UE-assisted time-domain beam prediction

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems, devices, apparatuses, and methods, including a computer program encoded on a storage medium, for user equipment (UE)-assisted time-domain beam prediction. A UE (102) receives (316) beam indication signaling from a network entity (304) indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of one or more current serving beams. The UE (102) measures (320) first beam qualities of the one or more current serving beams and second beam qualities of one or more candidate beams, and communicates (326 / 328) with the network entity (304) through the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communications, and more particularly to user equipment (UE)-assisted predicted beam activation. [Background technology]

[0002] The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP®) is defining a radio interface referred to as Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) (5G NR). The architecture for a 5G NR wireless communication system may include a 5G Core (5GC) network, a 5G Radio Access Network (5G-RAN), user equipment (UE), etc. The 5G NR architecture may provide increased data rates, reduced latency, and / or increased capacity compared to other types of wireless communication systems.

[0003] Wireless communication systems may generally be configured to provide various telecommunication services (e.g., telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcast, etc.) based on multiple access technologies, such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology, that support communication with multiple UEs. As mobile broadband technologies evolve, improvements in mobile broadband continue to be useful to the evolution of such technologies. For example, if the beam quality for a beam of a beam pair between a UE and a network entity deteriorates, the network entity may decide to update the beam of the beam pair to a different beam having improved beam quality. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated embodiments. This summary does not identify key or critical elements of all embodiments, nor does it delineate the scope of any or all embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

[0005] A user equipment (UE) and a network entity, such as a base station, may perform analog beamforming operations to increase the link budget between the UE and the network entity. The UE and the network entity may each support multiple beams. The UE and the network entity each select an individual beam from their respective set of beams to form a beam pair between the UE and the network entity. A beam pair that provides increased signal strength can reduce coupling loss between the UE and the network entity and provide increased coverage gain. Thus, the UE and the network entity perform a beam selection procedure based on a beam measurement / reporting operation and a beam indication technique to select a beam for the beam pair that provides increased signal strength.

[0006] The beam indication technique may include a network entity performing beam prediction to predict / select an updated communication beam that may have improved beam quality compared to the beam quality of the current serving beam. For example, the network entity may predict / select an updated communication beam based on historical observations. However, such predictions may have limited accuracy in non-steady-state situations, such as when rapid beam changes occur due to UE rotation, translation, and / or antenna obstruction. Therefore, the UE may perform beam quality measurements on the predicted beam and the current serving beam to verify whether the beam quality of the predicted beam is actually better than the beam quality of the current serving beam based on a comparison of the beam quality measurements.

[0007] According to some aspects, a UE receives beam indication signaling from a network entity, such as a base station, indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of one or more current serving beams. Activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay. The UE measures first beam qualities of the one or more current serving beams and second beam qualities of the one or more candidate beams, and communicates with the network entity through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality.

[0008] According to some aspects, a network entity selects one or more candidate beams for communication with a UE based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams. Activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay time. The network entity transmits beam indication signaling to the UE indicating the one or more candidate beams predicted to provide improved beam quality based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams. The network entity communicates with the UE through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether a first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and a second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams.

[0009] To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, one or more aspects correspond to the features hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The one or more aspects may be embodied by an apparatus, a method, a means for practicing a method, and / or a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The following description and the drawings point out in detail certain illustrative features of the one or more aspects. However, these features are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the various aspects may be employed. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a diagram of a wireless communication system including multiple network entities communicating through multiple cells. [Figure 2A] 1 is a timing diagram illustrating a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) update procedure based on TCI signaling between a user equipment (UE) and a network entity (e.g., a base station). [Figure 2B] A timing diagram illustrating a beam selection procedure for a beam pair between a UE and a base station based on artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML). [Figure 2C] A timing diagram illustrating TCI signaling procedures associated with out-of-order beam activation times. [Figure 3A] 1 illustrates a signaling diagram for time domain communication at beam activation time based on a beam prediction procedure with UE assistance information. [Figure 3B] 1 illustrates a signaling diagram for time domain communication at beam activation time based on a beam prediction procedure with beam activation indication. [Figure 3C] 1 illustrates a signaling diagram of time domain communication at a time before the expiration of the beam effective duration based on a beam prediction procedure with UE assistance information. [Figure 3D] 1 illustrates a signaling diagram of time domain communication at a time before the expiration of the beam effective duration based on a beam prediction procedure with beam activation indication. [Figure 4A] 1 illustrates TCI state activation / indication for time domain beam prediction based on media access control-control element (MAC-CE) indication. [Figure 4B] 1 illustrates spatial relationship information update based on MAC-CE indication. [Figure 4C] 1 illustrates spatial relationship information update based on MAC-CE indication. [Figure 5] 1 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication in a UE. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart of a method of wireless communication in a network entity. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 illustrates an example hardware implementation for an example UE device. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a hardware implementation for a network entity of one or more embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] FIG. 1 illustrates a diagram 100 of a wireless communication system associated with multiple cells 190. The wireless communication system includes user equipment (UE) 102 and base stations 104, with some base stations 104a including an aggregated base station architecture and other base stations 104b including a non-aggregated base station architecture. The aggregated base station architecture includes a radio unit (RU) 106, a distributed unit (DU) 108, and a centralized unit (CU) 110 configured to utilize a radio protocol stack that is physically or logically integrated within a single radio access network (RAN) node. The non-aggregated base station architecture utilizes a protocol stack that is physically or logically distributed among two or more units (e.g., the RU 106, the DU 108, and the CU 110). For example, the CU 110 may be implemented within the RAN node, and one or more DUs 108 may be co-located with the CU 110 or, alternatively, may be geographically or virtually distributed throughout one or more other RAN nodes. The DU 108 may be implemented to communicate with one or more RUs 106. Each of the RU 106, DU 108, and CU 110 may be implemented as a virtual unit, such as a virtual radio unit (VRU), a virtual distributed unit (VDU), or a virtual centralized unit (VCU).

[0012] The operation of the base station 104 and / or network design may be based on the aggregation characteristics of base station functionality. For example, a disaggregated base station architecture is utilized in a virtualized radio access network (vRAN), which may also be referred to as an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, an open radio access network (O-RAN) network, or a cloud radio access network (C-RAN). Disaggregation may include distributing functionality among two or more units in various physical locations and virtually distributing functionality for at least one unit, which may enable flexibility in network design. Various units in a disaggregated base station architecture or a disaggregated RAN architecture may be configured for wired or wireless communication with at least one other unit. For example, the CU 110a communicates with the DUs 108a-108b via respective midhaul links based on an F1 interface. The DUs 108a-108b may each communicate with the RUs 106a and 106b-106c via respective fronthaul links. The RUs 106b-106c may communicate with their respective UEs 102a-102c and 102s via one or more radio frequency (RF) access links based on the Uu interface. In an embodiment, multiple RUs 106 and / or base stations 104 may simultaneously serve UEs 102, such as UE 102a in cell 190a, served by the access links for RU 106a in cell 190a and base station 104a in cell 190e.

[0013] One or more CUs 110, such as CU 110a or CU 110d, may communicate directly with the core network 120 via a backhaul link. For example, CU 110d communicates with the core network 120 through a backhaul link based on a next-generation (NG) interface. One or more CUs 110 may also communicate indirectly with the core network 120 through one or more non-aggregated base station units, such as a near-real-time RAN intelligent controller (RIC) 128, via an E2 link and a service management and orchestration (SMO) framework 116, which may be associated with a non-real-time RIC 118. The near-real-time RIC 128 may communicate with the SMO framework 116 and / or the non-real-time RIC 118 via an A1 link. The SMO framework 116 and / or the non-real-time RIC 118 may also communicate with the open cloud (O-cloud) 130 via an O2 link. One or more CUs 110 may further communicate with each other via a backhaul link based on an Xn interface. For example, the CU 110d of the base station 104a communicates with the CU 110a of the base station 104b over a backhaul link based on the Xn interface. Similarly, the base station 104a of the cell 190e may communicate with the CU 110a of the base station 104b over a backhaul link based on the Xn interface.

[0014] The RU 106, DU 108, and CU 110, along with the near-real-time RIC 128, the non-real-time RIC 118, and / or the SMO framework 116, may include (or be coupled to) one or more interfaces configured to transmit or receive information / signals via a wired or wireless transmission medium. Either the base station 104 or one or more non-aggregated base station units may be configured to communicate with one or more other base stations 104 or one or more other non-aggregated base station units via a wired or wireless transmission medium. In an embodiment, a processor, memory, and / or controller associated with executable instructions for an interface may be configured to provide communication between the base station 104 and / or one or more non-aggregated base station units via a wired or wireless transmission medium. For example, the wired interface may be configured to transmit or receive information / signals over a wired transmission medium, such as for a fronthaul link between the RU 106d and a baseband unit (BBU) 112 of the cell 190d, or more specifically, for a fronthaul link between the RU 106d and the DU 108d. The BBU 112 includes the DU 108d and the CU 110d, which may also have a wired interface configured between the DU 108d and the CU 110d to transmit or receive information / signals between the DU 108d and the CU 110d based on a midhaul link. In further embodiments, the wireless interface, which may include a receiver, transmitter, or transceiver (such as an RF transceiver), may be configured to transmit or receive information / signals via a wireless transmission medium, such as for information communicated between the RU 106a of cell 190a and the base station 104a of cell 190e via a cross-cell communication beam of the RU 106a and the base station 104a.

[0015] One or more upper layer control functions, such as functions related to Radio Resource Control (RRC), Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP), and Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP), may be hosted in the CU 110. Each control function may be associated with an interface for communicating signals based on one or more other control functions hosted in the CU 110. User plane functionality, such as Central Unit-User Plane (CU-UP) functionality, control plane functionality, such as Central Unit-Control Plane (CU-CP) functionality, or a combination thereof, may be implemented based on the CU 110. For example, the CU 110 may include logical division between one or more CU-UP procedures and / or one or more CU-CP procedures. The CU-UP functionality, when implemented in an O-RAN configuration, may be based on bidirectional communication with the CU-CP functionality via an interface, such as an E1 interface (not shown).

[0016] The CU 110 may communicate with the DU 108 for network control and signaling. The DU 108 is a logical unit of the base station 104 configured to perform one or more base station functionalities. For example, the DU 108 may control the operation of one or more RUs 106. One or more of one or more upper physical (PHY) layers, such as a radio link control (RLC) layer, a medium access control (MAC) layer, or a forward error correction (FEC) module for encoding / decoding, scrambling, modulation / demodulation, etc., may be hosted in the DU 108. The DU 108 may host such functionality based on the functional division of the DU 108. The DU 108 may similarly host one or more lower PHY layers, and each lower layer or module may be implemented based on an interface for communication with other layers and modules hosted in the DU 108 or based on a control function hosted in the CU 110.

[0017] The RU 106 may be configured to implement lower layer functionality. For example, the RU 106 may correspond to a logical node controlled by the DU 108 and hosting RF processing functions or lower layer PHY functionality, such as fast Fourier transform (FFT), inverse FFT (iFFT), digital beamforming, physical random access channel (PRACH) extraction and filtering, etc. The functionality of the RU 106 may be based on a functional division, such as a lower layer functional division.

[0018] The RU 106 may transmit or receive over-the-air (OTA) communications with one or more UEs 102. For example, the RU 106b in cell 190b communicates with the UE 102b in cell 190b via a first set 132 of communication beams for the RU 106b and a second set 134 of communication beams for the UE 102b, which may correspond to inter-cell or cross-cell communication beams. Both real-time and non-real-time aspects of the control plane and user plane communications of the RU 106 may be controlled by the associated DU 108. Thus, the DU 108 and CU 110 may be utilized in a cloud-based RAN architecture, such as a vRAN architecture, while the SMO framework 116 may be utilized to support non-virtualized and virtualized RAN network elements. For non-virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 116 may support the deployment of dedicated physical resources for RAN coverage, which may be managed through an operation and maintenance interface, such as an O1 interface. For virtualized network elements, the SMO framework 116 may interact with a cloud computing platform, such as the O-Cloud 130, via an O2 link (e.g., a cloud computing platform interface) to manage the network element. The virtualized network elements may include, but are not limited to, the RU 106, the DU 108, the CU 110, the near-real-time RIC 128, etc.

[0019] The SMO framework 116 may be configured to utilize the O1 link to communicate directly with one or more RUs 106. The non-real-time RIC 118 of the SMO framework 116 may also be configured to support the functionality of the SMO framework 116. For example, the non-real-time RIC 118 implements logical functionality that enables control of non-real-time RAN features and resources, features / applications of the near-real-time RIC 128, and / or artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML) procedures. The non-real-time RIC 118 may communicate with (or be coupled to) the near-real-time RIC 128, such as through an A1 interface. The near-real-time RIC 128 may implement logical functionality that enables control of near-real-time RAN features and resources based on data collection and interaction through an E2 interface, such as the E2 interface between the near-real-time RIC 128 and the CU 110a and DU 108b.

[0020] The non-real-time RIC 118 may receive parameters or other information from an external server to generate an AI / ML model for deployment within the near-real-time RIC 128. For example, the non-real-time RIC 118 receives parameters or other information for deployment of an AI / ML model to the real-time RIC 128 via the A1 link from the O-Cloud 130 via the O2 link. The near-real-time RIC 128 may utilize the parameters and / or other information received from the non-real-time RIC 118 or the SMO framework 116 via the A1 link to perform near-real-time functionality. The near-real-time RIC 128 and the non-real-time RIC 115 may be configured to adjust the performance of the RAN. For example, the non-real-time RIC 116 may monitor patterns and long-term trends that increase the performance of the RAN. The non-real-time RIC 116 may also deploy an AI / ML model to implement corrective actions through the SMO framework 116, such as initiating a reconfiguration of the O1 link or directing management procedures for the A1 link.

[0021] The RU 106, the DU 108, and the CU 110, or any combination of references thereto, may individually correspond to a base station 104. Thus, the base station 104 may include at least one of the RU 106, the DU 108, or the CU 110. The base station 104 provides the UE 102 with access to the core network 120. That is, the base station 104 may relay communications between the UE 102 and the core network 120. The base station 104 may be associated with a macro cell for high-power cellular base stations and / or a small cell for low-power cellular base stations. For example, the cell 190e may correspond to a macro cell, while the cells 190a-190d may correspond to small cells. Small cells include femto cells, pico cells, micro cells, etc. A cell structure including at least one macro cell and at least one small cell may be referred to as a "heterogeneous network."

[0022] Transmissions from the UE 102 to the base station 104 / RU 106 are referred to as uplink (UL) transmissions, while transmissions from the base station 104 / RU 106 to the UE 102 are referred to as downlink (DL) transmissions. Uplink transmissions may also be referred to as reverse link transmissions, and downlink transmissions may also be referred to as forward link transmissions. For example, the RU 106d utilizes the antennas of the base station 104a of cell 190d to transmit downlink / forward link communications to the UE 102d or receive uplink / reverse link communications from the UE 102d based on a Uu interface associated with the access link between the UE 102d and the base station 104a / RU 106d.

[0023] The communication link between the UE 102 and the base station 104 / RU 106 may be based on multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) antenna technology, including spatial multiplexing, beamforming, and / or transmit diversity. The communication link may be associated with one or more carriers. The UE 102 and the base station 104 / RU 106 may utilize a spectrum bandwidth of Y MHz (e.g., 5, 10, 15, 20, 100, 400 MHz, etc.) per allocated carrier in a carrier aggregation up to a total of Yx MHz, with x component carriers (CCs) used for communication in each of the uplink and downlink directions. The carriers may or may not be adjacent to each other along the frequency spectrum. In an embodiment, uplink and downlink carriers may be allocated in an asymmetric manner, with more or fewer carriers allocated to either the uplink or downlink. A primary component carrier and one or more secondary component carriers may be included in the component carriers. The primary component carrier may be associated with a primary cell (PCell), and the secondary component carrier may be associated with a secondary cell (SCell).

[0024] Some UEs 102, such as the UEs 102a and 102s, may perform device-to-device (D2D) communication over a sidelink. For example, the sidelink communication / D2D link utilizes spectrum for a wireless wide area network (WWAN) associated with uplink and downlink communication. The sidelink communication / D2D link may also use one or more sidelink channels, such as a physical sidelink broadcast channel (PSBCH), a physical sidelink discovery channel (PSDCH), a physical sidelink shared channel (PSSCH), and / or a physical sidelink control channel (PSCCH), to communicate information between the UEs 102a and 102s. Such sidelink / D2D communication may be performed over various wireless communication systems, such as a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi®) system, a Bluetooth® system, a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, a New Radio (NR) system, etc.

[0025] The electromagnetic spectrum is often subdivided into different classes, bands, channels, etc. based on the different frequencies / wavelengths associated with the electromagnetic spectrum. Fifth generation (5G) NR is generally associated with two operating bands referred to as Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2). FR1 spans 410 MHz to 7.125 GHz, and FR2 spans 24.25 GHz to 52.6 GHz. FR1 is often referred to as the "sub-6 GHz" band, although portions of FR1 are actually greater than 6 GHz. In contrast, FR2 is often referred to as the "millimeter wave" (mmW) band. FR2 spans 30 GHz to 300 GHz and is distinct from, but approximately a subset of, the "extremely high frequency" (EHF) band, sometimes also referred to as the "millimeter wave" band. Frequencies between FR1 and FR2 are often referred to as "mid-band" frequencies. The operating band for the mid-band frequencies may be referred to as Frequency Range 3 (FR3), spanning 7.125 GHz to 24.25 GHz. Frequency bands within FR3 may include characteristics of FR1 and / or FR2. Thus, the characteristics of FR1 and / or FR2 may extend to mid-band frequencies. Higher operating bands have been identified to extend 5G NR communications above 52.6 GHz, associated with the upper limit of FR2. Three of these higher operating bands include FR2-2, which spans 52.6 GHz to 71 GHz; FR4, which spans 71 GHz to 114.25 GHz; and FR5, which spans 114.25 GHz to 300 GHz. The upper limit of FR5 corresponds to the upper limit of the EHF band. Thus, unless otherwise stated herein, the term "sub-6 GHz" may refer to frequencies that are below 6 GHz, within FR1, or may include mid-band frequencies. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated herein, the term "millimeter wave" or mmW refers to frequencies that may include mid-band frequencies, may be within FR2, FR4, FR2-2, and / or FR5, or may be within the EHF band.

[0026] The UE 102 and the base station 104 / RU 106 may each include multiple antennas. The multiple antennas may correspond to antenna elements, antenna panels, and / or antenna arrays that may facilitate beamforming operations. For example, the RU 106b may transmit downlink beamformed signals to the UE 102b based on the first set of beams 132 in one or more transmit directions of the RU 106b. The UE 102b may receive downlink beamformed signals from the RU 106b based on the second set of beams 134 in one or more receive directions of the UE 102b. In further embodiments, the UE 102b may also transmit uplink beamformed signals to the RU 106b based on the second set of beams 134 in one or more transmit directions of the UE 102b. The RU 106b may receive uplink beamformed signals from the UE 102b in one or more receive directions of the RU 106b. The UE 102b may perform beam training to determine the best receive and transmit directions for the beamformed signals. The transmit and receive directions for the UE 102 and the base station 104 / RU 106 may or may not be the same. In further embodiments, beamformed signals may also be communicated between the first base station 104a and the second base station 104b. For example, the RU 106a of the cell 190a may transmit beamformed signals to the base station 104a of the cell 190e based on the RU beam set 136 in one or more transmit directions of the RU 106a. The base station 104a of the cell 190e may receive beamformed signals from the RU 106a based on the base station beam set 138 in one or more receive directions of the base station 104a. Similarly, the base station 104a of the cell 190e may transmit beamformed signals to the RU 106a based on the base station beam set 138 in one or more transmit directions of the base station 104a. The RU 106a may receive beamformed signals from the base station 104a of the cell 190e based on the RU beam set 136 in one or more receive directions of the RU 106a.

[0027] The base station 104 may include and / or be referred to as a next generation evolved Node B (ng-eNB), generation NB (gNB), evolved NB (eNB), access point, base transceiver station, radio base station, radio transceiver, transceiver function, basic service set (BSS), enhanced service set (ESS), transmit / receive point (TRP), network node, network entity, network equipment, or other related terminology. The base station 104 or entities at the base station 104 can be implemented as an IAB node, a relay node, a sidelink node, an aggregated (monolithic) base station with an RU 106 and a BBU including a DU 108 and a CU 110, or as a non-aggregated base station 104b including one or more of the RU 106, the DU 108, and / or the CU 110. The set of aggregated or non-aggregated base stations 104a-104b may be referred to as a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN).

[0028] The core network 120 may include an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) 121, a Session Management Function (SMF) 122, a User Plane Function (UPF) 123, a Unified Data Management (UDM) 124, a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 125, and / or a Location Management Function (LMF) 126. The core network 120 may also include one or more location servers, which may include other functional entities along with the GMLC 125 and the LMF 126. For example, the one or more location servers include one or more location / positioning servers, which may include the GMLC 125 and the LMF 126 in addition to one or more of a Position Determination Entity (PDE), a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC), or a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), etc.

[0029] The AMF 121 is a control node that handles signaling between the UE 102 and the core network 120. The AMF 121 supports registration management, connection management, mobility management, and other functions. The SMF 122 supports session management and other functions. The UPF 123 supports packet routing, packet forwarding, and other functions. The UDM 124 supports authentication-key-agreement (AKA) credential generation, user identity handling, access authorization, and subscription management. The GMLC 125 provides an interface for clients / applications (e.g., emergency services) to access UE positioning information. The LMF 126 receives measurement and assistance information from the NG-RAN and the UE 102 via the AMF 121 to calculate the position of the UE 102. The NG-RAN may use one or more positioning methods to determine the position of the UE 102. Positioning the UE 102 may involve signal measurements, position estimation, and optional velocity calculation based on the measurements. The signal measurements may be performed by the UE 102 and / or the serving base station 104 / RU 106.

[0030] The communicated signals may also be based on one or more satellite positioning systems (SPSs) 114, such as signals measured for positioning. In an embodiment, the SPS 114 of cell 190c may communicate with one or more UEs 102, such as UE 102c, and one or more base stations 104 / RUs 106, such as RU 106c. The SPS 114 may correspond to one or more of a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), a Global Positioning System (GPS), a Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN), or other satellite positioning / location systems. The SPS 114 may be associated with LTE signals, NR signals (e.g., based on round trip time (RTT) and / or multi-RTT), wireless local area network (WLAN) signals, terrestrial beacon systems (TBS), sensor-based information, NR enhanced cell ID (NR E-CID) technology, downlink angle of departure (DL-AoD), downlink time difference of arrival (DL-TDOA), uplink time difference of arrival (UL-TDOA), uplink angle of arrival (UL-AoA), and / or other systems, signals, or sensors.

[0031] The UE 102 may be configured as a cellular phone, a smartphone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, a laptop, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a satellite radio, a GPS, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audio player (e.g., a Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) Audio Layer-3 (MP3) player), a camera, a game console, a tablet, a smart device, a wearable device, a vehicle, a utility meter, a gas pump, an appliance, a healthcare device, a sensor / actuator, a display, or any other device of similar functionality. Some of the UEs 102 may be referred to as Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as a parking meter, a gas pump, an appliance, a vehicle, healthcare equipment, etc. The UE 102 may also be referred to as a station (STA), a mobile base station, a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a radio unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless device, a wireless communication device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a mobile client, a client, or other similar terms. The term UE may also apply to a roadside unit (RSU), which may communicate with other RSU UEs, non-RSU UEs, the base station 104, and / or entities at the base station 104, such as the RU 106.

[0032] 1 , in certain aspects, the UE 102 may include a predicted beam verification component 140 configured to receive beam indication signaling from a network entity indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams after a beam activation delay time. Activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after the beam activation delay time. The predicted beam verification component 140 is further configured to measure first beam qualities of the one or more current serving beams and second beam qualities of the one or more candidate beams, and communicate with the network entity through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality.

[0033] In certain aspects, the base station 104 or a network entity of the base station 104 may include a beam selection component 150 configured to select one or more candidate beams for communication with the UE based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams provide improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams. Activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay time. The beam selection component 150 is further configured to transmit beam indication signaling to the UE indicating the one or more candidate beams predicted to provide improved beam quality based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams. The beam selection component 150 is further configured to communicate with the UE through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and the second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams provide improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams.

[0034] While the following description may focus on 5G NR, the concepts described herein may be applicable to other similar areas, such as 5G-Advanced and future versions, LTE, LTE-advanced (LTE-A), and other wireless technologies. The wireless communication system of Figure 1, along with aspects of timing diagrams 200-240 illustrated in Figures 2A-2C, may be used to implement aspects of subsequent figures.

[0035] 2A is a timing diagram 200 illustrating a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) update procedure based on TCI signaling between a UE 102 and a base station 104 or an entity of the base station 104 (e.g., an RU 106). The cell radius / coverage area of the base station 104 / RU 106 may be based on a link budget. The "link budget" refers to the accumulation of total gains and losses in the system, which provides an overall received power level at a receiver, such as the UE 102. The receiver may compare the received power level to the receiver sensitivity to determine whether the channel provides at least a minimum signal strength for signals communicated between the receiver and a transmitter (e.g., the UE 102 and the base station 104).

[0036] To increase the link budget, the base station 104 and the UE 102 may perform analog beamforming operations to activate beam pairs associated with increased signal strength. Both the base station 104 and the UE 102 may support multiple beams that may be used for the beam pairs. A beam pair that reduces coupling loss may result in increased coverage gain for the base station 104 and the UE 102. "Coupling loss" refers to the path loss / reduction in power density between a first antenna of the base station 104 and a second antenna of the UE 102 and may be indicated in units of decibels (dB).

[0037] A beam selection procedure for a beam pair activated by the base station 104 and the UE 102 may include the UE 102 performing a beam measurement and reporting procedure, followed by the base station 104 performing a beam indication procedure. The beam measurement and reporting procedure may be based on the UE 102 measuring multiple downlink reference signals (e.g., synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) and / or channel state information-reference signals (CSI-RSs)), where different beams of the base station 104 may be associated with different signals. For example, the UE 102 may perform a beam sweeping operation to measure the signal strength and / or interference of the reference signals (e.g., SSBs / CSI-RSs) at different time instances / different symbols associated with the downlink reference signals and report the measurement results. The beam indication procedure may include the base station 104 indicating a TCI state to the UE 102 based on a beam report received from the UE 102. A "TCI state" refers to a set of parameters for configuring a quasi-co-location (QCL) relationship between one or more downlink reference signals and corresponding antenna ports. For example, the TCI state may indicate the QCL relationship between the downlink reference signals in the CSI-RS set and the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) ports. Due to the antenna reciprocity theorem, a single TCI state may provide beam indication for both downlink and uplink channels / signals. Based on the TCI state, the base station 104 may transmit one or more downlink reference signals (e.g., SSB / CSI-RS) for the beam indication procedure.

[0038] The TCI update / indication signaling may be transmitted 202 via a MAC-Control Element (MAC-CE) or downlink control information (DCI). The base station 104 may indicate a separate TCI status for each downlink resource / channel, while the base station 104 may indicate separate spatial relationship information for each uplink resource / channel. The uplink information may be indicated via RRC or MAC-CE based on techniques similar to the TCI update / indication signaling 202 transmitted for downlink signaling. The base station 104 may indicate the TCI status for multiple downlink / uplink resources / channels using a single MAC-CE or DCI. For TCI update / indication signaling based on MAC-CE or DCI, the UE 102 begins to apply 206 the indicated TCI X ms / slot 208 after the UE 102 sends 204 an acknowledgement (ACK) for a transport block (TB) scheduled using MAC-CE or by DCI, or X ms / slot 208 after the UE 102 sends 204 an ACK for a DCI without a scheduled TB. In an embodiment, X may correspond to X=3 ms for TCI update / indication signaling sent based on MAC-CE, or X may be configured via RRC signaling for TCI update / indication signaling sent based on DCI, and X corresponds to a beam activation delay time.

[0039] Beam indication techniques associated with TCI signaling may include joint beam indication or separate beam indication. A "joint beam indication" refers to a single / joint TCI state used by the base station 104 to update the beam for both downlink and uplink channels / signals. For example, the base station 104 may indicate a single / joint TCI state in downlink TCI signaling configured based on the DLorJointTCIState parameter to update the beam for both downlink and uplink channels / signals. For TCI signaling based on a joint TCI state, the base station 104 may transmit SSB / CSI-RS to indicate the QCL relationship between the downlink channels / signals and the spatial relationship of the uplink channels / signals. In a first aspect, the TCI update / indication signaling transmitted by the base station 104 202 may correspond to a joint beam indication for both downlink and uplink channels / signals.

[0040] "Separate beam indication" refers to a first TCI state used by the base station 104 to update a first beam for a downlink channel / signal and a second TCI state used by the base station 104 to update a second beam for an uplink channel / signal. For example, the base station 104 can indicate a first TCI state in downlink TCI signaling configured based on the DLorJointTCIState parameter to update a first beam for a downlink channel / signal, and can indicate a second TCI state in further downlink TCI signaling configured based on the UL-TCIState parameter to update a second beam for an uplink channel / signal. When the base station 104 indicates a second TCI state (e.g., uplink TCI) in a downlink reference signal, the downlink reference signal may correspond to SSB / CSI-RS. In an embodiment in which the base station 104 uses an uplink reference signal to indicate the second TCI state, the uplink reference signal may correspond to a sounding reference signal (SRS), which may indicate the spatial relationship of the uplink channels / signals. In a second aspect, the TCI update / indication signaling transmitted by the base station 104 202 may correspond to either a downlink channel / signal or an uplink channel / signal based on a distinct beam indication technique.

[0041] The base station 104 may configure the QCL type and / or source reference signal for QCL signaling. The QCL type for the downlink reference signal may be based on higher layer parameters, such as qcl-Type in the QCL-Info parameter. The first QCL type, type A, includes values for Doppler shift, Doppler spread, mean delay, and delay spread. The second QCL type, type B, includes values for Doppler shift and Doppler spread. The third QCL type, type C, includes values for Doppler shift and mean delay. The fourth QCL type, type D, includes values for spatial receive (Rx) parameters. The UE 102 may use the same spatial transmit filter to receive downlink reference signals from the base station 104 or to indicate the spatial relationship used to transmit uplink TCI signaling to the base station 104.

[0042] FIG. 2B is a timing diagram 220 illustrating a beam selection procedure for a beam pair between a UE 102 and a base station 104 based on artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML). “AI / ML” refers to one or more data-driven algorithms that generate a set of outputs based on a set of inputs without being explicitly programmed to generate the set of outputs. For example, an AI / ML algorithm may use a data collection process to predict output values based on input values associated with historical data. The data collection process involves network nodes 106, 108, 110, and others, management entities 121, 122, and others, such as the UE 102, collecting data for training an AI / ML model, data analysis, inference, and the like. An AI / ML model corresponds to a data-driven algorithm that applies AI / ML techniques to generate a set of outputs based on a set of inputs. An AI / ML model is trained by learning input / output relationships for a given set of data, which the trained AI / ML model can use to generate inferences for a set of outputs based on a set of inputs.

[0043] The AI / ML model may be implemented to predict one or more improved beams for future communications between the base station 104 and the UE 102 based on one or more beam reports indicating past beam / status information. In an embodiment, a neural network 226 associated with the AI / ML model may receive as input a plurality of input beam indices 222 associated with the past beam / status of one or more best reported beams. The plurality of input beam indices 222 for the one or more best reported beams may correspond to beam information for active beams over a duration of X2 ms / slot 224. Based on receiving the plurality of input beam indices 222 for the one or more best reported beams, the neural network 226 outputs a corresponding set of one or more output beam indices 228 that the neural network 226 predicts to provide one or more best output beams in a future time (e.g., starting at the activation time and ending when the valid duration expires). The one or more output beam indices 228 for the one or more predicted output beams may correspond to active beams over a second duration of X1 ms / slot 230.

[0044] The base station 104 may utilize AI / ML techniques to indicate TCI conditions for future beams / conditions based on past beam measurement and report information received from the UE 102. However, the neural network 226 may not be able to predict the best future beam with a threshold level of accuracy when the future beam is subject to sudden changes in conditions (e.g., based on UE rotation, translation, and / or antenna obstruction). Thus, the UE 102 may transmit a report to the base station 104 including UE assistance information indicating whether one or more output beam indices 228 of the neural network 226 actually experience a beam quality and / or link budget that is better than one or more current serving beams.

[0045] 2C is a timing diagram 240 illustrating a TCI signaling procedure associated with out-of-order beam activation times. The base station 104 may transmit DCI to the UE 102 in a manner that implicitly or explicitly indicates whether a second beam indication 242b to the UE 102 “overwrites” (i.e., is to be used instead of) a first beam indication 242a to the UE 102. Initially, the base station 104 first indicates 242a the first beam indication to the UE 102 and then indicates 242b the second beam indication to the UE 102.

[0046] The base station 104 may use a field in the DCI to explicitly indicate to the UE 102 whether a first beam indication has been overwritten by a second beam indication indicated in a previous DCI. The first beam associated with the first beam indication and the second beam associated with the second beam indication may correspond to predicted beams of a beam prediction procedure performed at the base station 104. In some embodiments, reserved values for certain fields, such as antenna ports, may be used to provide the indication in the DCI. In further embodiments, the indication in the DCI may correspond to an index of a starting control channel element (CCE) for a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). For example, an odd index may indicate to the UE 102 that the base station 104 is overwriting a previous beam indication, and an even index may indicate to the UE 102 that the base station 104 is not overwriting a previous beam indication. The indication in the DCI may also correspond to a search space or control resource set (CORESET) for the PDCCH. The base station 104 can utilize the TCI in the PDCCH for the search space / CORESET to indicate whether the base station 104 is overwriting a previous beam indication (e.g., based on the search space type, such as a common search space or a UE-specific search space, a search space index, and / or a CORESET index configured based on RRC signaling).

[0047] The base station 104 can deactivate the previous beam indication via DCI or MAC-CE. A field included in the MAC-CE indication for TCI status / spatial relationship information may indicate whether the base station 104 is deactivating the previous beam indication for one or more corresponding channels. In an embodiment, the base station 104 may use a dedicated TCI status / spatial relationship information index to indicate the deactivation of the previous beam indication for one or more corresponding channels. In a further embodiment, the base station 104 may use a field in the TCI signaling to indicate the deactivation of the previous beam indication.

[0048] For beam indication based on MAC-CE or DCI, the base station 104 and the UE 102 may determine whether the indicated TCI state in the MAC-CE or DCI implicitly overrides a previous beam indication associated with a predicted TCI state based on an activation delay time. For example, the UE 102 may receive 242a a first TCI indication signaling from the base station 104 at a first time instance with an indicator of a first activation delay time 208a, and may receive 242b a second TCI indication signaling from the base station 104 at a second time instance with an indicator of a second activation delay time 208b. However, the activation delay time 208b for the second TCI indication signaling may be shorter than the activation delay time 208a for the first TCI indication signaling. In this embodiment, the UE overrides the shorter activation duration 208b that caused the second beam activation 244b associated with the second TCI indication signaling to occur before the first beam activation 244a associated with the first TCI indication signaling. That is, when the first / second beam activations 244a-244b are scheduled to occur out of order from the order in which the first / second TCI indication signalings 242a-242b are received from the base station 104, the later activation 244a overrides the earlier, out-of-order activation 244b. Thus, when this occurs, the UE 102 may determine that the first TCI indication signaling overrides the second TCI indication signaling and may omit activating 244b the second, out-of-order TCI indication signaling. The UE 102 may send a UE capability report to the base station 104 indicating whether the UE 102 supports explicit and / or implicit out-of-order activation times for TCI indication signaling.2A-2C illustrate a beam indication / selection technique, while FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate a beam quality verification procedure for an indicated / selected beam.

[0049] 3A illustrates a signaling diagram 300 for time-domain communication between a network entity 304 and a UE 102 after a beam activation delay time based on a beam prediction procedure associated with UE assistance information. The network entity 304 may correspond to the base station 104 or an entity at the base station 104, such as the RU 106, the DU 108, or the CU 110.

[0050] The UE 102 sends 305 a UE capability message to the network entity 304. The UE capability message may indicate whether the UE 102 supports out-of-order activation time for TCI indication signaling (e.g., skip 244b), as described with respect to FIG. 2C. In a further embodiment, the UE capability message may indicate whether the UE supports a beam prediction procedure (e.g., via a field in the UE capability message indicating support for UE assistance information, beam activation delay time, etc.). The network entity 304 sends 306 a beam measurement and reporting configuration to the UE 102 via RRC signaling. The beam measurement and reporting configuration may configure a first beam measurement and reporting procedure (e.g., 310-312) and / or a second beam measurement and reporting procedure (e.g., 320-322) associated with the predicted beam indication signaling. For example, the network entity 304 may transmit at least one first RRC message (e.g., RRCReconfiguration message(s)) that configures the UE 102 for a first beam measurement and reporting procedure. The at least one first RRC message may also include one or more RRC parameters that enable reception 316 of predicted beam indication signaling that indicates the predicted beam from the network entity 304. In further embodiments, the network entity 304 may transmit a second RRC message (e.g., RRCReconfiguration message) that configures / enables the UE 102 for a second beam measurement and reporting procedure associated with the predicted beam indicated in the predicted beam indication signaling.

[0051] The network entity 304 may transmit 308 to the UE 102 one or more downlink reference signals that may be used by the UE 102 for the first beam measurement and reporting procedure (e.g., 310-312). The one or more downlink reference signals may correspond to one or more SSBs, CSI-RS, etc. The network entity 304 may transmit 308 the one or more downlink reference signals before, during, or after transmission of the at least one first RRC message and / or second RRC message.

[0052] The UE 102 measures 310 one or more downlink reference signals received 308 from the network entity 304 to perform a first beam measurement and reporting procedure. The measurement 310 may be performed in response to at least one first RRC message received 306 from the network entity 304. The UE 102 transmits 312 a beam report to the network entity 304 based on the beam measurements. The beam report may indicate one or more beam indices along with corresponding beam quality information, such as Layer 1 (L1)-Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) (L1-RSRP) information and / or L1-Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio (SINR) (L1-SINR) information. UE reporting of beam quality may be activated based on RRC, MAC-CE, or DCI signaling. For example, the network entity 304 may indicate whether a beam report is to be transmitted from the UE 102 based on the MAC-CE. In other embodiments, a field of the DCI may be used to indicate whether the UE 102 will send a beam report to the network entity, or the UE report may be based on the DCI format, search space, or CORESET for the DCI. One or more beam indices included in the beam report transmitted 312 to the network entity 304 identify at least a subset of one or more downlink reference signals received 308 from the network entity 304. The network entity 304 may request multiple cycles of reference signal beam reports 390, either periodic or aperiodic.

[0053] The network entity 304 predicts 314 a future beam for the UE 102 that may have increased quality over the current serving beam based on a beam prediction procedure. The beam prediction may be based on a cycle of beam reports received 312 from the UE 102. The beam prediction may utilize AI / ML techniques. The network entity 304 transmits 316 a predicted beam indication signaling to the UE 102 indicating the beam predicted 314 by the network entity 304. The predicted beam indication signaling may indicate TCI state and / or spatial relationship information indicating the beam predicted 314 by the network entity 304. The beam indication signaling may also indicate a time at which the UE 102 will activate the beam predicted 314 by the network entity 304 if the beam has increased quality over the current serving beam for the UE 102. If the beam indication signaling includes a valid duration for activating the predicted beam that expires before the UE 102 uses the predicted beam, the UE 102 does not activate the predicted beam. If the predicted beam is activated by the UE 102 after the activation time and within the valid duration, the current serving beam is switched to the predicted beam. These two values, the activation time 208 and the valid duration, limit the UE's use of the predicted beam in time.

[0054] In response to receiving 316 the predicted beam indication signaling, the UE 102 transmits 318 a first acknowledgement / negative acknowledgement (ACK / NACK) feedback to the network entity 304. For example, the UE 102 transmits an ACK to the network entity 304 indicating that the UE 102 successfully decoded the predicted beam indication signaling. The first ACK / NACK feedback transmitted 318 to the network entity 304 may correspond to a hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)-ACK (HARQ-ACK). If the UE 102 does not successfully decode the predicted beam indication signaling, the UE 102 transmits 318 a negative acknowledgement (NACK) to the network entity 304. In such a case, the network entity 304 can retransmit the predicted beam indication signaling to the UE 102, can transmit a different predicted beam indication signaling to the UE 102, or can refrain from further transmission of the predicted beam indication signaling to the UE 102. The network entity 304 can configure dedicated PUCCH resources for the UE 102 to transmit 318 a first ACK / NACK feedback for the predicted beam indication signaling. The UE 102 transmits 318 the first ACK / NACK feedback on N slots / symbols of the PUCCH resources before the beam activation time of the predicted beam. The value of N can be predefined or configured by the network entity 304 based on higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC parameters for the PUCCH-config or PDSCH-config). In some embodiments, the UE 102 transmits 318 the first ACK / NACK feedback on the PUCCH resource based on the first ACK / NACK feedback corresponding to the NACK indication. Thus, if the predicted beam satisfies the beam activation condition, the UE 102 may activate the predicted beam without transmitting 318 the first ACK / NACK feedback to the network entity 304.When the PUCCH resources overlap with the PUSCH in the time domain, the UE 102 may multiplex the transmission of the ACK with other information on the PUSCH. In other embodiments, the UE 102 may transmit either the PUCCH or the PUSCH.

[0055] Before the validity time for activation of the predicted beam expires, the UE 102 may monitor (e.g., periodically or aperiodically) whether the predicted beam satisfies the activation condition. For example, the UE 102 may measure 320 the beam quality of the predicted beam and the current serving beam to determine whether the predicted beam satisfies the activation condition. If the UE 102 detects that the predicted beam satisfies the activation condition before the validity time expires, the UE 102 may transmit 322 UE assistance information to the network entity 304 (e.g., using an RRC message, a MAC-CE indication, a PUCCH transmission, etc.) indicating that the UE 102 recommends switching to the predicted beam. In an embodiment, the UE 102 may transmit 322 UE assistance information for the predicted beam in an uplink beam associated with the current serving beam. The UE 102 may transmit a second ACK / NACK feedback in the UE assistance information for N slots / symbols of the predicted beam before the beam activation time of the predicted beam to indicate whether the predicted beam satisfies the beam activation condition(s). The UE 102 may transmit 322 the UE assistance information via MAC-CE, such as for transmitting the second NACK. In an embodiment, the MAC-CE for transmitting 322 the UE assistance information may also be used to indicate one or more of a serving cell index, a BWP index (e.g., a DL BWP / UL BWP index), a TCI state / spatial relationship information index associated with the NACK, a recommended beam, a beam quality for the predicted beam, a current serving beam or a recommended beam, a recommended beam index, etc. The UE 102 may request the network entity 304 to schedule resources for the UE 102 to transmit 322 the UE assistance information via MAC-CE. For example, the network entity 304 may configure resources based on higher layer signaling or based on a contention-based random access (CBRA) procedure.

[0056] In some embodiments, the network entity 304 sends a command to the UE 102 (not shown, occurring after 318) for the UE 102 to temporarily refrain from performing beam measurements and reporting on beams other than the predicted beam and the serving beam. The command may be indicated by an RRC message (e.g., an RRC reconfiguration message), a MAC-CE, or a DCI. In response to the command, the UE stops and / or refrains from measuring beams other than the predicted beam and the current serving beam for a configured period of time. In further embodiments, successfully decoding the predicted beam indication signaling may trigger the UE 102 to stop and / or refrain from measuring beams other than the predicted beam and the current serving beam.

[0057] After receiving 322 the UE assistance information for the predicted beam, the network entity 304 may transmit 324 a response message to the UE 102 indicating acceptance / configuration for the predicted beam. Alternatively, the network entity 304 may determine that a different beam may provide better quality than the predicted beam and may indicate in the 324 response message sent to the UE 102 that the different beam will be used for communication with the network entity 304. The UE 102 may transmit a third ACK / NACK feedback to the network entity 304 (not shown, occurring after 324, where the second ACK / NACK feedback may correspond to the UE assistance information being an ACK or NACK) acknowledging (positively or negatively) the 324 response message received from the network entity 304.

[0058] The UE 102 may communicate 326 with the network entity 304 based on the directed beam after the beam activation delay time. For example, the UE 102 may receive a downlink transmission from the network entity 304 on the directed beam (e.g., the predicted beam or a different beam directed in the response message) after the beam activation delay time. After the UE 102 activates the directed beam to communicate 326 with the network entity 304, the UE 102 may stop using the current serving beam for communication with the network entity 304. That is, the UE 102 may switch the current serving beam to the directed beam. After the network entity 304 starts using the directed beam to communicate 326 with the UE 102, the network entity 304 may also stop using the current serving beam for communication with the UE 102.

[0059] If the UE 102 detects a beam failure on the commanded beam after switching the current serving beam to the commanded beam, the UE 102 may send a request to the network entity 304 to switch the serving beam back to the previous serving beam or a different beam. If the UE 102 detects a beam failure on the current serving beam before the beam activation time, the UE 102 may perform a beam failure recovery (BFR) procedure with the network entity 304 for the current serving beam. The UE 102 may not activate the predicted beam in response to detecting the beam failure or in response to initiating the BFR procedure.

[0060] 3B illustrates a signaling diagram 301 for time-domain communication between a network entity 304 and a UE 102 after a beam activation delay time based on a beam prediction procedure associated with a beam activation indication. Elements 305, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, and 390 of FIG. 3B have already been described with respect to FIG. 3A. Element 326 has also been described with respect to FIG. 3A, although not in combination with element 325.

[0061] Before the validity timer for activation of the predicted beam expires, the UE 102 may monitor whether the predicted beam satisfies the activation condition. If the UE 102 detects that the predicted beam satisfies the activation condition before the validity time expires, the UE 102 may send 325 a beam activation indication to the network entity 304, instructing the network entity 304 that the current serving beam is being switched to the predicted beam. The UE 102 may send 325 the beam activation indication via an RRC message, a MAC-CE, or a PUCCH transmission. In an embodiment, the UE 102 sends 325 the beam activation indication to the network entity 304 before the beam activation time (i.e., the UE 102 starts communicating 326 with the network entity 304 based on the X slots of the predicted beam after sending 325 the beam activation indication). In a further embodiment, the UE 102 may transmit 325 a beam activation indication at or after the beam activation time (i.e., the UE 102 may begin communicating 326 with the network entity 304 based on the predicted beam immediately after transmitting the beam activation indication). The UE 102 may transmit 325 a beam activation indication to the network entity 325 on an uplink beam corresponding to the predicted beam. If the UE 102 detects that the predicted beam does not meet the activation condition, the UE 102 may continue to communicate with the network entity 304 on the current serving beam.

[0062] If the UE 102 switches its current serving beam to the predicted beam, the UE 102 may begin communicating 326 with the network entity 304 based on the indicated beam (i.e., the predicted beam associated with the beam indication signaling). The UE 102 may communicate 326 with the network entity 304 after a beam activation delay time without receiving a subsequent indication, such as the response message 324 of FIG. 3A , from the network entity 304 to switch its current serving beam to the predicted beam. After the UE 102 activates the predicted beam to communicate 326 with the network entity 304, the UE 102 may stop using the current serving beam for communication with the network entity 304. After the network entity 304 starts using the predicted beam to communicate 326 with the UE 102, the network entity 304 may also stop using the current serving beam for communication with the UE 102. Based on receiving 325 a beam activation indication from the UE 102, the network entity 304 may communicate 326 with the UE 102 based on the predicted beam after a beam activation delay time.

[0063] In some embodiments, the UE 102 does not send 325 a beam activation indication to the network entity 304 in response to the UE 102 determining to switch the current serving beam to the predicted beam. Instead, if the UE 102 detects that the predicted beam satisfies the activation condition, the UE 102 begins communicating 326 based on the predicted beam after a beam activation delay time. In other words, there is a time gap between 325 and 326. If the UE 102 detects that the predicted beam does not satisfy the activation condition, the UE 102 may send an indication to the network entity 304 on an uplink beam associated with the current serving beam, instructing the network entity 304 that the predicted beam does not satisfy the activation condition. The network entity 304 may determine whether the UE 102 will later use the predicted beam.

[0064] If the UE 102 detects beam failure on the current serving beam, the UE 102 can send 325 a beam activation indication to the network entity 304 (e.g., on the predicted beam) and can switch the current serving beam to the predicted beam for communication with the network entity 304. In a further embodiment, if the UE 102 detects beam failure on the current serving beam, the UE 102 can perform a BFR procedure with the network entity 304. The UE 102 may not activate the predicted beam in response to detecting beam failure or in response to initiating a BFR procedure.

[0065] 3C illustrates a signaling diagram 302 for time-domain communication between a network entity 304 and a UE 102 after a beam activation delay time and before the beam valid duration expires based on a beam prediction procedure associated with UE assistance information. Elements 305, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, 322, 324, and 390 of FIG. 3C have already been described with respect to FIG. 3A.

[0066] When the network entity 304 sends 316 the predicted beam indication signaling to the UE 102, the network entity 304 may include / indicate a validity period / duration for activating the predicted beam via the predicted beam indication signaling. If the beam validity time expires before the UE 102 uses the predicted beam, the UE 102 does not activate the predicted beam.

[0067] Before the beam validity time expires (e.g., upon receiving 324 the response message from the network entity 304), the UE 102 can communicate 328 with the network entity 304 based on the directed beam. For example, the UE 102 may receive a downlink transmission from the network entity 304 on the directed beam (e.g., the predicted beam or a different beam directed in the response message) before the beam validity time expires. After the UE 102 activates 328 the directed beam to communicate with the network entity 304, the UE 102 may stop using the current serving beam for communication with the network entity 304. That is, the UE 102 may switch the current serving beam to the directed beam. After the network entity 304 starts using 328 the directed beam to communicate with the UE 102, the network entity 304 may also stop using the current serving beam for communication with the UE 102.

[0068] 3D illustrates a signaling diagram 303 for time-domain communication between a network entity 304 and a UE 102 after a beam activation delay time and before the beam valid duration expires, based on a beam prediction procedure associated with a beam activation indication. Elements 305, 306, 308, 310, 312, 314, 316, 318, 320, and 390 of FIG. 3D have been previously described with respect to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3C. Element 325 has also been previously described with respect to FIG. 3B, although not in combination with element 328.

[0069] As shown, the UE 102 sends a beam activation indication 325 to the network entity 304 before the beam validity time expires (e.g., as soon as it detects that the predicted beam meets the activation condition, without receiving a subsequent indication from the network entity 304 to switch the current serving beam to the predicted beam, such as the response message 324 of FIG. 3C ). If the UE 102 detects that the predicted beam does not meet the activation condition before the beam validity time expires, the UE 102 may continue to communicate with the network entity 304 on the current serving beam.

[0070] The UE 102 can communicate 328 with the network entity 304 based on the predicted beam before the beam effective duration expires. After the UE 102 activates 328 the predicted beam to communicate with the network entity 304, the UE 102 may stop using the current serving beam for communication with the network entity 304. That is, the UE 102 may switch the current serving beam to the predicted beam. After the network entity 304 starts using 328 the predicted beam to communicate with the UE 102, the network entity 304 may also stop using the current serving beam for communication with the UE 102. The network entity 304 may communicate 328 with the UE 102 based on the predicted beam before the beam effective duration expires based on receiving 325 the beam activation indication from the UE 102.

[0071] For time-domain beam prediction, the network entity 304 may indicate a beam activation delay time for TCI status, spatial relationship information, and / or path loss reference signal updates. For example, the network entity 304 may indicate a beam activation delay time via MAC-CE or DCI. The UE 102 may apply a beam activation delay time to a target channel associated with the indicated / predicted beam. The UE 102 may report 305 UE capabilities for a minimum beam activation delay and / or a maximum beam activation delay. In an embodiment, the beam activation delay time may correspond to M symbols based on a subcarrier spacing (SCS) for a downlink bandwidth portion (BWP) associated with the TCI update / indication signaling, or based on an SCS for an uplink BWP associated with the ACK / NACK feedback transmitted 318 for the beam indication signaling. The UE 102 and the network entity 304 may count the beam activation time for the predicted beam after the ACK / NACK feedback transmitted 318 for the beam indication signaling.

[0072] If the network entity 304 determines (e.g., based on beam measurements and reports from the UE 102) that a previously indicated predicted beam does not provide improved beam quality over the current serving beam, the network entity 304 may deactivate or cancel the previously indicated predicted beam. The network entity 304 may utilize RRC signaling to enable TCI update / indication signaling, which may be configured per search space, per CORESET, per BWP, per serving cell, per serving cell group, per serving cell list, or per UE.

[0073] The network entity 304 may configure a beam activation delay time based on the MAC-CE for the TCI state / spatial relationship information. The network entity 304 may indicate a list of candidate beam activation delays via RRC signaling, or the list of candidate beam activation delays may be based on a predefined protocol. A field in the MAC-CE may be used to select a beam activation delay for the TCI state / spatial relationship information. Alternatively, the network entity 304 may indicate a beam activation delay separately via RRC signaling or a second MAC-CE. In further embodiments, the network entity 304 may indicate a beam activation delay via DCI, may indicate a list of candidate beam activation delays via RRC signaling, or the list of candidate beam activation delays may be based on a predefined protocol. A field in DCI Format 1_1 or DCI Format 1_2 may be used to select a beam activation delay for the TCI state / spatial relationship information.

[0074] The UE 102 may transmit 322 a second ACK / NACK feedback corresponding to the UE assistance information after comparing the beam quality of the predicted beam with the current serving beam. The UE 102 may determine the beam quality based on L1-RSRP information, L1-SINR information, or combining loss for the downlink reference signal corresponding to the TCI state / spatial relationship information for the predicted beam and the current serving beam. The UE 102 may determine the combining loss based on the L1-RSRP / transmit power for the downlink reference signal. In some embodiments, the network 304 may configure a beam quality comparison metric at the UE 102 (not shown).

[0075] If at least a subset of the predicted beam activation conditions are satisfied, the UE 102 may transmit 322 an ACK to the network entity 304 in a second ACK / NACK feedback associated with the UE assistance information. Thus, the UE 102 may transmit 318 a first ACK / NACK feedback indicating whether the UE 102 successfully decoded the beam indication signaling, the UE 102 may transmit 322 a second ACK / NACK feedback in the UE assistance information indicating whether the predicted beam satisfies the predicted beam activation conditions, and the UE 102 may transmit 324 a third ACK / NACK feedback (not shown, performed after 324) indicating whether the UE 102 received 324 a response message from the network entity 304. The one or more thresholds associated with the predicted beam activation conditions may be configured for the UE 102 based on higher layer signaling or may be based on a predefined protocol. Otherwise, the UE 102 may send a NACK for the second ACK / NACK feedback to the network entity 304. The UE 102 may send an ACK for the second ACK / NACK feedback based on at least one of the beam quality of the current serving beam being below a first threshold, the beam quality of the predicted beam being above a second threshold, or the beam quality of the predicted beam being above the beam quality of the current serving beam by a third threshold.

[0076] In a multi-beam indication embodiment where more than one TCI state / spatial relationship information is included in the predicted beam indication signaling transmitted 316 to the UE 102, the beam quality may be based on an average beam quality, a minimum beam quality, or a maximum beam quality associated with the multiple beams. In a further embodiment, the UE 102 may transmit ACK / NACK feedback for each predicted beam of the multi-beam indication. Thus, if T beams are included in the multi-beam indication signaling, the UE 102 may transmit 322 T ACK / NACKs for the T beams to the network entity 304.

[0077] The network entity 304 may request beam quality reports for the predicted beam and the current serving beam (not shown). The transmitted request may trigger a dedicated CSI-reportConfig in the UE 102, which may be configured for a specific beam ID, such that the UE 102 reports beam quality (e.g., L1-RSRP / L1-SINR) for the predicted beam and the current serving beam instead of beam quality for the channel measurement resource (CMR). In a further embodiment, the network entity 304 may trigger a CSI-reportConfig whose CMR list includes downlink reference signals that are quasi-colocated (QCLed) with or identical to downlink reference signals configured for the TCI state to be applied or the current TCI state. The UE 102 may report at least the beam quality for the predicted beam and the current serving beam in a manner similar to transmitting 312 the beam report. In further embodiments, the UE 102 can directly report the beam quality for the predicted beam and the current serving beam to the network entity 304 as UE-assisted information for the predicted beam at 322 based on the configured PUCCH resources in N slots / symbols prior to the beam activation time of the predicted beam. Figures 3A-3D illustrate beam activation based on UE assistance. In some embodiments, elements 326 and 328 may be combined into a single block (e.g., communication may be based on the commanded beam, both of which are activated after the beam activation delay time and before the expiration of the beam valid duration). Figures 4A-4C support MAC-CE indication for beam activation.

[0078] 4A-4C illustrate MAC-CE indication diagrams 410-430 for time-domain beam prediction. The beam prediction indication based on the MAC-CE may be associated with a flag (F) indicating whether the predicted beam overrides a previously commanded predicted beam that has not yet been activated, such as that illustrated in FIG. 2C. If the network entity 304 determines, based on an updated beam measurement report received from the UE 102, that the previously commanded / predicted beam does not meet the activation condition, the network entity may replace the previously commanded / predicted beam with a different beam commanded via the MAC-CE. For example, the network entity 304 may receive 322 a second NACK for the previously commanded beam, which may cause the network entity 304 to select a different beam by sending a MAC-CE that overrides the previously commanded beam.

[0079] 4A illustrates TCI state activation / indication for time domain beam prediction based on a first MAC-CE indication diagram 410. The first MAC-CE indication diagram 410 includes an "Action Delay" field used to indicate a beam activation delay. The first MAC-CE indication diagram 410 also includes a field "F" used to indicate whether the MAC-CE is overwriting a previous MAC-CE for a previously predicted beam. Other fields in the first MAC-CE indication diagram 410 correspond to fields associated with predefined protocols.

[0080] 4B-4C illustrate example MAC-CE indications for updating spatial relationship information. For example, FIG. 4B illustrates PUCCH spatial relationship information for time-domain beam prediction based on a second MAC-CE indication diagram 420. FIG. 4C illustrates SRS spatial relationship information for time-domain beam prediction based on a third MAC-CE indication diagram 430. The second / third MAC-CE indication diagrams 420-430 also include an action delay field and an F field, and additional octets may be added to the MAC-CE indication diagram 430 to indicate the action delay and F fields. In some embodiments, the F field may be replaced by a reserved field R. Other fields in the second / third MAC-CE indication diagrams 420-430 correspond to fields associated with predefined protocols. FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate predicted beam activation based on UE assistance (FIGS. 3A and 3C) or UE beam activation (FIGS. 3B and 3D).

[0023] Figures 5-6 illustrate methods for implementing one or more aspects of Figures 3A-3D. In particular, Figure 5 illustrates an implementation of one or more aspects of Figures 3A-3D by a UE 102. Figure 6 illustrates an implementation of one or more aspects of Figures 3A-3D by a network entity 304.

[0081] 5 illustrates a flowchart 500 of a method of wireless communication in a UE. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7, the method may be performed by the UE 102, UE device 702, etc., which may include memory 724′, which may correspond to the entire UE 102 or UE device 702 or components of the UE 102 or UE device 702, such as the wireless baseband processor 724 and / or the application processor 706.

[0082] The UE 102 transmits 505 a UE capability message indicating at least one of a first UE capability for a beam prediction procedure, a second UE capability for an out-of-order beam activation time, or a third UE capability for a duration of a beam activation delay. For example, with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D , the UE 102 transmits 305 a UE capability message to the network entity 304.

[0083] The UE 102 receives 506 an RRC message indicating a configuration for beam reporting for one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the UE 102 receives 306 a beam measurement and reporting configuration from the network entity 304.

[0084] The UE 102 receives 516 beam indication signaling from the network entity indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of one or more current serving beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the UE 102 receives 316 predicted beam indication signaling from the network entity 304 based on the beam prediction performed 314 by the network entity 304. With reference to Figure 2C, the neural network 226 may predict a small number of candidate beams.

[0085] The UE 102 measures 520 a first beam quality of one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality of one or more candidate beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the UE 102 measures 320 the beam quality of the predicted beam and the current serving beam.

[0086] If the beam prediction procedure is activated by the network, the UE 102 transmits 522 beam quality information to the network entity 304 indicating a first beam quality measured for one or more current serving beams and / or a second beam quality measured for one or more candidate beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3A and 3C, the UE 102 transmits 322 UE assistance information for the predicted beams to the network entity 304. The UE assistance information indicates the measured 320 beam quality of the predicted beam and / or the current serving beam.

[0087] The UE 102 receives 524 a message from the network entity based on the transmission of the beam quality information, indicating a communication beam for communicating with the network entity. For example, with reference to Figures 3A and 3C, after the UE 102 transmits 322 the UE assistance information for the predicted beam to the network entity 304, the UE 102 receives 324 a response message from the network entity 304. The response message indicates a beam for communicating with the network entity 304, as well as a beam activation time or beam valid duration.

[0088] If the beam prediction procedure is activated by the UE, the UE 102 sends 525 a beam activation indication to the network entity based on measurements of first beam qualities of one or more current serving beams and second beam qualities of one or more candidate beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3B and 3D, the UE 102 sends 325 a beam activation indication to the network entity 304 based on the measured 320 beam qualities of the predicted beam and the current serving beam.

[0089] The UE 102 communicates 527 with a network entity through one or more candidate beams or one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality. For example, with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D , the UE 102 communicates 326 / 328 with the network entity 304 based on the commanded beam. If the commanded beam is activated by the network, the activation duration 208 may begin when the UE 102 receives 324 a response message. If the commanded beam is activated by the UE, the activation duration 208 may begin when the UE 102 sends 325 a beam activation indication. Figure 5 describes the method from the UE side of the wireless communication link, while Figure 6 describes the method from the network side of the wireless communication link.

[0090] 6 is a flowchart 600 of a method of wireless communication in a network entity. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 8 , the method may be performed by the base station 104 or by one or more network entities 804 in the base station 104, where the one or more network entities 804 in the base station 104 may correspond to the RU 106, the DU 108, the CU 110, the RU processor 842, the DU processor 832, the CU processor 812, etc. The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 in the base station 104 may include memory 812′ / 832′ / 842′, where the memory 812′ / 832′ / 842′ may correspond to one or more network entities 804 or the base station 104 in its entirety or to components of one or more network entities 804 or the base station 104, such as the RU processor 842, the DU processor 832, or the CU processor 812.

[0091] The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 transmit 606 an RRC message indicating a configuration for beam reporting for one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 transmit 306 to the UE 102 a beam measurement and reporting configuration for the predicted beam indicated in the predicted beam indication signaling.

[0092] The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 receives 605 a UE capability message indicating at least one of a first UE capability for a beam prediction procedure, a second UE capability for an out-of-order beam activation time, or a third UE capability for a duration of a beam activation delay. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the network entity 304 receives 305 a UE capability message from the UE 102.

[0093] The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 selects 614 one or more candidate beams for communication with the UE based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 performs 314 a beam prediction procedure to select a predicted beam for communication with the UE 102. A beam selection component 150 of the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104, such as the RU 106, the DU 108, and / or the CU 110, may perform the selection 614.

[0094] The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 transmit 616 a beam indication signaling to the UE indicating a selected beam from the one or more candidate beams based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3A-3D, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 transmit 316 a predicted beam indication signaling to the UE 102 based on the beam prediction performed 314 by the network entity 304.

[0095] When the beam prediction procedure is activated by the network, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 receives 622 beam quality information from the UE indicating a first beam quality measured for one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality measured for one or more candidate beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3A and 3C, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 receives 322 UE assistance information for predicted beams from the UE 102. The UE assistance information may indicate the measured 320 beam quality of the predicted beam and / or the current serving beam.

[0096] Based on receiving the beam quality information, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 may transmit 624 a message to the UE indicating a communication beam for communicating with the UE. For example, with reference to Figures 3A and 3C, after receiving 322 the UE assistance information for the predicted beam from the UE 102, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 may transmit 324 a response message to the UE 102. The response message may indicate a beam for communicating with the UE 102.

[0097] If the beam prediction procedure is activated by the UE, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 receives 625 a beam activation indication from the UE based on a first beam quality measurement of one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality measurement of one or more candidate beams. For example, with reference to Figures 3B and 3D, the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 receives 325 a beam activation indication from the UE 102 based on the measured 320 beam qualities of the predicted beam and the current serving beam.

[0098] The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 communicate 627 with the UE through one or more candidate beams or one or more current serving beams based on whether the first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and the second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams. For example, with reference to FIGS. 3A-3D , the base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104 communicate 326 / 328 with the UE 102 based on the directed beam. If the directed beam is activated by the network, the activation duration 208 may begin when the UE 102 receives 324 a response message. If the directed beam is activated by the UE, the activation duration 208 may begin when the UE 102 sends 325 a beam activation indication. A UE device 702, as illustrated in FIG. 7, may perform the method of flowchart 500. The base station 104 or one or more network entities 804 at the base station 104, as illustrated in FIG. 8, may perform the method of flowchart 600.

[0099] 7 is a diagram 700 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a UE device 702. The device 702 may be a UE 102, a UE 102 component, or may implement UE functionality. In some aspects, the device 702 may include a wireless baseband processor 724 (also referred to as a modem) coupled to one or more transceivers 722 (e.g., wireless RF transceivers). The wireless baseband processor 724 may include on-chip memory 724′. In some aspects, the device 702 may further include an application processor 706 coupled to one or more subscriber identity module (SIM) cards 720 as well as a secure digital (SD) card 708 and a screen 710. The application processor 706 may include on-chip memory 706′.

[0100] The device 702 may further include a Bluetooth module 712, a WLAN module 714, an SPS module 716 (e.g., a GNSS module), and a cellular module 717 within one or more transceivers 722. The Bluetooth module 712, the WLAN module 714, the SPS module 716, and the cellular module 717 may include on-chip transceivers (TRX) (or, in some cases, only receivers (RX)). The Bluetooth module 712, the WLAN module 714, the SPS module 716, and the cellular module 717 may include their own dedicated antennas and / or utilize antennas 780 for communications. The device 702 may further include one or more sensor modules 718 (e.g., barometric pressure sensor / altimeter, inertial management unit (IMU), motion sensors such as gyroscope and / or accelerometer(s), light detection and ranging (LIDAR), radio-aided detection and ranging (RADAR), sound navigation and ranging (SONAR), magnetometer, audio, and / or other technologies used for positioning), additional modules of memory 726, a power supply 730, and / or a camera 732.

[0101] The radio baseband processor 724 communicates with other UEs 102 and / or RUs associated with the base station 104 through the transceiver(s) 722 via one or more antennas 780. The radio baseband processor 724 and the application processor 706 may each include a computer-readable medium / memory 724′, 706′, respectively. Additional modules in the memory 726 may also be considered computer-readable media / memory. Each computer-readable medium / memory 724′, 706′, 726 may be non-transitory. The radio baseband processor 724 and the application processor 706 are each responsible for overall processing, including the execution of software stored in the computer-readable medium / memory. The software, when executed by the radio baseband processor 724 / application processor 706, causes the radio baseband processor 724 / application processor 706 to perform various functions as described. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used to store data manipulated by the radio baseband processor 724 / application processor 706 when executing the software. The wireless baseband processor 724 / application processor 706 may be components of the UE 102. The device 702 may be a processor chip (modem and / or application) and may include only the wireless baseband processor 724 and / or the application processor 706, or in another configuration, the device 702 may be the entire UE 102 and may include additional modules of the device 702.

[0102] As discussed, the predicted beam verification component 140 is configured to receive beam indication signaling from a network entity indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of one or more current serving beams. The predicted beam verification component 140 is further configured to measure a first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams, and communicate with the network entity through the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality. The predicted beam verification component 140 may be within the wireless baseband processor 724, the application processor 706, or both the wireless baseband processor 724 and the application processor 706. The predicted beam verification component 140 may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to perform the described processes / algorithms, implemented by one or more processors configured to execute the described processes / algorithms, stored on a computer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors, or some combination thereof.

[0103] As shown, the apparatus 702 may include various components configured for various functions. In one configuration, the apparatus 702, and in particular the radio baseband processor 724 and / or the application processor 706, includes means for receiving beam indication signaling from a network entity indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to have improved beam quality over a current beam quality of one or more current serving beams, means for measuring first beam qualities of the one or more current serving beams and second beam qualities of the one or more candidate beams, and means for communicating with the network entity through the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality.

[0104] The apparatus 702 further includes means for receiving an RRC message indicating a configuration for a beam report for one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling. The apparatus 702 further includes means for receiving, from a network entity, control signaling indicating uplink resources for transmitting the beam report to the network entity. The apparatus 702 further includes means for transmitting, to the network entity, beam quality information indicating a first beam quality measured for one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality measured for one or more candidate beams, and means for receiving, from the network entity based on transmitting the beam quality information, a message indicating a communication beam for communicating with the network entity. The apparatus 702 further includes means for transmitting, to the network entity, an ACK indicating at least one of: the first beam quality of one or more current serving beams is below a first threshold; the second beam quality of one or more candidate beams is above a second threshold; or the second beam quality of one or more candidate beams is above the first beam quality of one or more current serving beams by a third threshold. The apparatus 702 further includes means for transmitting a beam activation indication to a network entity based on measuring a first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams, the means being a predicted beam validation component 140 of the apparatus 702 configured to perform the functions described by the means.

[0105] 8 is a diagram 800 illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for one or more network entities 804. The one or more network entities 804 may be a base station, a component of a base station, or may implement base station functionality. The one or more network entities 804 may include at least one of the CU 110, the DU 108, or the RU 106. For example, depending on where neural network processing power is available, the beam selection component 150 may reside in one or more network entities 804, such as the CU 110, both the CU 110 and the DU 108, each of the CU 110, the DU 108, and the RU 106, both the DU 108, the DU 108, and the RU 106, or the RU 106.

[0106] The CU 110 may include a CU processor 812. The CU processor 812 may include on-chip memory 812′. In some aspects, the CU 110 may further include an additional memory module 814 and a communication interface 818. The CU 110 communicates with the DU 108 over a midhaul link, such as an F1 interface. The DU 108 may include a DU processor 832. The DU processor 832 may include on-chip memory 832′. In some aspects, the DU 108 may further include an additional memory module 834 and a communication interface 838. The DU 108 communicates with the RU 106 over a fronthaul link. The RU 106 may include an RU processor 842. The RU processor 842 may include on-chip memory 842′. In some aspects, the RU 106 may further include an additional memory module 844, one or more transceivers 846, an antenna 880, and a communication interface 848. The RU 106 communicates wirelessly with the UE 102 .

[0107] The on-chip memories 812′, 832′, 842′ and the additional memory modules 814, 834, 844 may each be considered computer-readable media / memories. Each computer-readable medium / memory may be non-transitory. Each of the processors 812, 832, 842 is responsible for overall processing, including the execution of software stored in the computer-readable medium / memory. The software, when executed by the corresponding processor(s), causes the processor(s) to perform various functions as described. The computer-readable medium / memory may also be used to store data that is manipulated by the processor(s) when executing the software.

[0108] As discussed, the beam selection component 150 is configured to select one or more candidate beams for communication with the UE based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams. The beam selection component 150 is further configured to send beam indication signaling to the UE indicating a selected beam from the one or more candidate beams based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams. The beam selection component 150 is further configured to communicate with the UE through the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and the second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams have improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams. The beam selection component 150 can be within one or more processors of one or more of the CU 110, the DU 108, and the RU 106. The beam selection component 150 may be one or more hardware components specifically configured to perform the described processes / algorithms, implemented by one or more processors configured to execute the described processes / algorithms, stored on a computer-readable medium for implementation by one or more processors, or some combination thereof.

[0109] The one or more network entities 804 may include various components configured for various functions. In one configuration, the one or more network entities 804 include: means for selecting one or more candidate beams for communication with the UE based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams have improved beam quality over a current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams; means for transmitting beam indication signaling to the UE indicating a selected beam from the one or more candidate beams based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams; and means for communicating with the UE through the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether a first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and a second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams have improved beam quality over a current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams.

[0110] The one or more network entities 804 further include means for transmitting an RRC message indicating a configuration for beam reporting of one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling. The one or more network entities 804 further include means for transmitting, to the UE, control signaling indicating uplink resources for receiving a beam report from the UE. The one or more network entities 804 further include means for receiving, from the UE, beam quality information indicating a first beam quality measured for one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality measured for one or more candidate beams, and means for transmitting, to the UE, a message indicating a communication beam for communicating with the UE based on receiving the beam quality information. The one or more network entities 804 further include means for receiving, from the UE, an ACK indicating at least one of: the first beam quality of one or more current serving beams being below a first threshold, the second beam quality of one or more candidate beams being above a second threshold, or the second beam quality of one or more candidate beams being above the first beam quality of one or more current serving beams by a third threshold. The one or more network entities 804 further include means for receiving a beam activation indication from the UE based on the first beam quality measurement of the one or more current serving beams and the second beam quality measurement of the one or more candidate beams, which may be a beam selection component 150 of the one or more network entities 804 configured to perform the functions described by the means.

[0111] The particular order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes and flowcharts disclosed herein is an illustration of an example approach. Thus, the particular order or hierarchy of blocks in the processes and flowcharts may be rearranged. Some blocks may also be combined or removed. Optional blocks in the processes and flowcharts may be indicated by dashed lines. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various blocks in an example order and are not limited to the particular order or hierarchy presented in the claims, processes, and flowcharts.

[0112] The detailed description set forth herein illustrates various configurations in conjunction with the drawings and does not represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough description of the various concepts. However, these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form to avoid obscuring such concepts.

[0113] Aspects of wireless communication systems, such as telecommunications systems, are presented with reference to various apparatus and methods described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, call flows, systems, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as "elements"). The elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or a combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends on the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

[0114] An element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements, may be implemented as a "processing system" including one or more processors. Examples of processors include microprocessors, microcontrollers, graphics processing units (GPUs), central processing units (CPUs), application processors, digital signal processors (DSPs), reduced instruction set computing (RISC) processors, systems-on-chips (SoCs), baseband processors, field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), state machines, gating logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other similar hardware configured to perform various functions described throughout this disclosure. One or more processors in a processing system may execute software, which may be referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Software shall be interpreted broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software components, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, threads of execution, procedures, functions, or any combination thereof.

[0115] If the functions described herein are implemented in software, the functions may be stored on or encoded as one or more instructions or code on a computer-readable medium, such as a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. Computer-readable media includes computer storage media and may include random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of these types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that can be used to store computer-executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that can be accessed by a computer. Storage media may be any available medium that can be accessed by a computer.

[0116] Aspects, implementations, and / or use cases described herein may be implemented across many different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, and packaging arrangements. For example, aspects, implementations, and / or use cases may occur via integrated chip implementations and other non-modular component-based devices, such as end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial equipment, retail / purchase devices, medical devices, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled devices, machine learning (ML)-enabled devices, etc. Aspects, implementations, and / or use cases may range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular or non-chip-level implementations, and even aggregated, distributed, or original equipment manufacturer (OEM) devices or systems incorporating one or more technologies described herein.

[0117] Devices incorporating aspects and features described herein may also include additional components and features for implementing and enforcing the claimed and described aspects and features. For example, transmitting and receiving wireless signals necessarily involves several components for analog and digital purposes, such as hardware components, antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processor(s), interleavers, adders / summers, etc. The techniques described herein may be implemented in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed deployments, aggregated or non-aggregated components, end-user devices, etc., in various configurations.

[0118] The description herein is provided to enable those skilled in the art to practice the various aspects described herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects. Accordingly, the claims should not be limited to the aspects described herein, but should be construed in light of the full scope of the present disclosure consistent with the language of the claims.

[0119] Reference to an element in the singular does not mean "one and only one" unless otherwise specified, but rather "one or more." Terms such as "if," "and," and "while" do not imply an immediate temporal relationship or response. That is, these phrases, e.g., "when," do not suggest immediate action upon or during the occurrence of an action, but simply mean that if a condition is met, an action occurs, although without requiring a specific or immediate temporal constraint for the action to occur. Unless otherwise specified, the term "some" refers to one or more. Combinations such as "at least one of A, B, or C" or "one or more of A, B, or C" include any combination of A, B, and / or C, such as A and B, A and C, B and C, or A, B, and C, and may include multiples of A, multiples of B, and / or multiples of C, or may include only A, only B, or only C. A set should be interpreted as a set of elements, where the element is numbered one or more.

[0120] Unless otherwise specified, ordinal terms such as "first" and "second" do not necessarily imply any ordering in time, sequence, numerical order, or the like, but are used to distinguish between different instances of the term or phrase following each ordinal number.

[0121] Structural and functional equivalents of the elements of various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or that will later become known by those skilled in the art are expressly incorporated by reference herein and are covered by the claims. Words such as "module," "mechanism," "element," and "device" may not be substitutes for the word "means." Accordingly, claim elements should not be construed as means-plus-function unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase "means for." As used herein, the phrase "based on" should not be construed as a reference to a closed set of information, one or more conditions, one or more factors, etc. In other words, the phrase "based on A," where "A" can be information, a condition, a factor, etc., should be construed as "based on at least A," unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0122] The following examples are illustrative only and may be combined with other examples or teachings described herein without limitation. Example 1 is a method of wireless communication in a UE, including: receiving beam indication signaling from a network entity indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of one or more current serving beams, wherein activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay time; measuring first beam qualities of the one or more current serving beams and second beam qualities of the one or more candidate beams; and communicating with the network entity through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality.

[0123] Example 2 may be combined with Example 1 and includes: communicating with the network entity through the one or more candidate beams at least one of after the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams or before the expiration of the valid duration for the one or more candidate beams, and parameters for the beam activation delay time and the valid duration are indicated for each of the one or more candidate beams.

[0124] Example 3 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 2, and includes: communicating with the network entity through the one or more candidate beams when the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality; and communicating with the network entity through only the one or more current serving beams when the second beam quality is equal to or lower than the first beam quality.

[0125] Example 4 may be combined with Example 1 and further includes receiving an RRC message indicating a configuration for beam reporting of the one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling.

[0126] Example 5 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 4 and further includes receiving control signaling from the network entity indicating uplink resources for transmitting the beam report to the network entity.

[0127] Example 6 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 5, and includes the beam indication signaling indicating at least one of TCI status or spatial relationship information for the one or more candidate beams.

[0128] Example 7 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 6 and includes that at least one of the beam indication signaling or the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams is indicated using MAC-CE or DCI.

[0129] Example 8 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 6, and includes the following: the beam indication signaling includes an information element (IE) indicating whether at least one of a TCI state or spatial relationship information replaces at least one of a previous TCI state or previous spatial relationship information; and the beam indication signaling is transmitted to the UE using the MAC-CE or the DCI and is instructed to the UE based on at least one of a starting CCE index, a search space for the DCI, or a CORESET for the DCI.

[0130] Example 9 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 8 and further includes: transmitting beam quality information to the network entity indicating the first beam quality measured for the one or more current serving beams and the second beam quality measured for the one or more candidate beams; and receiving a message from the network entity, based on the transmitting of the beam quality information, indicating at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams for communication with the network entity after the beam activation time.

[0131] Example 10 may be combined with Example 9, and includes the beam quality information indicating at least one of L1-RSRP information or L1-SINR information for at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams.

[0132] Example 11 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 10, and includes that transmitting the beam quality information to the network entity includes using a dedicated PUCCH resource configured via the RRC signaling or using the MAC-CE to indicate at least one of a serving cell index, a BWP index, the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams, or the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

[0133] Example 12 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 11 and further includes sending an ACK to the network entity indicating at least one of: the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams is below a first threshold; the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams is above a second threshold; or the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams is above the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams by a third threshold.

[0134] Example 13 may be combined with Example 12, and may include: sending the ACK to the network entity includes multiplexing the ACK with other information to be sent to the network entity.

[0135] Example 14 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 13, and includes: transmitting the beam quality information to the network entity starts the beam activation delay time a first number of slots before the activation of the one or more candidate beams, and the first number of slots is based on a predefined protocol or configured based on the RRC signaling.

[0136] Example 15 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 14, and includes that the beam quality information indicates that the activation of the one or more candidate beams is within a second number of slots after the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams, and the second number of slots is based on a predefined protocol or configured based on the RRC signaling.

[0137] Example 16 may be combined with any of Examples 1 to 8 and further includes sending a beam activation indication to the network entity based on measuring the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams and the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

[0138] Example 17 is a method of wireless communication in a network entity, comprising: selecting one or more candidate beams for communication with a UE based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams will provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of one or more current serving beams, wherein activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay time; transmitting beam indication signaling to the UE indicating the one or more candidate beams predicted to provide the improved beam quality based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams; and communicating with the UE through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether a first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and a second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams will provide the improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams.

[0139] Example 18 may be combined with Example 17 and includes that the communication with the UE through the one or more candidate beams is performed at least one of after the beam activation delay time associated with the one or more candidate beams or before the expiration of a valid duration for the one or more candidate beams.

[0140] Example 19 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 18, and includes: communicating with the UE only through the one or more current serving beams when a first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams is greater than or equal to a second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams; and communicating with the UE through the one or more candidate beams when the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams is lower than the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

[0141] Example 20 may be combined with Example 17 and further includes transmitting an RRC message indicating a configuration for beam reporting of the one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling.

[0142] Example 21 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 20, and further includes: sending, to the UE, control signaling indicating uplink resources for receiving the beam report from the UE.

[0143] Example 22 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 21, and includes the beam indication signaling indicating at least one of TCI status or spatial relationship information for the one or more candidate beams.

[0144] Example 23 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 22 and includes that at least one of the beam indication signaling or the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams is indicated to the UE using MAC-CE or DCI.

[0145] Example 24 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 22, and includes the following: the beam indication signaling includes an IE indicating whether at least one of a TCI state or spatial relationship information replaces at least one of a previous TCI state or previous spatial relationship information, and the IE is transmitted to the UE using the MAC-CE or the DCI and is indicated to the UE based on at least one of a CCE index, a search space for the DCI, or a CORESET for the DCI.

[0146] Example 25 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 24 and further includes receiving beam quality information from the UE indicating a first beam quality measured for the one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality measured for the one or more candidate beams, and transmitting a message to the UE indicating at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on the receiving beam quality information.

[0147] Example 26 may be combined with Example 25, and includes the beam quality information indicating at least one of L1-RSRP information or L1-SINR information for at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams.

[0148] Example 27 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 26, and includes receiving the beam quality information from the UE includes using a dedicated PUCCH resource configured via the RRC signaling or using the MAC-CE to indicate at least one of a serving cell index, a BWP index, the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams, or the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

[0149] Example 28 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 27 and further includes receiving an ACK from the UE indicating at least one of: the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams is below a first threshold; the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams is above a second threshold; or the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams is above the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams by a third threshold.

[0150] Example 29 may be combined with Example 28, and includes: receiving the ACK from the UE includes multiplexing the ACK with other information received from the UE.

[0151] Example 30 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 29, and includes that the receiving of the beam quality information from the UE is performed a first number of slots before the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams, and the first number of slots is based on a predefined protocol or configured based on the RRC signaling.

[0152] Example 31 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 30, and includes that the beam quality information indicates that the activation of the one or more candidate beams is within a second number of slots after the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams, and the second number of slots is based on a predefined protocol or configured based on the RRC signaling.

[0153] Example 32 may be combined with any of Examples 17 to 24 and further includes receiving a beam activation indication from the UE based on a first beam quality measurement of the one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality measurement of the one or more candidate beams.

[0154] Example 33 is an apparatus for wireless communication that implements the method according to any one of Examples 1 to 32. Example 34 is an apparatus for wireless communication including means for implementing the method according to any one of Examples 1 to 32.

[0155] Example 35 is a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable code, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform a method of any of Examples 1 to 32.

Claims

1. 1. A method of wireless communication in a user equipment (UE), comprising: receiving, from a network entity, beam indication signaling indicating one or more candidate beams predicted to provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of one or more current serving beams, wherein activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay time; measuring a first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams and a second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams; communicating with the network entity through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality; A method comprising:

2. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating with the network entity through the one or more candidate beams occurs at least one of after the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams or before expiration of a valid duration for the one or more candidate beams.

3. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the communication with the network entity is performed through the one or more candidate beams when the second beam quality is higher than the first beam quality, and the communication with the network entity is performed only through the one or more current serving beams when the second beam quality is equal to or lower than the first beam quality.

4. 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message indicating a configuration for beam reporting of the one or more candidate beams indicated in the beam indication signaling.

5. The method of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising receiving control signaling from the network entity indicating uplink resources for transmitting the beam report to the network entity.

6. The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the beam indication signaling indicates at least one of a transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status or spatial relationship information for the one or more candidate beams.

7. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the beam indication signaling or the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams is indicated using a media access control - control element (MAC-CE) or downlink control information (DCI).

8. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the beam indication signaling includes an information element (IE) indicating whether at least one of a TCI state or spatial relationship information replaces at least one of a previous TCI state or previous spatial relationship information, and the beam indication signaling is transmitted to the UE using the MAC-CE or the DCI.

9. transmitting, to the network entity, beam quality information indicating the first beam quality measured for the one or more current serving beams and the second beam quality measured for the one or more candidate beams; receiving, from the network entity based on the transmitting of the beam quality information, a message indicating at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams for the communication with the network entity; The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

10. 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the beam quality information indicates at least one of Layer 1 (L1) Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP) (L1-RSRP) information or L1 Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise (SINR) (L1-SINR) information for the at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams.

11. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmitting the beam quality information to the network entity includes using a dedicated physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) resource configured via the RRC signaling or using the MAC-CE to indicate at least one of a serving cell index, a bandwidth portion (BWP) index, the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams, or the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

12. The network entity, the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams falling below a first threshold; the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams is above a second threshold; or the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams exceeds the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams by a third threshold; The method of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising sending an acknowledgement (ACK) indicating at least one of:

13. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein the transmitting of the beam quality information to the network entity starts the beam activation delay time a first number of slots before the activation of the one or more candidate beams, the first number of slots being based on a predefined protocol or configured based on the RRC signaling.

14. A method according to any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the beam quality information indicates that the activation of the one or more candidate beams is within a second number of slots after the beam activation delay time for the one or more candidate beams, the second number of slots being based on a predefined protocol or configured based on the RRC signaling.

15. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising sending a beam activation indication to the network entity based on measuring the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams and the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

16. 1. A method of wireless communication in a network entity, comprising: selecting one or more candidate beams for communication with a user equipment (UE) based on a prediction that the one or more candidate beams provide improved beam quality over current beam quality of one or more current serving beams, wherein activation of the one or more candidate beams occurs after a beam activation delay time; transmitting, to the UE, beam indication signaling indicating the one or more candidate beams predicted to provide the improved beam quality based on the prediction for the one or more candidate beams; communicating with the UE through at least one of the one or more candidate beams or the one or more current serving beams based on whether the first measurement of the one or more candidate beams and the second measurement of the one or more current serving beams indicate that the one or more candidate beams provide the improved beam quality over the current beam quality of the one or more current serving beams; A method comprising:

17. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communicating with the UE through the one or more candidate beams occurs at least one of after the beam activation delay time associated with the one or more candidate beams or before expiration of a valid duration for the one or more candidate beams.

18. The method of any one of claims 16 to 17, wherein the communication with the UE is performed only through the one or more current serving beams when a first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams is equal to or greater than a second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams, and the communication with the UE is performed through the one or more candidate beams when the first beam quality of the one or more current serving beams is lower than the second beam quality of the one or more candidate beams.

19. An apparatus for wireless communication comprising: a memory; and at least one processor coupled to said memory and configured to implement the method of any one of claims 1 to 18.

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