e., the configured performance monitoring mode) or may be different from the initial performance monitoring mode. The following will describe possible scenarios.

[0085] After the determination, the first apparatus 110 transmits 414 mode information to the second apparatus 120. The mode information at least indicates the determined performance monitoring mode. In other words, the first apparatus 110 may indicate to the second apparatus 120 the preferred performance monitoring mode. For example, the mode information may be transmitted via RRC signaling or MAC CE.

[0086] In this way, the performance monitoring mode(s) supported by the first apparatus 110 may be first statically configured based on the capability information reporting. The first apparatus 110 may indicate / update its preference in applying various performance monitoring modes to the second apparatus 120 via a dynamic reporting mechanism (e.g., RRC or MAC-CE).

[0087] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may further determine 412 an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the determined performance monitoring mode. Accordingly, the mode information may further indicate the adjustment to the parameter. The parameter may include any suitable parameter related to the beam prediction in the determined performance monitoring. For example, the parameter may include a quantization level for reporting a measurement result, or a quantization level for reporting a prediction result. It is to be noted that the first apparatus 110 may indicate the preferred adjustment but it is the second apparatus 120 to determine whether to configure the preferred adjustment.

[0088] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode may include the first mode as described above, for example, Option 1. In such example embodiments, the parameter to adjust may include a quantization level for reporting a measurement result and / or a quantization level for reporting a prediction result. For example, the measurement result may include a measured RSRP, and the parameter may include the quantization level supported for the measured RSRP in the reports. Assuming that more than one quantization level is supported for RSRP in the report, the first apparatus 110 may indicate to the second apparatus 120 the preferred performance monitoring mode with an adjusted quantization level, for example increasing the number of quantization bits. For another example, the prediction result may include a predicted RSRP, and the parameter may include the quantization level supported for the predicted RSRP in the report.

[0089] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode may include the second mode as described above, for example Option 2. In such example embodiments, the parameter to adjust may include a quantization level for reporting a measurement result and / or a quantization level for reporting a prediction result. For example, the first apparatus 110 may request the second apparatus 120 to adjust the quantization level for the measured RSRP and / or predicted RSRP which may be reported in the inference phase.

[0090] Continuing with FIG. 4, in some example embodiments, if a performance monitoring mode is configured by the second apparatus 120, the first apparatus 110 may determine whether the determined performance monitoring mode is different from the configured performance monitoring mode. If the first apparatus 110 determines that the determined performance monitoring mode is different from the configured performance monitoring mode, it may transmit the mode information to the second apparatus 120. In other words, the first apparatus 110 may transmit the mode information to the second apparatus 120 if a mode switch is desired.

[0091] In some example embodiments, the mode information may indicate a switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to the determined performance monitoring mode. For example, the mode information may include a switch indication to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode. Such an indication may be an implicit indication to switch the performance monitoring mode. For example, if the first apparatus 110 is configured with one performance monitoring mode, it may indicate to the second apparatus 120 its preference to use another performance monitoring mode with just a single bit.

[0092] In some example embodiments, if the first apparatus 110 determines that the determined performance monitoring mode is the same as the configured performance monitoring mode, it may determine an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring. In such case, the mode information may indicate the adjustment to the parameter. In other words, the first apparatus 110 may indicate or report to the second apparatus 120 of a preferred adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0093] The second apparatus 120 receives 416 the mode information from the first apparatus 110. Then, the second apparatus 120 may make a decision so as to the mode information from the first apparatus 110. In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may not respond the first apparatus 110. In other words, no response is transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110. In an example, no response from the second apparatus 120 may means that the mode information is accepted by the second apparatus 120. In another example, no response from the second apparatus 120 may means that the mode information is rejected by the second apparatus 120.

[0094] In some example embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4, the second apparatus 120 may transmit 418 a response to the first apparatus 110. Accordingly, the first apparatus 110 may receive 420 the response from the second apparatus 120. In some example embodiments, the response may include a positive response or a negative response.

[0095] The positive response may allow the first apparatus 110 to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction. For example, the second apparatus 120 may accept the indication in the mode information by configuring the first apparatus 110 with the indicated “preferred performance monitoring mode”. The negative response may disallow the first apparatus 110 to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction. For example, the second apparatus 120 may reject the indication in the mode information. In case of rejection, such rejection information may be optionally sent from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110.

[0096] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode may be different from the performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus 120, and the negative response may indicate an adjustment to the parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0097] For example, in case of rejection, the second apparatus 120 may still take some actions based on the indication in the mode information. For example, in the case that the first apparatus 110 is configured with an initial performance monitoring mode (for example, Option 1) and indicates a further performance monitoring mode (for example, Option 2) as “preferred performance monitoring mode”, the second apparatus 120 may not re-configure the first apparatus 110 to use the preferred performance monitoring mode, but it may configure the first apparatus 110 to use an increased quantization level for the RSRP reporting to improve the performance of the initial performance monitoring mode.

[0098] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may receive 420 a partially positive response from the second apparatus 120. The partially positive response may allow the first apparatus 110 to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction and disallow the adjustment to the parameter. For example, the second apparatus 120 may partially accept the indication in the mode information. For example, in the case where the first apparatus 110 indicates the preferred performance monitoring mode with an adjusted quantization level, the second apparatus 120 may configure the first apparatus 110 to use the preferred performance monitoring mode but without adjusting the quantization level. As a more specific example, in the case where the first apparatus 110 indicates Option 1 with an adjusted quantization level for reporting measured RSRP and / or predicted RSRP, the second apparatus 120 may configure the first apparatus 110 to use Option 1 but without adjusting the quantization level.

[0099] In view of above, the first apparatus 110 may determine the preferred performance monitoring mode and transmit the mode information to the second apparatus 120. The mode information may indicate the preferred performance monitoring mode and / or the adjustment to the parameter of the beam prediction in the preferred performance monitoring. Through comparing the preferred performance monitoring mode and the configured performance monitoring mode, various solutions for mode switching and parameter adjustment may be provided.

[0100] As mentioned above, the preferred performance monitoring mode may be determined based on monitoring the behavior of the second apparatus 120. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may first monitor the behavior of the second apparatus 120 to determine the preferred performance monitoring mode.

[0101] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may monitor the resource allocation of the second apparatus 120 performed using the RSRP reports which may include both measured and predicted beams.

[0102] In an example, if the first apparatus 110 is configured by the second apparatus 120 to use an initial performance monitoring mode (e.g., Option 1), the outcome of such monitoring of the behavior of the second apparatus 120 may be an estimation of function and threshold THoptioni. In another example, if the first apparatus 110 is configured by the second apparatus 120 to use an initial performance monitoring mode (e.g., Option 2), the outcome of such monitoring of the behavior of the second apparatus 120 may be an estimation of threshold THoPtion2.

[0103] After estimating the behavior of the second apparatus 120 in at least one performance monitoring mode, the first apparatus 110 may determines the preferred performance monitoring mode. In one example, the preferred performance monitoring mode may be a performance monitoring mode that maximizes the UE average throughput. In another example, the preferred performance monitoring mode may be a performance monitoring mode that maximizes the UE throughput for a specific subset of measured / predicted RSRP pairs.

[0104] In a further example, the preferred performance monitoring mode may be a performance monitoring mode that maximizes the UE throughput for a specific subset of measured / predicted RSRP pairs that have been measured / predicted in a recent time window.

[0105] In some example embodiments, the preferred performance monitoring mode may be determined at the first apparatus 110 based on an estimate of the “quantization noise / error” introduced by the first apparatus 110 in the reporting of the measured / predicted RSRP values. Since the first apparatus 110 is aware of the actual measured or predicted RSRP value, it is able to estimate the quantization error introduced in the reports. If such quantization error is above a threshold, the first apparatus 110 may determine another performance monitoring mode as the preferred performance monitoring mode.

[0106] In summary, the first apparatus 110 may determine a performance monitoring mode after monitoring the behavior of the second apparatus 120 and then may send the mode information to indicate to the second apparatus 120. The second apparatus 120 may configure the first apparatus 110 based on the reporting.

[0107] FIG. 5 illustrates another example signalling chart 500 for performance monitoring for beam prediction in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 5, the signalling chart 500 involves the first apparatus 110 and the second apparatus 120. For the purpose of discussion, reference is made to FIG. 1 to describe the signaling chart 500. In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may be or be comprised in a terminal device (e.g., UE), and the second apparatus 120 may be or be comprised in a network device (e.g., gNB).

[0108] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus 110 may transmit 502 capability information to the second apparatus 120. The capability information may indicate a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus 110.

[0109] In some example embodiments, the at least one performance monitoring mode may include the first mode as described above with reference to FIG. 4, for example, Option 1. In some example embodiments, the at least one performance monitoring mode may include the second mode as described above with reference to FIG. 4, for example, Option 2.

[0110] The second apparatus 120 may receive 504 the capability information and determine configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus 120 for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus 110. For example, the configured performance monitoring mode may be determined based on the capability information received 504 from the first apparatus 110. Then, the second apparatus 120 transmits 506 the configuration information to the first apparatus 110.

[0111] The first apparatus 110 receives 508 the configuration information about the configured performance monitoring mode. The first apparatus 508 may apply the configured performance monitoring mode. The second apparatus 120 may determine 510 an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode. The parameter may include any suitable parameter related to the beam prediction in the determined performance monitoring. For example, the parameter may include a quantization level for reporting a measurement result, or a quantization level for reporting a prediction result. Determination of the adjustment may be based on monitoring the behavior of the second apparatus 120.

[0112] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode may include the first mode as described above, for example, Option 1. In such example embodiments, the parameter to adjust may include a quantization level for reporting a measurement result and / or a quantization level for reporting a prediction result. For example, the measurement result may include a measured RSRP, and the parameter may include the quantization level supported for the measured RSRP in the report. Assuming that more than one quantization level is supported for RSRP in the report, the first apparatus 110 may indicate to the second apparatus 120 the preferred performance monitoring mode with an adjusted quantization level, for example increasing the number of quantization bits. For another example, the prediction result may include a predicted RSRP, and the parameter may include the quantization level supported for the predicted RSRP in the report.

[0113] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode may include the second mode as described above, for example Option 2. In such example embodiments, the parameter to adjust may include a quantization level for reporting the measurement result. For example, the first apparatus 110 may request the second apparatus 120 to adjust the quantization level for the measured RSRP and / or predicted RSRP which may be reported in the inference phase.

[0114] After determining the adjustment, the first apparatus 110 transmits 512 mode information to the second apparatus 120. The mode information at least indicates the adjustment to the parameter. Accordingly, the second apparatus 120 receives 514 the mode information. Then, the second apparatus 120 may make a decision so as to the mode information from the first apparatus 110.

[0115] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus 120 may not respond the first apparatus 110. In other words, no response is transmitted from the second apparatus 120 to the first apparatus 110. In an example, no response from the second apparatus 120 may mean that the adjustment preferred or recommended by the first apparatus 110 is accepted by the second apparatus 120. In another example, no response from the second apparatus 120 may mean that the adjustment preferred or recommended by the first apparatus 110 is rejected by the second apparatus 120.

[0116] In some example embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the second apparatus 120 may transmit 516, to the first apparatus 110, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

[0117] In some example embodiments, the response information may include a positive response allowing the first apparatus 110 to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode. For example, if Option 1 is configured, the second apparatus 120 may allow the first apparatus 110 to apply the adjusted quantization level for reporting the measured RSRP and predicted RSRP in Option 1.

[0118] Alternatively, the response information may include a negative response disallowing the first apparatus 110 to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode. For example, if Option 1 is configured, the second apparatus 120 may not allow the first apparatus 110 to apply the adjusted quantization level for reporting the measured RSRP and predicted RSRP in Option 1.

[0119] In some example embodiments, the negative response may further indicate the first apparatus 110 to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode. In other words, instead of parameter adjustment, the second apparatus 120 indicates to the first apparatus 110 of performance monitoring mode switch.

[0120] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode may include the first mode. The other performance monitoring mode may include the second mode. For example, if Option 1 is configured, the second apparatus 120 may not accept the adjusted quantization level for the measured RSRP and / or predicted RSRP, and instead the second apparatus 120 may indicate the first apparatus 110 to switch to Option 2.

[0121] Alternatively, the response information may include a partially positive response allowing the first apparatus 110 to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode. For example, if Option 1 is configured and the first apparatus 110 indicates the second apparatus 120 to increase the quantization level for RSRP reporting to a first number of quantization bits, the second apparatus 120 may allow the first apparatus 110 to adjust the quantization level to a second number of quantization bits rather than the first number of quantization bits.

[0122] In this way, the second apparatus 120 may accept the adjustment preferred by the first apparatus 110, reject the adjustment preferred by the first apparatus 110 or allow the first apparatus 110 to adjust beam prediction, for example, adjust the quantization level to another number of bits.

[0123] Continuing with FIG. 5, the first apparatus 110 may receive 518 the response information from the second apparatus 120. Then, the first apparatus 110 may perform the performance monitoring of the beam prediction based on the response information.

[0124] It is to be understood that examples and example embodiments described with FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 may be combined.

[0125] The above has described the solutions for performance monitoring for beam prediction provided by the embodiments of the present disclosure. The following will take the UE and gNB as examples to give an example embodiment in detail.

[0126] FIG. 6 illustrates an example signalling chart 600 for performance monitoring for beam prediction in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The signalling chart 600 involves a UE 610 and a gNB 620.

[0127] As shown in FIG. 6, the gNB 620 transmits 622 configuration information to configure the UE 610 with AI / ML based BM including a first set of beams (e.g., Set A) and a second set of beams (e.g., Set B). The UE 610 transmits 624, to the gNB 620, capability information to support performance monitoring modes (e.g., Option 1 and Option 2) for performance monitoring of the beam prediction.

[0128] The following processing relates to inference phases and monitoring phases when the UE 610 is configured with different performance monitoring mode such as Option 1 and Option 2. For example, the gNB 620 transmits 626 configuration information to configure the UE 610 with Option 1 as an initial mode for performance monitoring.

[0129] In the inference phase 628, optionally, the gNB 620 transmits 630 RS on the beams in Set B. Correspondingly, the UE 610 measures 632 the beams in Set B and predicts 632 the beams in Set A. The UE 610 reports 634 the Top-K beams.

[0130] In the monitoring phase 636, optionally, the gNB 620 transmits 638 RS on the beams in Set A. Correspondingly, the UE 610 measures 640 the beams in Set A. Then the UE 610 reports 642 RSRP of the beams in Set A.

[0131] After the completion of the above phases, the gNB 620 transmits 644 configuration information to configure the UE 610 with Option 2 for performance monitoring.

[0132] In the inference phase 646, optionally, the gNB 620 transmits 648 RS on the beams in Set B. Correspondingly, the UE 610 measures 650 the beams in Set B and predicts 650 the beams in Set A. The UE 610 reports 652 the Top-K beams.

[0133] In the monitoring phase 654, optionally, the gNB 620 transmits 656 RS on the beams in Set A. Correspondingly, the UE 610 measures 658 the beams in Set A. Then the UE 610 reports 660 the output of monitoring function of the beams in Set A.

[0134] The UE 610 determines 662 Option 1 as the preferred option. Then, the UE 610 transmits 664 the performance monitoring preference, i.e., Option 1, to the gNB 620.

[0135] The gNB 620 may take actions such as acceptance, rejection or partial rejection. For example, if the performance monitoring preference is accepted 666, the gNB 620 transmits 668 response information to reconfigure the UE 610 with Option 1 for performance monitoring. If the performance monitoring preference is rejected 670, the gNB 620 transmits 672 response information (e.g., rejection message) to reject the UE 610 with Option 1 for performance monitoring. Optionally, the gNB 620 may ignore and transmits no response information to reject the UE 610.

[0136] In this example, a solution is proposed to specify performance monitoring Type 1 configuration with respect to the UE’s model outcome as well as the UE’s capability and conditions during the monitoring process, thereby determining the UE behavior or preferences for switching between Option 1 and Option 2 when applying a UE-sided model within the existing CSI measurement and report framework.

[0137] The present disclosure further provides solutions on the beams for measurement and beams for prediction, such as multi-Transmission and Reception Point (multi-TRP) extension, layer 1 / layer 2 (L1 / L2) Triggered Mobility (LTM) extension.

[0138] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams (e.g., Set B) for measuring by the first apparatus 110 and a second set of beams (e.g., Set A) for predicting by the first apparatus 110 may be different. The first set of beams and the second set of beams may be different in a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams. For example, in BM-Case 1, the first set of beams and the second set of beams may include different beams, i.e., with different beam index as SSBRI or CRI.

[0139] Alternatively, or additionally, the first set of beams and the second set of beams may be different in a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams. For example, in BM-Case 2, the first set of beams and the second set of beams may include different time instants, i.e., the first set of beams may include a measured beam now and the second set of beams may include the same beam as predicted beam but in a future time instance.

[0140] Alternatively, or additionally, multi-TRP extension may be employed. The first set of beams and the second set of beams may be different in a TRP associated with each set of the first and second sets. The first set of beams and the second set of beams may belong to multiple TRPs. For example, the first set of beams belongs all to one TRP and the second set of beams belongs all to a further TRP. For another example, the first set of beams belongs all to a set of TRPs and the second set of beams belongs all to either a nonoverlapping or an overlapping set of TRPs.

[0141] Alternatively, or additionally, LTM extension may be employed. The first set of beams and the second set of beams may be different in a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs. For example, the first set of beams belongs to a serving cell (potentially including multiple TRPs) and the second set of beams belongs to a nonserving cell (potentially including multiple TRPs).

[0142] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of an example method 700 implemented at a first apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 700 will be described from the perspective of the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0143] At block 710, the first apparatus 110 determines a performance monitoring mode from a plurality of performance monitoring modes for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0144] At block 720, the first apparatus 110 transmits, to a second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the determined performance monitoring mode.

[0145] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the determined performance monitoring, and wherein the mode information further indicates the adjustment to the parameter.

[0146] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0147] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0148] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus; and in accordance with a determination that the determined performance monitoring mode is different from the configured performance monitoring mode, transmitting the mode information to the second apparatus.

[0149] In some example embodiments, the mode information indicates a switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to the determined performance monitoring mode.

[0150] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus; and in accordance with a determination that the determined performance monitoring mode is the same as the configured performance monitoring mode, determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring, and wherein the mode information further indicates the adjustment to the parameter.

[0151] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, one of: a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction, or a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction.

[0152] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode is different from a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and the negative response indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0153] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, a partially positive response which allows the first apparatus to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction and disallows the adjustment to the parameter.

[0154] In some example embodiments, the method 700 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus, capability information indicating a support in the plurality of performance monitoring modes.

[0155] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of: a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams, a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams, a transmission and reception point associated with each set of the first and second sets, or a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

[0156] In some example embodiments, the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, or the first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

[0157] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of an example method 800 implemented at a second apparatus 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 second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0158] At block 810, the second apparatus 120 receives, from a first apparatus, mode information at least indicating a performance monitoring mode of a plurality of performance monitoring modes for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0159] In some example embodiments, the mode information further indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the indicated performance monitoring mode.

[0160] In some example embodiments, the indicated performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0161] In some example embodiments, the indicated performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0162] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and wherein the indicated performance monitoring mode is different from the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0163] In some example embodiments, the mode information indicates a switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to the indicated performance monitoring mode.

[0164] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and wherein the indicated performance monitoring mode is the same as the configured performance monitoring mode, and the mode information indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the indicated performance monitoring mode.

[0165] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, one of: a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the indicated performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction, or a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the indicated performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction.

[0166] In some example embodiments, the indicated performance monitoring mode is different from a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and the negative response indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0167] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, a partially positive response which allows the first apparatus to apply the indicated performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction and disallows the adjustment to the parameter.

[0168] In some example embodiments, the method 800 further comprises: receiving, from the first apparatus, capability information indicating a support in the plurality of performance monitoring modes.

[0169] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 700 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 700. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0170] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for determining a performance monitoring mode from a plurality of performance monitoring modes for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; and means for transmitting, to a second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the determined performance monitoring mode.

[0171] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the determined performance monitoring, and wherein the mode information further indicates the adjustment to the parameter.

[0172] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0173] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0174] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus; and means for in accordance with a determination that the determined performance monitoring mode is different from the configured performance monitoring mode, transmitting the mode information to the second apparatus.

[0175] In some example embodiments, the mode information indicates a switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to the determined performance monitoring mode.

[0176] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus; and means for in accordance with a determination that the determined performance monitoring mode is the same as the configured performance monitoring mode, determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring, and wherein the mode information further indicates the adjustment to the parameter.

[0177] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, one of: means for a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction, or means for a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction.

[0178] In some example embodiments, the determined performance monitoring mode is different from a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and the negative response indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0179] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, a partially positive response which allows the first apparatus to apply the determined performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction and disallows the adjustment to the parameter.

[0180] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, capability information indicating a support in the plurality of performance monitoring modes.

[0181] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of: a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams, a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams, a transmission and reception point associated with each set of the first and second sets, or a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

[0182] In some example embodiments, the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, or the first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

[0183] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 800 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations 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. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0184] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a first apparatus, mode information at least indicating a performance monitoring mode of a plurality of performance monitoring modes for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0185] In some example embodiments, the mode information further indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the indicated performance monitoring mode.

[0186] In some example embodiments, the indicated performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0187] In some example embodiments, the indicated performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0188] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and wherein the indicated performance monitoring mode is different from the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0189] In some example embodiments, the mode information indicates a switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to the indicated performance monitoring mode.

[0190] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and wherein the indicated performance monitoring mode is the same as the configured performance monitoring mode, and the mode information indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the indicated performance monitoring mode.

[0191] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, one of: means for a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the indicated performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction, or means for a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the indicated performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction.

[0192] In some example embodiments, the indicated performance monitoring mode is different from a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus, and the negative response indicates an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0193] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, a partially positive response which allows the first apparatus to apply the indicated performance monitoring mode to the beam prediction and disallows the adjustment to the parameter.

[0194] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, capability information indicating a support in the plurality of performance monitoring modes.

[0195] FIG. 9 shows a flowchart of an example method 900 implemented at a first apparatus 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 first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0196] At block 910, the first apparatus 110 receives, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0197] At block 920, the first apparatus 110 determines an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0198] At block 930, the first apparatus 110 transmits, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

[0199] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0200] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0201] In some example embodiments, the method 900 further comprises: receiving, from the second apparatus, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

[0202] In some example embodiments, the response information comprises one of: a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, or a partially positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0203] In some example embodiments, the negative response further indicates the first apparatus to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode.

[0204] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the other performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0205] In some example embodiments, the method 900 further comprises: transmitting, to the second apparatus, capability information indicating a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0206] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of: a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams, a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams, a transmission and reception point, TRP, associated with each set of the first and second sets, or a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

[0207] In some example embodiments, the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, or the first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

[0208] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of an example method 1000 implemented at a second apparatus in accordance with some example embodiments of the present disclosure. For the purpose of discussion, the method 1000 will be described from the perspective of the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0209] At block 1010, the second apparatus 120 transmits, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0210] At block 1020, the second apparatus 120 receives, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0211] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0212] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0213] In some example embodiments, the method 1000 further comprises: transmitting, to the first apparatus, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

[0214] In some example embodiments, the response information comprises one of: a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, or a partially positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0215] In some example embodiments, the negative response further indicates the first apparatus to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode.

[0216] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the other performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0217] In some example embodiments, the method 1000 further comprises: receiving, from the first apparatus, capability information indicating a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0218] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of: a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams, a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams, a transmission and reception point, TRP, associated with each set of the first and second sets, or a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

[0219] In some example embodiments, the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, or the first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

[0220] In some example embodiments, a first apparatus capable of performing any of the method 900 (for example, the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations 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. The first apparatus may be implemented as or included in the first apparatus 110 in FIG. 1.

[0221] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus comprises means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; means for determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode; and means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

[0222] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0223] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0224] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the second apparatus, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

[0225] In some example embodiments, the response information comprises one of: a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, or a partially positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0226] In some example embodiments, the negative response further indicates the first apparatus to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode.

[0227] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the other performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0228] In some example embodiments, the first apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the second apparatus, capability information indicating a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0229] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of: a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams, a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams, a transmission and reception point, TRP, associated with each set of the first and second sets, or a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

[0230] In some example embodiments, the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, or the first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

[0231] In some example embodiments, a second apparatus capable of performing any of the method 1000 (for example, the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1) may comprise means for performing the respective operations of the method 1000. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuitry or software module. The second apparatus may be implemented as or included in the second apparatus 120 in FIG. 1.

[0232] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus comprises means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; and means for receiving, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0233] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0234] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, and the parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

[0235] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for transmitting, to the first apparatus, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

[0236] In some example embodiments, the response information comprises one of: a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, or a partially positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

[0237] In some example embodiments, the negative response further indicates the first apparatus to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode.

[0238] In some example embodiments, the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, and the other performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

[0239] In some example embodiments, the second apparatus further comprises: means for receiving, from the first apparatus, capability information indicating a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus.

[0240] In some example embodiments, a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of: a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams, a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams, a transmission and reception point, TRP, associated with each set of the first and second sets, or a cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

[0241] In some example embodiments, the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, or the first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

[0242] FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram of a device 1100 that is suitable for implementing example embodiments of the present disclosure. The device 1100 may be provided to implement a communication device, for example, the first apparatus 110 or the second apparatus 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the device 1100 includes one or more processors 1110, one or more memories 1120 coupled to the processor 1110, and one or more communication modules 1140 coupled to the processor 1110.

[0243] The communication module 1140 is for bidirectional communications. The communication module 1140 has one or more communication interfaces to facilitate communication with one or more other modules or devices. The communication interfaces may represent any interface that is necessary for communication with other network elements. In some example embodiments, the communication module 1140 may include at least one antenna.

[0244] The processor 1110 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 1100 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.

[0245] The memory 1120 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) 1124, an electrically programmable read only memory (EPROM), a flash memory, a hard disk, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disk (DVD), an optical disk, a laser disk, and other magnetic storage and / or optical storage. Examples of the volatile memories include, but are not limited to, a random-access memory (RAM) 1122 and other volatile memories that will not last in the power-down duration.

[0246] A computer program 1130 includes computer executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 1110. The instructions of the program 1130 may include instructions for performing operations / acts of some example embodiments of the present disclosure. The program 1130 may be stored in the memory, e.g., the ROM 1124. The processor 1110 may perform any suitable actions and processing by loading the program 1130 into the RAM 1122.

[0247] The example embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by means of the program 1130 so that the device 1100 may perform any process of the disclosure as discussed with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 10. The example embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or by a combination of software and hardware.

[0248] In some example embodiments, the program 1130 may be tangibly contained in a computer readable medium which may be included in the device 1100 (such as in the memory 1120) or other storage devices that are accessible by the device 1100. The device 1100 may load the program 1130 from the computer readable medium to the RAM 1122 for execution. In some example embodiments, the computer readable medium may include any types of non-transitory storage medium, such as ROM, EPROM, a flash memory, a hard disk, CD, DVD, and the like. 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).

[0249] FIG. 12 shows an example of the computer readable medium 1200 which may be in form of CD, DVD or other optical storage disk. The computer readable medium 1200 has the program 1130 stored thereon.

[0250] 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, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software which may be executed by a controller, microprocessor or other computing device. Although 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.

[0251] Some example embodiments of the present disclosure also provide at least one computer program product tangibly stored on a computer readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer readable medium. The computer program product includes computerexecutable instructions, such as those included in program modules, being executed in a device on a target physical or virtual processor, to carry out any of the methods as described above. 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.

[0252] Program code for carrying out methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. The program code 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 code, 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.

[0253] In the context of the present disclosure, the computer program code 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.

[0254] 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.

[0255] Further, although 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, although 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. Unless explicitly stated, certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, unless explicitly stated, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may also be implemented in a plurality of embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

[0256] 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 5 or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A first apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the first apparatus at least to:receive, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus;determine an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode; andtransmit, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

2. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, andthe parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

3. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, andthe parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

4. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to:receive, from the second apparatus, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

5. The first apparatus of claim 4, wherein the response information comprises one of:a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode,a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, ora partially positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

6. The first apparatus of claim 5, wherein the negative response further indicates the first apparatus to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode.

7. The first apparatus of claim 6, wherein the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, andthe other performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

8. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first apparatus is further caused to:transmit, to the second apparatus, capability information indicating a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus.

9. The first apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of:a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams,a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in the second set of beams,a transmission and reception point, TRP, associated with each set of the first and second sets, ora cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

10. The first apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, orthe first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

11. A second apparatus comprising:at least one processor; andat least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the second apparatus at least to:transmit, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; andreceive, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

12. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, andthe parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

13. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, andthe parameter comprises a quantization level for reporting the measurement result.

14. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to:transmit, to the first apparatus, response information about the adjustment to the parameter.

15. The second apparatus of claim 14, wherein the response information comprises oneof:a positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode,a negative response disallowing the first apparatus to apply the adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode, ora partially positive response allowing the first apparatus to apply another adjustment to the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

16. The second apparatus of claim 15, wherein the negative response further indicates the first apparatus to switch from the configured performance monitoring mode to another performance monitoring mode.

17. The second apparatus of claim 16, wherein the configured performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal is reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus and a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the second apparatus based on the measurement result, andthe other performance monitoring mode comprises a mode in which a performance metric for the beam prediction is determined by the first apparatus based on a measurement result on a monitoring reference signal and reported from the first apparatus to the second apparatus.

18. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second apparatus is further caused to:receive, from the first apparatus, capability information indicating a support in at least one performance monitoring mode for monitoring the performance of the beam prediction at the first apparatus.

19. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein a first set of beams for measuring by the first apparatus and a second set of beams for predicting by the first apparatus are different in at least one of:a beam index of a beam in the first set of beams and a beam index of a beam in the second set of beams,a time instant of a beam in the first set of beams and a time instant of a beam in thesecond set of beams,a transmission and reception point, TRP, associated with each set of the first and second sets, ora cell to which each set of the first and second sets of beams belongs.

20. The second apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first set of beams are associated with a first TRP, and the second set of beams are associated with a second TRP different from the first TRP, orthe first set of beams are associated with a first set of TRPs, and the second set of beams are associated with a second set of TRPs at least partially different from the first set of TRPs.

21. A method comprising:receiving, at a first apparatus from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.transmitting, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.

22. A method comprising:transmitting, at a second apparatus to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus.receiving, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

23. A first apparatus comprising:means for receiving, from a second apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus;means for determining an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in theconfigured performance monitoring mode; andmeans for transmitting, to the second apparatus, mode information at least indicating the adjustment to the parameter.5 24. A second apparatus comprising:means for transmitting, to a first apparatus, configuration information about a performance monitoring mode configured by the second apparatus for monitoring a performance of beam prediction at the first apparatus; andmeans for receiving, from the first apparatus, mode information at least indicating10 an adjustment to a parameter of the beam prediction in the configured performance monitoring mode.

25. A computer readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing an apparatus at least to perform the method of claim 21 or the method of claim 15 22.

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