Methods, mobile devices, and access network nodes

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a method performed by an access network node, the method comprising transmitting reporting configuration information, which includes the display of one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by user equipment (UE), to a UE in a cell provided by the access network node, each of the one or more reference signal resources being associated with one of each set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, the method comprising transmitting a reference signal and receiving a measurement report from the UE generated based on the reporting configuration information.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to a communication system. [Background technology]

[0002] This disclosure has a non-exclusive but specific relevance to wireless communication systems and devices operating in accordance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP®) standards or equivalent standards or derivative standards (including LTE Advanced, Next Generation or 5G networks, Future Generation, and beyond). This disclosure has a non-exclusive but particular relevance to “new wireless” systems (also known as “next generation” systems) and network energy saving (NES) in similar systems.

[0003] Recent developments in 3GPP standards are referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) of Evolved Packet Core (EPC) networks, commonly known as "4G." The terms "5G" and "New Radio" (NR) also refer to evolving communication technologies expected to support a variety of applications and services. Various details of 5G networks are described in the "NGMN 5G White Paper" V1.0 by the Next Generation Mobile Network (NGMN) Alliance, which can be found, for example, at https: / / www.ngmn.org / 5g-white-paper.html. 3GPP intends to support 5G through the so-called 3GPP Next Generation (NextGen) radio access network (RAN) and 3GPP NextGen core network.

[0004] Under the 3GPP standard, a NodeB (or eNB in ​​LTE, gNB in ​​5G) is a radio access network (RAN) node (or simply an “access node,” “access network node,” or “base station”) through which communication devices (user equipment, i.e., “UE”) connect to the core network and communicate with other communication devices or remote servers. For simplicity, this application uses the terms RAN node, base station, or access network node to refer to any such access node.

[0005] Improved wireless communication networks with enhanced energy efficiency (sometimes referred to when using Network Energy Saving (NES) techniques) are needed. Reducing the amount of energy required to operate the communication network will beneficially reduce the environmental impact of system operation and lower operating costs. For example, the energy consumption of base stations and other similar access network nodes represents a significant operating cost for network operators, in addition to raising concerns about the environmental impact of the telecommunications network in operation. Various tools exist to conserve energy on the network side. For example, energy conservation can be achieved by considering transmissions within the network in the spatial domain (e.g., more efficient use of spatial elements such as antenna ports) and the power domain (e.g., by reducing transmit power). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2023 / 050312 [Patent Document 2] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 0375560 [Non-patent literature]

[0007] [Non-Patent Document 1] The "NGMN 5G White Paper" V1.0 by the Next Generation Mobile Networks (NGMN) Alliance is available from https: / / www.ngmn.org / 5g-white-paper.html. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] The energy efficiency of a system can be improved by disabling spatial elements and / or reducing transmit power or power spectral density. However, as energy savings increase, system performance may degrade. For example, reducing the number of antennas for transmitting a reference signal (such as a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS)) can reduce transmit power, preventing UEs at the edge of the cell from detecting the reference signal, potentially degrading communication quality or performance.

[0009] Therefore, there is a need for improved devices and methods to conserve network energy while providing reliable and efficient communication. For example, in base station cells implementing energy-saving methods in the spatial or power domain, there is a need for improved devices and methods to ensure that UEs can reliably receive reference signals. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In one embodiment, the Disclosure provides a method performed by an access network node, the method comprising transmitting reporting configuration information to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, the information including a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for measuring a reference signal by the UE, each of the one or more reference signal resources being associated with one of each set of energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal by the access network node, the method comprising transmitting a reference signal and receiving a measurement report from the UE generated based on the reporting configuration information.

[0011] A set of energy-saving configurations may include a set of power levels for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or a set of spatial configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes.

[0012] The reported configuration information may include either or both the spatial configuration for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or the reference signal pattern or reference signal measurement resources associated with the spatial configuration.

[0013] Each spatial configuration can correspond to a set of antenna elements for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes.

[0014] The reported configuration information may include an index indicating the spatial configuration or at least one of the respective reference signal resources.

[0015] This method may include sending downlink control information (DCI), including the index, to the UE.

[0016] The method can include transmitting to the UE a table providing a display of a mapping between an index and at least one of a corresponding spatial configuration for transmission of a reference signal by an access network node or a corresponding reference signal resource.

[0017] One or more reference signal resources can include at least one of one or more non-zero power (NZP) channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement resources, one or more CSI interference measurement (IM) resources, or one or more NZP CSI-RS resources.

[0018] The method can include transmitting reporting configuration information to the UE as part of network energy saving (NES) configuration information, channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration, radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration information, or system information broadcast within a cell.

[0019] The reference signal can be a CSI-RS, and the access network node can transmit the reporting configuration information to the UE in a CSI reporting configuration.

[0020] The reference signal resource can correspond to a CSI-RS measurement resource.

[0021] The reporting configuration information can include at least one of a display indicating a plurality of resources for channel measurement or a display indicating a plurality of resources for interference measurement, and each of the resources for channel measurement or for interference measurement is associated with a respective spatial configuration for transmission of a reference signal by an access network node.

[0022] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by user equipment (UE), the method comprising receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, which includes an indication of one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by the UE, each of the one or more reference signal resources being associated with one of each set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, the method comprising performing a measurement of the reference signal and transmitting a measurement report generated based on the reporting configuration information to the access network node.

[0023] A set of energy-saving configurations may include a set of power levels for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or a set of spatial configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes.

[0024] The reported configuration information may include either or both the spatial configuration for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or the reference signal pattern or reference signal measurement resources associated with the spatial configuration.

[0025] B4. The method according to claim B2 or B3, wherein each spatial configuration corresponds to a set of antenna elements for the transmission of reference signals by an access network node.

[0026] The reported configuration information may include an index indicating the spatial configuration or at least one of the respective reference signal resources.

[0027] This method may include receiving downlink control information (DCI), which includes an index, from an access network node.

[0028] This method may include receiving from the access network node a table that provides a representation of the mapping between an index and at least one of the corresponding spatial configurations for the transmission of reference signals by the access network node, or the corresponding reference signal resource.

[0029] One or more reference signal resources may include at least one of the following: one or more non-zero power (NZP) channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement resources, one or more CSI interference measurement (IM) resources, or one or more NZP CSI-RS resources.

[0030] This method may include receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node as part of network energy saving (NES) configuration information, channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration, radio resource control (RRC) reconfiguration information, or system information broadcast within a cell.

[0031] The reference signal may be CSI-RS, and the UE can receive reporting configuration information from the access network node in the CSI reporting configuration.

[0032] Reference signal resources can correspond to CSI-RS measurement resources.

[0033] The reported configuration information may include at least one of the following: a display showing multiple resources for channel measurement, or a display showing multiple resources for interference measurement, each of which resources for channel measurement or interference measurement is associated with its respective spatial configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node.

[0034] Measurement reports sent to access network nodes may include displays of one or more CSIs and displays of energy saving configurations associated with each of the one or more CSIs.

[0035] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides an Access Network Node Method which includes transmitting reporting configuration information, including a representation of the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the Access Network Node, each of which CSI or SINR values ​​is associated with one of each set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the Access Network Node, and the Method includes receiving a measurement report generated from the UE based on the reporting configuration information.

[0036] A set of energy-saving configurations may include a set of power levels for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or a set of spatial configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes.

[0037] Each spatial configuration corresponds to a set of antenna elements for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes.

[0038] Measurement reports received from the UE may include a display of energy-saving configurations associated with each CSI or SINR value included in the measurement report.

[0039] The measurement report may include a representation of a first CSI or SINR value, indicated using a first number of bits, and a representation of a second CSI or SINR value, indicated using a second number of bits, where the second number of bits is smaller than the first number of bits, and the second CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the second CSI or SINR value and the first CSI or SINR value.

[0040] The measurement report may include a display of a first CSI or SINR value, indicated using a first number of bits, the first CSI or SINR value being associated with an energy-saving configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, and the first CSI or SINR value being indicated by showing the difference between the first CSI or SINR value and a CSI or SINR value associated with a reference signal transmitted by a base station before the base station transmits the reference signal using the energy-saving configuration.

[0041] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method for user equipment (UE) which includes receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, which includes a representation of the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values ​​included in a measurement report transmitted by the UE to an access network node, each of which CSI or SINR values ​​is associated with one of each set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, and the method includes transmitting a measurement report generated based on the reporting configuration information to the access network node.

[0042] A set of energy-saving configurations may include a set of power levels for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or a set of spatial configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes.

[0043] Each spatial configuration can correspond to a set of antenna elements for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes.

[0044] Measurement reports sent by the UE to access network nodes may include a display of energy saving configurations associated with each CSI or SINR value included in the measurement report.

[0045] This method may include determining the CSI or SINR values ​​to be included in the measurement report for transmission to the access network node.

[0046] The measurement report may include a representation of a first CSI or SINR value, indicated using a first number of bits, and a representation of a second CSI or SINR value, indicated using a second number of bits, where the second number of bits is smaller than the first number of bits, and the second CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the second CSI or SINR value and the first CSI or SINR value.

[0047] The measurement report may include a display of a first CSI or SINR value, indicated using a first number of bits, the first CSI or SINR value being associated with an energy-saving configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, and the first CSI or SINR value being indicated by showing the difference between the first CSI or SINR value and a CSI or SINR value associated with a reference signal transmitted by the base station before the base station transmits the reference signal using the energy-saving configuration.

[0048] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by an access network node, the method comprising transmitting energy saving configuration information, including an indication of one or more energy saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, and receiving UE capability information, including an indication of one or more transition times, each transition time, corresponding to the duration of the UE transitioning to a state in which the UE is configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by the access network node based on each of the one or more energy saving configurations.

[0049] A set of energy-saving configurations may include a set of power levels for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes, or a set of spatial configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes.

[0050] Each spatial configuration can correspond to a set of antenna elements for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes.

[0051] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by user equipment (UE) which includes receiving energy saving configuration information from an access network node, including an indication of one or more energy saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, and transmitting UE capability information to the access network node, including an indication of one or more transition times, each transition time corresponding to the duration for which the UE transitions to a state configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by the access network node based on each of the one or more energy saving configurations.

[0052] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by an access network node, the method comprising transmitting transmit configuration information, which includes an indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, and transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, the transmit configuration information including at least one of an indication of a power offset used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, or an indication of a spatial configuration used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH.

[0053] The spatial configuration can correspond to the configuration of a set of antenna elements for the transmission of reference signals or PDSCH by access network nodes.

[0054] The indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH may include an index indicating either or both of the power offset used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, or the spatial configuration used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH.

[0055] The index may be associated with one or more corresponding lookup tables that provide a mapping between the index value and a power offset, or between the index value and a spatial configuration, used for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, or both.

[0056] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by user equipment (UE) which includes receiving transmit configuration information from an access network node, which includes an indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, and receiving the reference signal or PDSCH, wherein the transmit configuration information includes at least one of an indication of a power offset used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH by the access network node, or an indication of a spatial configuration used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH by the access network node.

[0057] The spatial configuration can correspond to the configuration of a set of antenna elements for the transmission of reference signals or PDSCH by access network nodes.

[0058] The indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH may include an index indicating either or both of the power offset used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, or the spatial configuration used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH.

[0059] The index may be associated with one or more corresponding lookup tables that provide a mapping between the index value and power offset used for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, or between the index value and spatial configuration used for transmitting a reference signal, or both.

[0060] This method may include retrieving one or more lookup tables.

[0061] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by an access network node, the method comprising transmitting downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information, which includes an indication of an energy-saving configuration for transmission of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, the DCI or downlink grant information includes an indication of the time until the UE performs the configuration to receive the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration, and the method comprises transmitting the PDSCH using the energy-saving configuration.

[0062] Energy-saving configurations may include power levels or power offsets for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes, or spatial configurations for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes.

[0063] The spatial configuration can accommodate the configuration of antenna elements for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes.

[0064] The DCI may be a group-common DCI sent to multiple UEs by an access network node.

[0065] The DCI may be a group-wide DCI, and the method may include sending the UE a display of the transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status associated with the PDSCH, which configures the UE to receive the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration.

[0066] This method may include sending a TCI status display to the UE to indicate an energy-saving configuration.

[0067] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides a method performed by user equipment (UE) which includes receiving downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information from an access network node, which includes a display of an energy-saving configuration for the transmission of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, the DCI or downlink grant information which includes a display of the time until the UE performs a configuration to receive the PDSCH using the displayed energy-saving configuration, or the time until the UE performs a configuration to receive the PDSCH using the displayed energy-saving configuration, and the method includes performing a configuration to receive the PDSCH after the displayed time and receiving the PDSCH.

[0068] Energy-saving configurations may include power levels or power offsets for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes, or spatial configurations for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes.

[0069] The spatial configuration can accommodate the configuration of antenna elements for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes.

[0070] DCI or downlink grant information may include an indication of a scheduled PDSCH, and the UE will use only the indicated energy-saving configuration to perform the configuration to receive the scheduled PDSCH.

[0071] DCI or downlink grant information may include a representation indicating one or more PDSCHs for which the UE uses the indicated energy-saving configuration to perform a configuration to receive one or more PDSCHs, and the UE uses only the indicated energy-saving configuration to perform a configuration to receive the indicated one or more PDSCHs.

[0072] The DCI may be a group-wide DCI sent to multiple UEs.

[0073] The UE may use only the indicated energy-saving configuration to perform the configuration for receiving scheduled PDSCHs associated with a specific transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state.

[0074] The DCI may be a group-wide DCI, and this method may include the UE receiving a display of the TCI status associated with the PDSCH from an access network node, which configures the UE to receive the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration.

[0075] This method may include receiving a TCI status display from an access network node and determining an energy saving configuration based on the displayed TCI status.

[0076] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides an access network node, which provides means for transmitting reporting configuration information to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, including a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for measuring a reference signal by a UE, each of the one or more reference signal resources being associated with one of a set of energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal by the access network node, and comprising transmitting means, transmitting a reference signal, and receiving a measurement report from the UE generated based on the reporting configuration information.

[0077] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides user equipment (UE) which includes means for receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, which includes a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by the UE, each of the one or more reference signal resources being associated with a corresponding one of a set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node; means for performing a measurement of a reference signal; and means for transmitting a measurement report generated based on the reporting configuration information to the access network node.

[0078] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides an access network node, the access network node comprising means for transmitting reporting configuration information, including a representation of the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values, which are included in a measurement report transmitted to the access network node by a UE, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, wherein each of the CSI or SINR values ​​is associated with one of a set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, and means for receiving a measurement report generated from the UE based on the reporting configuration information.

[0079] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides user equipment (UE) which includes means for receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, which includes a representation of the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values, each of which CSI or SINR values ​​is associated with one of each set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, and means for transmitting a measurement report generated based on the reporting configuration information to the access network node.

[0080] In another embodiment, the Disclosure provides an access network node comprising means for transmitting energy saving configuration information, including an indication of one or more energy saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, and means for receiving UE capability information, including an indication of one or more transition times, each transition time corresponding to a duration for the UE to transition between states configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by the access network node based on each of the one or more energy saving configurations.

[0081] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides user equipment (UE) comprising means for receiving energy saving configuration information from an access network node, including a representation of one or more energy saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, and means for transmitting UE capability information to the access network node, including a representation of one or more transition times, each transition time corresponding to a duration for transitioning between states configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by an access network node based on each of the one or more energy saving configurations.

[0082] In another embodiment, the Disclosure provides an access network node comprising means for transmitting transmit configuration information, including an indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, and means for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, wherein the transmit configuration information includes at least one of an indication of a power offset used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, or an indication of a spatial configuration used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH.

[0083] In another embodiment, the Disclosure provides user equipment (UE) comprising means for receiving transmit configuration information from an access network node, which includes an indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, and means for receiving the reference signal or PDSCH, wherein the transmit configuration information includes at least one of an indication of a power offset used for the transmission of the reference signal or PDSCH by the access network node, or an indication of a spatial configuration used for the transmission of the reference signal or PDSCH by the access network node.

[0084] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides an access network node, the access network node comprising means for transmitting downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, the DCI or downlink grant information including an indication of an energy-saving configuration for transmitting a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, wherein the DCI or downlink grant information includes an indication of the time until the UE performs a configuration for receiving the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration, and means for transmitting the PDSCH using the energy-saving configuration.

[0085] In another aspect, the Disclosure provides user equipment (UE) for receiving downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information from an access network node, which includes a display of an energy-saving configuration for transmitting a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), wherein the DCI or downlink grant information includes a display of the time until the UE subsequently performs a configuration for receiving the PDSCH using the displayed energy-saving configuration, or the time until the UE performs a configuration for receiving the PDSCH using the displayed energy-saving configuration is pre-configured in the UE; means for performing a configuration for receiving the PDSCH after the displayed time; and means for receiving the PDSCH. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0086] Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described by reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0087] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram illustrating a mobile ("cellular" or "wireless") telecommunications system. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows a typical frame structure that can be used in a telecommunications system. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of DU50, which may be used as part of RAN equipment 5 for communication system 1. [Figure 4] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of CU60, which may be used as part of RAN equipment 5 for communication system 1. [Figure 5] This diagram shows the mobility procedure that occurs when a handover occurs from a source (R)AN node to a target (R)AN node. [Figure 6] This figure shows the random access (RA) procedures that can be executed in the system shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 1 is a simplified diagram of the antenna panel configuration for a base station in a telecommunications system. [Figure 8] This is a simplified diagram illustrating an example of how a logic antenna port can be configured for MIMO and / or beamforming. [Figure 9] This figure shows several information elements that can be used in measurement signaling. [Figure 10] This figure shows different use cases for CSI-RS measurements that support data and associated DMRS transmission (via PDSCH). [Figure 11] This figure shows different use cases for CSI-RS measurements that support data and associated DMRS transmission (via PDSCH). [Figure 12] This figure shows different use cases for CSI-RS measurements that support data and associated DMRS transmission (via PDSCH). [Figure 13] This is a simplified diagram illustrating an exemplary mapping between the CSI-RS port, logical antenna element, and physical antenna element. [Figure 14] This is a simplified diagram showing various numbers of CSI-RS and logical antenna array configurations for a single-panel antenna. [Figure 15] This is a simplified diagram showing various CSI-RS and logic antenna array configurations for a multi-panel antenna. [Figure 16] This figure shows a table that can be used to illustrate the mapping between a set of antenna ports and the corresponding CSI-RS patterns / resources. [Figure 17] This figure shows an example where multiple CSIs are included in a joint CSI report. [Figure 18] This figure shows an example of a table indicating the power control offset. [Figure 19] This figure shows an example of a table illustrating spatial adaptation patterns. [Figure 20]This figure shows a first example in which a time offset is used for the use of power control offset parameters. [Figure 21] This figure shows a second example in which a time offset is used for the use of power control offset parameters. [Figure 22] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of the UE for a telecommunications system. [Figure 23] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of a base station for a telecommunications system. [Figure 24] Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of a core network node or function for a telecommunications system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0088] overview Here, for illustrative purposes only, we will describe an exemplary telecommunications system in general terms, referring to Figures 1 and 2.

[0089] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a mobile ("cellular" or "wireless") communication system 1, to which embodiments of the present disclosure can be applied.

[0090] In communication system 1, user equipment (UE) 3-1, 3-2, 3-3 (such as mobile phones and / or other mobile devices) can communicate with each other via (radio)access network ((R)AN) nodes 5 that operate according to one or more compatible radio access technologies (RATs). In the illustrated example, the (R)AN node 5 comprises a base station 5 or "gNB" 5 that operates one or more associated cells 9. Communication via the base station 5 is typically routed through a core network 7 (which is, for example, a 5G core network or an evolved packet core network (EPC)).

[0091] As those skilled in the art will understand, three UE3s and one base station 5 are shown in Figure 1 for illustrative purposes, but the system, when implemented, typically includes other base stations 5 and UE3s.

[0092] Each base station 5 controls one or more associated cells 9, either directly or indirectly through one or more other nodes (e.g., home base stations, repeaters, remote radio heads, distributed units, etc.). It will be understood that base stations 5 may be configured to support 4G, 5G, 6G, and / or any other 3GPP or non-3GPP communication protocols.

[0093] The UE3s and their serving base stations 5 are connected via appropriate air interfaces (such as the so-called "Uu" interface). Nearby base stations 5 can be connected to each other via appropriate inter-base station interfaces (such as the so-called "X2" interface, "Xn" interface, etc.).

[0094] The core network 7 includes several logical nodes (or "functions") for communication in the telecommunications system 1. In this embodiment, the core network 7 comprises a control plane function (CPF) 10 and one or more user plane functions (UPF) 11. The CPF 10 includes one or more Access and Mobility Management Functions (AMFs) 10-1, one or more Session Management Functions (SMFs) 10-2, and several other functions 10-n.

[0095] Base station 5 is connected to the core network nodes via appropriate interfaces (or "reference points"), such as the N2 reference point between base station 5 and AMF10-1 for control signaling communication, and the N3 reference point between base station 5 and each UPF11 for user data communication. Each UE3 is connected to AMF10-1 via a logical non-access stratum (NAS) connection on the N1 reference point (similar to the S1 reference point in LTE). It will be understood that N1 communication is routed transparently through base station 5.

[0096] One or more UPF11s are connected to an external data network (such as an IP network like the Internet) via a reference point N6 for the communication of user data.

[0097] The AMF10-1 performs mobility management-related functions, maintains NAS signaling connections with each UE3, and manages UE registration. The AMF10-1 also manages paging. The SMF10-2 provides session management functions (forming part of the MME function in LTE) and also incorporates several control plane functions (provided by the serving gateway and packet data network gateway in LTE). The SMF10-2 also allocates IP addresses to each UE3.

[0098] The base station 5 of communication system 1 is configured to operate at least one cell 9 on the associated TDD carrier operating in a non-paired spectrum. It will also be understood that base station 5 can operate at least one cell 9 on the associated FDD carrier operating in a paired spectrum.

[0099] Base station 5 is also configured to transmit control information and user data via several downlink (DL) physical channels and to transmit several physical signals, and UE3 is configured to receive control information and user data via several DL physical channels and to transmit several physical signals. DL physical channels correspond to resource elements (REs) that carry information transmitted from higher layers, and DL physical signals correspond to REs used in the physical layer that do not carry information transmitted from higher layers.

[0100] Physical channels may include, for example, a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), and a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). The PDSCH carries data that shares the PDSCH's capacity on a time and frequency basis. The PDSCH can carry various data items, including, for example, user data, UE-specific upper-layer control messages mapped down from higher channels, system information blocks (SIBs), and paging. The PDCCH carries downlink control information (DCI) to support several functions, including, for example, scheduling downlink transmissions on the PDSCH and uplink data transmissions on the physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH). The PBCH provides the Master Information Block (MIB) to the UE3. The PBCH also works in conjunction with the PDCCH to support time and frequency synchronization, which helps with cell acquisition, selection, and reselection. UE3 can receive Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs), and UE3 may assume that opportunities to receive PBCH, primary synchronization signal (PSS), and secondary synchronization signal (SSS) are within a consecutive symbol, forming an SS / PBCH block. Base station 5 may transmit several synchronization signal (SS) blocks corresponding to different DL beams. The total number of SS blocks may be limited, for example, to a duration of 5 ms as an SS burst. The period of SSB transmission may be notified to the UE using any appropriate signaling (e.g., per serving cell using ssb-periodicityServingCell). The period value of the SSB may be, for example, 20 ms or more. In the case of initial cell selection, UE3 may be configured to assume that SS bursts occur with a period of 2 frames.UE3 may also provide notification of which SSBs are being sent within a 5ms duration (for example, using ssb-PositionsInBurst).

[0101] DL physical signals may include, for example, a reference signal (RS) and a synchronization signal (SS). The reference signal (sometimes known as a pilot signal) is a signal with a predefined special waveform known to both the UE3 and the base station 5. Reference signals may include, for example, a cell-specific reference signal, a UE-specific reference signal (UE-RS), a downlink demodulation signal (DMRS), and a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS).

[0102] Similarly, UE3 is configured to transmit control information and user data via several uplink (UL) physical channels corresponding to REs that carry information transmitted from higher layers, and UL physical signals used in the physical layer that do not carry information transmitted from higher layers, and base station 5 is configured to receive control information and user data via several UL physical channels corresponding to REs that carry information transmitted from higher layers, and UL physical signals used in the physical layer that do not carry information transmitted from higher layers. The physical channels may include, for example, PUSCH, physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), and / or physical random-access channel (PRACH). The UL physical signals may include, for example, demodulation reference signals (DMRS) and / or sounding reference signals (SRS) for UL control / data signals.

[0103] When UE3 first establishes a radio resource control (RRC) connection with base station 5 via cell 9, UE3 registers with the appropriate core network node (e.g., AMF, MME). UE3 is in a so-called RRC connected state, and the associated UE context is maintained by the network. When UE3 is in a so-called RRC idle or RRC inactive state, UE3 selects an appropriate cell for camping so that the network knows UE3's approximate location (though not necessarily at the cell level).

[0104] A base station 5 may be a base station 5 divided between one or more distributed units (DUs) 50 and a central unit (CU) 60, where the CU 60 typically performs higher-level functions and communication with the next-generation core, and the DU 50 performs lower-level functions and communication with neighboring UEs 3 (i.e., within the cell operated by the base station 5) via an air interface. This type of base station 5 may be called a “distributed” base station 5 or gNB5. A distributed gNB5 includes the following functional units:

[0105] The gNB Central Unit (gNB-CU) is a logical node that hosts the gNB's Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer, Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) layer, and Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer (or the RRC and PDCP layers of en-gNB), controlling the operation of one or more gNB-DUs. The gNB-CU terminates the so-called F1 interface, which connects to the gNB-DUs.

[0106] A gNB Distributed Unit (gNB-DU) is a logical node that hosts the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Medium Access Control (MAC) layer, and Physical (PHY) layer of a gNB or en-gNB, and its operation is partially controlled by a gNB-CU. A single gNB-DU supports one or more cells. A single cell is supported by only one gNB-DU. A gNB-DU terminates the F1 interface, which connects to the gNB-CU.

[0107] The gNB-CU-Control Plane (gNB-CU-CP) is a logical node that hosts the control plane portion of the RRC and PDCP protocols for the gNB-CU for en-gNB or gNB. The gNB-CU-CP terminates the so-called E1 interface, which connects to the gNB-CU-UP, and the F1-C (F1 control plane) interface, which connects to the gNB-DU.

[0108] The gNB-CU-User Plane (gNB-CU-UP) is a logical node that hosts the user plane portion of the gNB-CU's PDCP protocol for en-gNB, as well as the user plane portions of the gNB-CU's PDCP protocol and SDAP protocol for gNB. The gNB-CU-UP terminates the E1 interface connected to the gNB-CU-CP and the F1-U (F1 user plane) interface connected to the gNB-DU.

[0109] When a distributed base station or a similar control plane-user plane (CP-UP) partition is employed, it will be understood that each of the control plane entity and the user plane entity may include associated transceiver circuits, antennas, network interfaces, control units, memory, operating systems, and communication control modules. When base station 5 comprises a distributed base station, the network interfaces also include E1 and F1 interfaces (F1-C for the control plane and F1-U for the user plane) for communicating signals between the respective functions of the distributed base station.

[0110] Frame structure Referring to Figure 2, which shows a typical frame structure that may be used in communication system 1, the base station 5 and UE3 of communication system 1 communicate with each other in the time domain using resources organized into frames of length 10 ms. Each frame consists of 10 equally sized subframes of length 1 ms. Each subframe is divided into one or more slots, each containing 14 Orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) symbols of equal length.

[0111] As shown in Figure 2, communication system 1 supports multiple different numerologies (subcarrier spacing (SCS), slot length, and consequently OFDM symbol length). Specifically, each numerology is identified by the parameter μ, where μ=0 represents 15kHz (corresponding to LTE SCS). Currently, SCS for other values ​​of μ can actually be derived from μ=0 by scaling up by a power of 2 (i.e., SCS = 15 × 2μkHz). The relationship between the parameter μ and SCS(Δf) is shown in Table 1. [Table 1]

[0112] RAN equipment DU Figure 3 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of DU50, which may be used as part of RAN equipment 5 for the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1. As shown, DU50 has a radio unit (RU) and a transceiver circuit 451 for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a communication device (such as UE3) via an associated DU-RU interface 453, and for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from a CU60 of RAN equipment 5 via a CU interface 454 (which has an F1 interface that can be divided into F1-U and F1-C interfaces for user plane and control plane signaling, respectively).

[0113] DU50 has a controller 457 for controlling the operation of DU50. Controller 457 is associated with memory 459. Software may be pre-installed in memory 459 and / or may be downloaded, for example, via communication network 1 or from a removable data storage device (RMD). In this example, controller 457 is configured to control the overall operation of DU50 by program instructions or software instructions stored in memory 459.

[0114] As shown in the figure, these software instructions include, among other things, the operating system 461, the communication control module 463, the F1 module 465, the DU-RU module 468, the DU management module 472, the UE profile management module 473, and the mobility module 475.

[0115] The communication control module 463 is operable to control communication between DU50 and one or more RUs (and thus between DU50 and UE3), and between DU50 and CU60. The communication control module 463 is configured to have overall control over the reception of signals corresponding to uplink communication from UE3 and to handle the transmission of downlink communication to UE3.

[0116] The F1 module 465 is responsible for the proper processing of signals received from or transmitted to the CU60 via one or more CU (e.g., F1) interfaces 454. These signals can be separated into user plane signals received from or transmitted to the CU-UP portion of the CU60 via the F1-U interface, and control plane signals received from or transmitted to the CU-CP portion of the CU60 via the F1-C interface.

[0117] The DU-RU module 468 is responsible for the proper processing of signals received from or sent to one or more RUs (e.g., DU-RU) interfaces 453.

[0118] The DU Management Module 472 is responsible for managing the overall operation of the DU50 and the overall performance of the tasks required of the DU50. These tasks include, among other things, generating and transmitting appropriate messages using the appropriate signaling application protocol, depending on the functional division between the RU, DU50, and CU60, such as generating MAC signaling for the interpretation and transmission of received MAC signaling. The DU Management Module 472 can, if necessary, control the overall operation of the DU50 in one of the ways described below.

[0119] The UE Profile Management Module 473 is responsible for performing functions related to the UE profile, which include receiving and storing the UE profile or associated assistance / preference information from (where applicable) the UE3 or other locations in the network; determining appropriate mobility-specific configurations based on the UE profile / assistance / preference information for implementation on the UE3 and / or RAN equipment (where applicable); and / or providing configuration information for appropriately configuring the UE in a mobility-based configuration (where applicable). The UE Profile Management Module 473 can also store previous mobility information for the UE3 (e.g., previous movements of the UE3 between different communication cells in the network). Depending on the implementation, it will be understood that the gNB-DU may not have to implement at least some of these functions.

[0120] The mobility module 475 is responsible for controlling mobility procedures for one or more UE3s. For example, the mobility module 475 may be configured to perform one or more measurements for the mobility of the UE3 or to select candidate cells for a handover, according to one of the methods described later.

[0121] CU Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of the CU60 RAN equipment for the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1. As shown, the CU60 has transceiver circuits 551 for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the DU50 via one or more DU interfaces 554 (for example, with an F1 interface which can be divided into F1-U and F1-C interfaces for user plane and control plane signaling, respectively), and for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from the functions of the core network 7 via one or more core network interfaces 555 (for example, including N2 and N3 interfaces, etc.).

[0122] CU60 has a controller 557 for controlling the operation of CU60. Controller 557 is associated with memory 559. Software may be pre-installed in memory 559 and / or may be downloaded, for example, via communication network 1 or from a removable data storage device (RMD). In this example, controller 557 is configured to control the overall operation of CU60 by program instructions or software instructions stored in memory 559.

[0123] As shown in the figure, these software instructions include, among other things, the operating system 561, the communication control module 563, the F1 module 565, the E1 module 566, the N2 module 568, the N3 module 569, the CU-UP management module 571, the CU-CP management module 572, the UE profile management module 573, and the mobility module 575. The function of the mobility module 575 was previously described with reference to Figure 3.

[0124] The communication control module 563 is operable to control communication between CU60 and one or more DU50 (and therefore between CU60 and UE3), and between CU60 and the core network 7. The communication control module 563 is configured to have overall control over the reception of signals corresponding to uplink communication from UE3 and to control the transmission of downlink communication.

[0125] The F1 module 565 is responsible for the proper processing of signals received from or transmitted to the DU 50 via one or more DU (e.g., F1) interfaces 554. These signals include user plane signals received or transmitted by the CU-UP portion of the CU 60 via the F1-U interface, and control plane signals received or transmitted by the CU-CP portion of the CU 60 via the F1-C interface.

[0126] The E1 module 566 is responsible for the proper processing of signals transmitted between the CU-UP portion and the CU-CP portion of the CU60 via the corresponding internal CU interface (such as E1).

[0127] The N2 module 568 is responsible for the proper processing of signals received from or sent to the AMF8-1 via one or more corresponding core network interfaces 555 (such as N2).

[0128] The N3 module 569 is responsible for the proper processing of signals received from or transmitted to one or more core network user plane functions via one or more corresponding core network interfaces 555 (such as N3).

[0129] The CU-UP management module 571 is responsible for managing the overall operation of the CU-UP portion of the CU60 and the overall performance of the tasks required for CU-UP.

[0130] The CU-CP management module 572 is responsible for managing the overall operation of the CU-CP portion of the CU60 and the overall performance of the tasks required of the CU-CP. These tasks include, among other things, generating and transmitting appropriate messages using the appropriate signaling application protocol, depending on the functional division between the RU, DU50, and CU60, such as generating RRC signaling for the interpretation and transmission of received RRC signaling.

[0131] The UE profile management module 573 is responsible for performing functions related to the UE (mobility) profile, which include receiving and storing the UE profile or associated assistance / preference information from UE3 or other locations in the network (where applicable), determining an appropriate mobility-specific configuration based on the UE profile / assistance / preference information for implementation in UE3 and / or RAN equipment 5, and / or providing configuration information for properly configuring the UE in a mobility-based configuration. The UE profile management module 573 can also store previous mobility information about UE3 (e.g., previous movements of UE3 between different communication cells in the network). Depending on the implementation, it will be understood that the gNB-CU60 may not implement at least some of these functions.

[0132] System information and SIB It will be understood that transmissions in cell 9 of base station 5 may include one or more broadcast transmissions, one or more unicast transmissions for reception by UE3, and / or one or more multicast transmissions for reception by a group of UE3. System information (SI) transmitted in a cell may include "minimum SI" (MSI) and "other SI" (OSI). OSI may be broadcast on demand, for example, using a downlink shared channel (DL-SCH). OSI may be broadcast when requested by a UE3 that is in a radio resource control (RRC) idle or RRC inactive state. OSI may also be requested by a UE3 that is in an RRC connected state, for example, via one or more dedicated RRC transmissions.

[0133] The System Information Block (SIB) may include information that enables the UE3 to complete cell selection (for example, by configuring it to complete it), information that enables the UE3 to complete a cell re-selection procedure, or information that enables the UE3 to receive one or more paging messages transmitted within a cell. The SI may be broadcast using a Master Information Block (MIB) and one or more System Information Blocks (SIBs).

[0134] The MSI comprises an MIB and a system information block 1 (SIB1). The MIB includes information for UE3 to use to receive SIB1, such as the subcarrier interval of SIB1. The MIB provides information corresponding to the Control Resource Set (CORESET) and the search space. SIB1 may be called the “remaining MSI” (RMSI). SIB1 may be transmitted in a dedicated RRC message, and other SIBs (such as SIB2-SIB9) may be transmitted using one or more other appropriate RRC transmissions (such as another dedicated RRC message). The MIB and SIB1 may provide UE3 with notification of scheduling information for receiving and decoding other SIBs such as SIB2-SIB9, and may provide information for UE3 to use to receive one or more paging messages. The OSI may include, for example, SIB2-SIB9 transmitted using DL-SCH in SI messages. The mapping of SIB2-SIB9 to their corresponding SI messages may be provided to UE3 by the base station 5. MIBs and SIB1-SIB9 are described in more detail, for example, in 3GPP TS 38.331. SIB2 provides information on intra-frequency, inter-frequency, and inter-system cell reselection. SIB3 provides cell-specific information for intra-frequency cell reselection. SIB4 provides information on inter-frequency cell reselection. SIB5 provides information on inter-system cell reselection for 4G (LTE). SIB6 and SIB7 provide information on earthquake and tsunami warning systems (ETWS). SIB8 provides information on commercial mobile alert service (CMAS) notifications, for example, to provide warning text messages to UE3. SIB9 includes information on harmonized universal time (UTC), global positioning system (GPS) time (for example, for GPS initial setup), and local time.

[0135] SIBs may be broadcast periodically (for example, according to a predetermined periodic pattern), or alternatively, they may be provided "on demand" upon request from, for example, UE3. For example, MIBs may be transmitted with a period of 80ms and repetitions occurring within 80ms, while SIB1 may be transmitted with a period of 160ms and a variable transmission repetition period (e.g., 20ms) within 160ms. SIB1 may be used to indicate to UE3 which SIBs are transmitted periodically and which SIBs are available on demand upon request from UE3. UE3 may be configured to request on-demand SIBs using message 1 (MSG1), which may be called an MSG1-based on-demand SI request, or message 3 (MSG3), which may be called an MSG3-based on-demand SI request.

[0136] A physical broadcast channel (PBCH) may be used to broadcast the MIB. Base station 5 can transmit the PBCH in an SS / PBCH block along with synchronization signals (SS) (e.g., primary synchronization signal (PSS) and secondary synchronization signal (SSS)). An SS / PBCH block comprises four orthogonal frequency-division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols that map to the PSS, SSS, and PBCH associated with a demodulation reference signal (DM-RS). In the frequency domain, an SS / PBCH block contains 240 consecutive subcarriers. When UE3 is in an RRC connection state, base station 5 can provide UE3 with notification of the resources used for the SS / PBCH, for example, using dedicated signaling. SIB1 may be transmitted using a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH). OSI may similarly be transmitted using a PDSCH, for example. If one or more beamformed transmissions are transmitted in a cell provided by base station 5, only some of the SIs (such as some SIBs) may be transmitted using specific beams or using specific transmission / reception points (TRPs).

[0137] UE Mobility Figure 5 shows an overview of a mobility procedure that can be performed in the type of communication system 1 shown in Figure 1. In this example, a handover of UE3 from source base station 5 to target base station 5 is performed.

[0138] In the optional step S501, UE3 performs a measurement. The measurement may be a measurement of the signal transmitted by source(R)AN node 5, or a measurement of the signal transmitted by target(R)AN node 5. The measurement may be a measurement of signal strength, which may be used as part of the decision that UE3 should be handed over from source(R)AN node 5 to target(R)AN node. In the optional step S502, UE3 sends a measurement report to source(R)AN node 5 providing notification of the measurement results. The measurement report may be sent from UE3 to source base station 5 in an RRC message. In this example, the source(R)AN node uses the information provided in the measurement report to decide that UE3 should be handed over to target(R)AN node 5. However, it will be understood that the decision that a handover to target(R)AN node should be performed may, alternatively (or additionally), be based on a measurement performed at source(R)AN node 5 or target(R)AN node 5. Alternatively, the decision to perform a UE3 handover may be based on factors other than signal measurement, such as the congestion level of the cells operated by source(R)AN node 5.

[0139] In step S503, Source(R)AN node 5 sends a handover request to Target(R)AN node 5, requesting a handover of UE3 from Source(R)AN node 5 to Target(R)AN node 5. The handover request may include, for example, notification of Source(R)AN node 5's identity, the cause value for the handover, the target cell's identity, UE3 context information (such as the UE3's maximum bitrate or security capabilities), and UE history information. If the handover was triggered by a measurement report received by Source(R)AN node 5 in step S502, the cause value may indicate, for example, that the handover is desirable for radio reasons. Alternatively, if the handover was triggered to reduce the load on Source(R)AN node 5, the cause value may indicate that the handover is to reduce the load on the serving cell. The handover request message may also include notification of the AMF10-1 to serve to the UE3.

[0140] In step S504, the target (R)AN node sends an acknowledgment of the handover request (which may be referred to as a “handover request acknowledgment” message). The handover request acknowledgment message includes notification of handover configuration information for the handover to be forwarded to UE3. The handover request acknowledgment message may also include configuration information that enables the source (R)AN node 5 to begin forwarding user plane data for UE3 to the target (R)AN node 5.

[0141] The transmissions in steps S503 and S504 may be performed via the Xn interface between the source (R)AN node 5 and the target (R)AN node 5 (therefore, the handover procedure in this example may be called an Xn-based handover procedure). Steps S501 to S504 may be referred to as the "handover preparation phase".

[0142] In step S505, source (R)AN node 5 sends handover configuration information to UE3. The configuration information for the handover may be, for example, an RRC configuration sent in an RRC configuration message or an RRC reconfiguration message. In step S506, UE3 applies the received configuration for the handover and sends a notification to target (R)AN node 5 that the configuration for the handover is complete. The message sent in step S505 may be, for example, an RRC reconfiguration complete message. Steps S505 to S506 may be referred to as the "handover execution phase".

[0143] Following the handover execution phase, UE3 can operate to send uplink transmissions to target(R)AN node 5 (e.g., uplink data) and receive downlink transmissions from target(R)AN node 5 (e.g., downlink data).

[0144] It will be understood that the mobility methods and handover procedures for UE3 are not limited to the example shown in Figure 5. For example, UE3 may be configured to perform a conditional handover (CHO) in which UE3 decides whether or not to hand over UE3 to a candidate cell based on one or more execution conditions. It will also be understood that handovers can be performed where DU50 changes but CU60 remains the same (inter-DU intra-CU handover), where both DU50 and CU60 change (inter-DU inter-CU handover), or between two cells operating with the same DU50.

[0145] Random access Figure 6 shows a random access (RA) procedure that can be performed in the system of Figure 1. The RA procedure can be used, for example, for initial access by UE3 in RRC idle mode or for transitioning from RRC inactive mode to RRC connected mode. The RA procedure may also be used during the handover of UE3 from the source base station to the target base station (for example, as in the handover procedure described above with reference to Figure 5) for initial access to the target base station 5.

[0146] In step S601, UE3 transmits a random access preamble to base station 5. In this example, UE3 selects a random access preamble to transmit from a group of random access preambles shared with other UE3s. The transmission in step S601 may also be referred to as message 1 (MSG1) and is transmitted using PRACH.

[0147] In step S602, base station 5 sends a random access response to UE3. The transmission in step S602 may also be referred to as message 2 (MSG2). The random access response indicates the time and / or frequency resources (e.g., resource blocks and / or symbols) that UE3 will use to send a subsequent transmission to base station 5. The random access response may also include further information for UE3 to use for communication with base station 5, such as a timing advance (TA) value.

[0148] In step S603, UE3 transmits a transmission to base station 5 using the notified time and / or frequency resources. The transmission in step S603 may also be referred to as message 3 (MSG3). The transmission in step S603 may be a layer 2 (L2) or layer 3 (L3) message. The transmission in step S603 may include, for example, an RRC setup request, an RRC resume request, an RRC re-establishment request, or an RRC reconfiguration completion message.

[0149] If two UE3s select and transmit the same random access preamble in step S601, and receive and decode MSG2 transmitted by base station 5 in step S602, the two UEs can transmit MSG3 using the same time and / or frequency resources. This situation may be called a “conflict” or “collision”. To resolve the conflict, in step S604, base station 5 sends a content resolution message to the UE3s. The transmission in step S604 may also be referred to as message 4 (MSG4). MSG4 indicates to the UE3s whether the base station successfully received and decoded the MSG3 transmitted by the UE3s in step S603. If base station 5 decodes an MSG3 transmitted by another UE3 that is in conflict with the UE3, or if interference occurs between the MSG3s transmitted by the two UE3s, the MSG3 transmitted in step S603 may not have been successfully received or decoded by base station 5. If MSG3 transmitted by UE3 has not been decoded by base station 5 (UE3 can determine this if it has not received MSG4 from base station 5), UE3 returns to step S601 of the method and transmits another MSG1 to base station 5 (for example, after selecting a different random access preamble).

[0150] The procedure shown in Figure 6 is an example of a conflict-based RA procedure in which UE3 selects a random access preamble from a group of preambles that are also available to other UE3s (thus a conflict can occur if two UE3s select the same random access preamble). Alternatively, base station 5 may send the random access preamble assignment to UE3 before UE3 sends MSG1 to base station 5, in which case the RA procedure is conflict-free (and the conflict resolution in step S604 does not need to be performed). The random access preamble assignment may be sent to UE3 using an RRC message or layer 1 (L1) signaling (e.g., using DCI carried by PDCCH). In the method shown in Figure 5, in step S505, the random access preamble assignment for communicating with target base station 5 may be sent to UE3.

[0151] MSG1 and / or MSG3 may be used by UE3 to request on-demand SI from base station 5.

[0152] Antenna element Referring now to Figure 7, a simplified diagram of the antenna panel configuration of base station 5, base station 5 of communication system 1 includes an antenna having multiple antenna panels 710-1, 710-2 (two in this example, but more antenna panels are possible). Each antenna panel 710 comprises multiple physical antenna elements 712a, 712b arranged in cross-pole pairs of antenna elements 712. In the illustrated example, each cross-pole pair 712 comprises antenna elements 712a at +45° and antenna elements 712b at -45°, but it will be understood that other arrangements are possible. In Figure 7, each antenna panel 710 is shown, for illustrative purposes, to have 64 cross-pole pairs in an 8×8 array of antenna elements 712 (128 physical antenna elements 712a, 712b).

[0153] Although base station 5 is described as having multiple antenna panels, it will be understood that base station 5 (or another similar base station 5 in communication system 1) could have a single panel, as at least some operators currently support a single antenna panel at each base station location. It will also be understood that the number of antenna elements is not limited to 128 physical antenna elements (64 crossed pole pairs). One or more antenna panels could include, for example, 64 physical antenna elements (32 crossed pole pairs), 32 physical antenna elements (16 crossed pole pairs), and so on.

[0154] UE3 also has an antenna that may have multiple antenna elements.

[0155] By using an antenna with multiple physical antenna elements, base station 5 and UE3 can perform transmission (and reception) using logical antenna ports mapped to one or more subsets of the physical antenna elements 712. Therefore, transmissions sharing the same antenna port will traverse the same propagation channel.

[0156] The use of logical antenna ports in base station 5 or UE3 enables multiple input multiple output (MIMO) communication, where multiple data streams (referred to as "transmit layers") can be transmitted (or received) in parallel using the same time and frequency resources, but through different logical antenna ports. Furthermore, the ability to map a given logical antenna port to a subset containing multiple physical antenna elements allows base station 5 or UE3 to beamform transmissions made through its logical antenna ports (i.e., by applying appropriate amplitude and / or phase adjustments at each physical antenna element).

[0157] Figure 8 shows a simplified example of how logical antenna ports can be configured for MIMO and / or beamforming. As seen in Figure 8, the simplified example includes a single panel array of 64 physical antenna elements (32 crossed pole pairs (+45° / -45°)). In this example, there are four separate MIMO transmit layers (e.g., 4x4 MIMO), each of which transmits through a different set of 16 physical antenna elements mapped to a corresponding antenna port. With each antenna port mapped to multiple physical antenna elements, beamforming is possible, and therefore each data stream transmitted for each transmit layer can be beamformed to form the corresponding beam as shown.

[0158] The original signal SN transmitted from transmitter antenna port N on a specific data stream / transmit layer and received at receiver antenna port M will be affected by the propagation channel hMN between those antenna ports if precoding is not performed. Therefore, the signal YM received at receiver antenna port M corresponds to the sum of each original signal modified by each propagation channel. This can be represented mathematically using an algebraic matrix. For example, in a simplified case with two transmitter antenna ports and two receiver antenna ports (e.g., 2x2 MIMO), the received signal can be represented as follows:

number

[0159] As long as there is sufficient orthogonality between the propagation paths followed by the signals of each transmitting layer, the original signal can be reconstructed at the receiver based on propagation coefficients derived from measurements of a reference signal (e.g., such as a DMRS) transmitted via the same propagation path (i.e., transmitted and received by the same respective antenna ports). For example, Equation 2 can be solved by deriving the inverse of the channel coefficient matrix (e.g., based on reference signal measurements) and multiplying this matrix by the received signal.

[0160] Nevertheless, propagation paths may not be perfectly orthogonal, and to improve the orthogonality of received signals, precoding can be applied to the original signals before they are transmitted. Specifically, P is a matrix of precoding parameters, for example,

number

number

[0161] CSI-RS Base station 5 is operable to transmit reference signals (RS) in one or more cells 9 on which base station 5 operates. These reference signals include channel state information RS (CSI-RS). CSI-RS may be used by UE3 for several different purposes, including CSI reporting, in which UE3 derives channel state information (CSI) from CSI-RS measurements, including one or more channel quality indicators (CQI), rank indicators (RI), and / or precoding matrix indicators (PMI), and reports them to base station 5 in the CSI report. CQI is an index (usually 4 bits) value representing the signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR). The CQI value also corresponds to the modulation and coding scheme (MCS) used per layer. RI indicates the number of MIMO transmit layers requested by UE3 (however, base station 5 is not required to use the requested number of MIMO transmit layers). PMI is used by UE3 to report parameters that define the preferred precoding matrix to be applied to downlink transmissions (however, base station 5 is not required to use the requested precoding). To identify the strongest layer from the set of layers indicated by the RI, a layer indicator (LI) may be included in the CSI report.

[0162] CSI-RS may also be used by UE3 for beam management, including improvements to initial beam selection based on SSB. For example, base station 5 can use a relatively wide beamset for SSB transmission and a narrower (more directive) beamset for CSI-RS. UE3 can be configured by base station 5 to measure each CSI-RS transmission to identify the best CSI-RS beam and report this to base station 5 (e.g., by a CSI report including a CSI-RS indicator (CRI) that identifies the strongest CSI-RS, and therefore the CSI-RS beam). UE3 may also be configured to report the (Layer 1) RSRP measured for the strongest CSI-RS.

[0163] The CSI reporting configuration for CSI can be periodic (P-CSI) using PUCCH, aperiodic (A-CSI) using PUSCH, or semi-permanent (SP-CSI) using PUCCH and DCI-activated PUSCH. In periodic CSI reporting, the reporting period (i.e., the period defining the reporting point) is determined at the upper layer using RRC signaling, and with appropriate junctive, CSI data is transmitted by UE3 to the scheduler (base station 5) using PUCCH, while in aperiodic reporting, CSI feedback is triggered by base station 5 as needed using DCI on PDCCH. In this case, CSI data is transmitted by UE3 via PUSCH. A-CSI may form the primary CSI feedback framework of the communication system or be a supplementary configuration, for example, to address failed detection of P-CSI or SP-CSI reporting.

[0164] CSI-RS can be either zero-power (ZP-CSI-RS) or non-zero-power (NZP-CSI-RS). ZP-CSI-RS is an empty resource element primarily used for interference measurements. NZP-CSI-RS is used for most procedures, including channel measurements, beam management, beam measurements, and connected-mode mobility. Non-zero-power CSI-RS can be configured, for example, using the NZP-CSI-RS-Resource information element (IE) or the CSI-RS-Resource-Mobility field of the CSI-RS-ResourceConfigMobility IE. NZP-CSI-RS can be used in interference measurement (IM), for example, as part of determining the Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR). CSI IM resources may be used when interference is likely to be primarily due to inter-cell interference. These resources may be used to measure background interference originating from neighboring cells. UE3 may be provided with a configuration for receiving (and measuring) CSI-RS from base station 5 (for example, using a CSI-ReportConfig sent from base station 5 to UE3). As will be described in more detail later, the CSI-ReportConfig includes a display of resources for channel measurement, NZP-CSI-RS resources for interference management, and CSI-IM resources.

[0165] There are several other ways in which CSI-RS can be used, including, for example, connection mode mobility, radio link fault detection, beam fault detection / recovery, and precise timing of time and / or frequency synchronization.

[0166] CSI report Base station 5 can configure how UE3 measures CSI-RS and how it transmits a corresponding report to base station 5 using appropriate measurement configuration signaling. Figure 9 shows some information elements that may be used for such measurement configuration signaling in system 1. These are shown for illustrative purposes and should be understood to be purely illustrative.

[0167] Base station 5 can be configured to measure and report specific resources used for CSI-RS (e.g., using CSI-ReportConfig IE in Figure 9) using measurement configuration signaling (e.g., using CSI-measconfig IE). Multiple different reporting configurations can be configured and identified by appropriate identifiers (e.g., CSI-ReportConfigID IE in Figure 9).

[0168] Base station 5 can configure UE3 to provide different types of CSI reports that provide different information depending on the requirements of the use case, for example by appropriately setting the report quantity parameter (for example, the reportQuantity IE in Figure 9) (for example, using the CSI-ReportConfig IE in Figure 9). For example, UE3 may be configured to report only RI and CQI for one or more related CRIs by appropriately setting the report quantity parameter (for example, for cri-RI-CQI), to report RI, PMI, and CQI for one or more related CRIs by appropriately setting the report quantity parameter (for example, for cri-RI-PMI-CQI), or to report RI, LI, PMI, and CQI for one or more related CRIs by appropriately setting the report quantity parameter (for example, for cri-RI-LI-PMI-CQI). Similarly, in the case of beam management procedures, UE3 may be configured to report the RSRP or SINR of one or more relevant CRIs by appropriately setting the reporting count parameter (for example, for cri-RSRP or cri-SINR), and to report the RSRP or SINR of one or more relevant SSBs by appropriately setting the reporting count parameter (for example, for ssb-Index-RSRP or ssb-Index-SINR).

[0169] Base station 5 can also configure UE3 to provide CSI reports based on different reporting timing configurations (for example, using the CSI-ReportConfig IE in Figure 9). For example, UE3 may be configured for persistent reporting, semi-persistent reporting in PUSCH, semi-persistent reporting in PUCCH, or aeriodic reporting. Aeriodic and semi-persistent reporting in PUSCH can be triggered using PUSCH DCI. For example, a DCI (e.g., using DCI format 0_1) can trigger aeriodic reporting by making a CSI request pointing to the respective index of each of the one or more corresponding aeriodic trigger states (e.g., composed of the CSI-AeriodicTriggerStateList IE shown in Figure 9). Each of these trigger states is associated with one or more corresponding CSI reporting configurations (e.g., identified by one or more related CSI-ReportConfig IEs in Figure 9). Semi-persistent reporting in PUSCH can be triggered in a similar manner (for example, by identifying one or more CSI-ReportConfig IEs from one or more CSI-SemiPersistentOnPUSCH-TriggerStates listed in the CSI-SemiPersistentOnPUSCH-TriggerStateList shown in Figure 9).

[0170] Semi-persistent reporting in PUCCH can be triggered using MAC CE (as shown in Figure 9). Each CSI reporting configuration identifies at least one CSI resource configuration for measurement (e.g., channel measurement) (e.g., using the CSI-ResourceConfigId IE in Figure 9). The identified CSI resource configuration is defined by a corresponding IE (e.g., using the CSI-ResourceConfigId IE in Figure 9) which contains a list of identifiers and associated configuration information corresponding to one or more sets of CSI resources (e.g., a list of one or more NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceSetIDs for non-zero power CSI-RS as shown in Figure 9). The associated configuration information can identify, for example, the associated bandwidth portion (e.g., by the bandwidth portion ID, BWP ID in Figure 9) and the resource type (e.g., using the resourceType IE in Figure 9). The identified resource type can identify, for example, a CSI-RS resource as a periodic, semi-persistent, or aperiodic type. Each resource set contains one or more specific CSI resource configurations, each represented by an associated identifier (such as one or more NZP-CSI-RS-ResourceIDs for non-zero power CSI-RS, as shown in Figure 9) that points to the specific configuration information of its CSI resource configuration (for example, defined by the NZP-CSI-RS-Resource IE for non-zero power CSI-RS, as shown in Figure 9).

[0171] Therefore, base station 5 can configure multiple CSI reporting configuration instances and CSI resource configuration instances. In the case of aperiodic CSI RS resources, it will be understood that multiple resource sets can be configured for each CSI resource configuration.

[0172] In this way, a report of a specific set of CSI resources for a particular use case can be configured. For example, a CSI-RS resource set containing CSI-RS resources for different beams can be configured for beam management purposes. For channel estimation purposes, a CSI-RS resource set containing a single CSI-RS resource for N ports can be configured.

[0173] In the case of multiple transmission reception points (TRPs), different resource sets may also be configured for each resource configuration. In this scenario, the different resource sets may be part of the same CSI resource configuration for aperiodic CSI reporting, or part of different CSI resource configurations for periodic / semi-persistent CSI reporting. Nevertheless, given the same number of ports for all TRPs, it will be understood that it is possible to configure CSI-RS resources belonging to different TRPs within the same resource set.

[0174] In another example, CSI reporting from multiple secondary cells (SCells) can be triggered together by including the CSI reporting configurations of different SCells within the information that defines a single CSI aperiodic trigger state.

[0175] Base station 5 can also configure UE3 to provide either wideband or subband granularity for reporting (for example, by using reportFreqConfiguration IE in CSI-ReportConfig IE). For example, CQI and / or partial PMI can be reported on a per-subband basis (for example, for widebandCQI or subbandCQI, and / or widebandPMI or subbandPMI) by setting up the corresponding indicators (for example, cqi-FormatIndicator IE and / or pmi-FormatIndicator IE, respectively).

[0176] Base station 5 can also be configured with UE3 having a time limit for channel measurement (and / or interference measurement). If a time limit is configured, UE3 is configured to derive measurements for calculating the CSI value based only on the last measured CSI-RS opportunity relevant to the CSI report.

[0177] UE3 may need to send a considerable number of CSI reports (based on the CSI configuration), but it should be understood that the available space in the uplink control information (UCI) portion of PUCCH or PUSCH may be limited. Furthermore, the CSI report payload size can increase significantly in the presence of subband-based reporting. Therefore, prioritization rules are defined to indicate which CSI report parameters should be sent with the highest priority.

[0178] For CSI reports of RI, CQI, and PMI, a CSI report for a single CSI resource may be divided into two parts: a first part containing the RI, CRI, and CQI for the first codeword, and a second part containing the PMI and CQI for the second codeword. The first part can be transmitted as a whole, but parts of the second part may be omitted (depending on the allowable size of the UCI). For UCI coding, the first part of each CSI report is coded in UCI, and the second part of the CSI report is coded based on the amount of available space.

[0179] Relationship between CSI-RS and DMRS for channel estimation Figures 10–12 illustrate different use cases of CSI-RS measurements to support data and associated DMRS transmission (via PDSCH).

[0180] As illustrated in Figure 10, when a CSI-RS transmission is used for PMI reporting purposes, it is not necessarily required to apply any CSI-RS beamforming, and the CSI-RS can be transmitted directly from the physical antenna element. In this case, there is a substantially one-to-one mapping between each CSI-RS port and the associated antenna element. The absence of any CSI-RS beamforming means that the CSI-RS transmission radiates across the cell area with a wide beamwidth. UE3 measures the CSI-RS and identifies from the PMI codebook a set of precoding parameters (and therefore associated PMIs) that, when applied to the CSI-RS port, will produce one or more best (narrow) precoded beams directed towards UE3 using the CSI-RS port. UE3 reports this PMI to base station 5 (in a CSI report, including other associated parameters such as CQI and / or RI, for example), and base station 5, if it decides to use the reported PMI, can appropriately apply the precoding parameters to precode / beamform the DMRS and / or associated PDSCH based on the PMI indication.

[0181] Upon receiving a PDSCH / DMRS, the DMRS measurement can be performed in the usual manner for estimating the composite propagation channel (i.e., the propagation channel modified by precoding / beamforming—for example, by multiplication by the precoding matrix W) and decoding the PDSCH.

[0182] As illustrated in Figure 11, the CSI-RS transmission may be beamformed, and each CSI-RS resource may be mapped to a different beam (and to an associated set of physical antenna elements). Since the CSI-RS is already beamformed, UE3 measures the CSI-RS and identifies one or more directional beams that can successfully receive data, and reports to base station 5 one or more CSI-RS resources associated with one or more identified beams (or the best identified beam). Thus, base station 5 can schedule resources for the PDSCH (and associated DMRS) using one or more identified beams, and the PDSCH (and associated DMRS) can precode / beamform using the same weights used for CSI-RS beamforming of the identified beams.

[0183] Upon receiving the PDSCH / DMRS, the DMRS measurement can be performed in the usual manner for estimating the combined propagation channel (i.e., the propagation channel modified by precoding / beamforming - e.g., multiplied by the beamforming precoding matrix X) and decoding the PDSCH.

[0184] As illustrated in Figure 12, the CSI-RS transmission may be beamformed, and all CSI-RS antenna ports may be mapped to the same beam at a given timing (however, different beams may be used at different times). Each CSI antenna port may be mapped to a respective set of physical antenna elements. In this case, even if the CSI-RS is already beamformed, PMI can be used to indicate a narrower precoded beam that can be formed using the CSI-RS antenna ports. Thus, UE3 measures the CSI-RS and identifies from the PMI codebook a set of precoding parameters (and therefore relevant PMIs) that, when applied to the CSI-RS transmission on the current beam, will produce a narrower precoded beam toward UE3. UE3 reports this PMI to base station 5 (in a CSI report including, for example, other relevant parameters such as CQI and / or RI), and base station 5, if it decides to use the reported PMI, can appropriately apply the precoding parameters to precode / beamform the DMRS and / or relevant PDSCH based on the PMI indication. This example is particularly relevant to frequency range 2 (FR2), and therefore to TDD using FR2.

[0185] Upon receiving a PDSCH / DMRS, the DMRS measurement can be performed in the usual manner for estimating the combined propagation channel (i.e., the propagation channel modified by precoding / beamforming—for example, by multiplying the precoding matrix W by the beamforming precoding matrix X) and decoding the PDSCH.

[0186] Mapping from CSI-RS to CSI-RS antenna ports / antenna elements Referring to Figures 13-15, communication system 1 provides a mapping between each CSI-RS antenna port and the corresponding logical antenna element of the logical antenna array. There are several different configurations that can be used for the logical antenna array. The mapping from logical antenna elements to physical antenna elements depends on the specific embodiment used in base station 5 / UE3 and is transparent to the operation of base station 5 / UE3. By using logical CSI-RS antenna ports in this way, the total number of CSI-RS ports used for transmission can be reduced in order to improve the use of radio resources (since each CSI-RS port has its own radio resource overhead) and to improve energy efficiency.

[0187] Figure 13 shows an illustrative mapping between the CSI-RS port, the logical antenna elements of the virtual antenna array, and the physical antenna elements of the physical antenna array (a single panel in this example). It should be understood that the example is simplified for clarity and does not show all possible mappings.

[0188] As shown in Figure 13, the logic antenna array has N1 logic cross pole pairs in the horizontal direction and N2 logic cross pole pairs in the vertical direction. Each logic cross pole pair includes a logic antenna element at +45° and a logic antenna element at -45°. There is a CSI-RS antenna port corresponding to each logic antenna element, and therefore the total number of CSI-RS antenna ports P is equal to the total number of cross pole pairs (N1 × N2) multiplied by the number of antenna elements per cross pole pair (2), i.e., P = 2 × N1 × N2.

[0189] Each logical cross pole pair (and therefore its associated logical antenna element) is mapped to the corresponding group of physical cross pole pairs (and therefore the associated group of physical antenna elements). In this example, there are four physical antenna elements / cross pole pairs mapped to each logical antenna element / cross pole pair (although it will be understood that any suitable mapping can be used).

[0190] Data and DMRS transmitted through an appropriate number of transmission layers L (where L can be one or more) are precoded via appropriate precoding matrices for transmission through each of the CSI-RS ports.

[0191] When each CSI-RS port is mapped to multiple antenna elements, beamforming can be performed with respect to the signals transmitted through the CSI-RS antenna ports. For example, base station 5 (operating in FR2, for example) can decide to use beamforming for each CSI-RS resource transmission (to increase coverage). In this case, the base station can configure multiple CSI-RS resources (one per beam), and each CSI-RS resource has multiple (N) CSI-RS ports. This is similar to the scenario shown in Figure 12.

[0192] The example shows an array with a two-dimensional array of at least six logical cross pole pairs (12 logical antenna elements), but it will be understood that the array may be one-dimensional (e.g., N2=1) and may have fewer logical cross pole pairs / antenna elements. For example, if there is no specific requirement to have multiple beams in the vertical direction (e.g., in a remote location), the base station may choose to map each CSI-RS antenna port to a logical antenna element corresponding to all physical antenna elements in a column of physical antenna arrays. In this case, N2 is equal to 1, and beamforming may occur only in the horizontal direction. Figure 14 shows various numbers of CSI-RS and logical antenna array configurations for a single-panel antenna, for example.

[0193] It will also be understood that for antennas with multiple antenna panels, additional CSI-RS ports can be configured. Figure 15 shows, for example, various numbers of CSI-RS and logical antenna array configurations for a multi-panel antenna (in this case, Ng is the number of antenna panels). In the case of multiple antenna panels, each antenna element of each panel is mapped to the respective N1 × N2 array of logical cross pole pairs of the antenna elements. Therefore, for a multi-port antenna, the total number of CSI-RS ports is given by 2 × Ng × N1 × N2 (in this case, Ng, N1 and N2 can be configured by the network).

[0194] In the examples in Figures 14 and 15, it will be understood that a higher value of N1 means that more beams can be generated in the horizontal direction, while a higher value of N2 means that more beams can be generated in the vertical direction.

[0195] Precoder Matrix Indication(PMI) As mentioned above, PMI may be used by UE3 to report a suitable precoding for PDSCH transmission. PMI (or at least partial PMI) may be transmitted to base station 5 as feedback in either a closed-loop or half-open-loop transmission scheme. PMI may indicate a precoding for MIMO only (typically for smaller antenna configurations) or for both MIMO and beamforming (typically for larger antenna configurations). Base station 5 is not required to apply the precoding indicated by PMI, nor is it required to inform UE3 of the actual precoding applied. Nevertheless, UE3 can determine the combined effect of the actual precoding and propagation channel based on the DMRS measurements precoded in the same way as PDSCH, and thus decode PDSCH.

[0196] These are several precoder matrix types that can be predefined based on a set of corresponding logical antenna configurations (for example, the logical antenna configurations shown in Figures 14 and 15). These may be precoder matrices specified, for example, by relevant standards (e.g., 3GPP TS 38.214).

[0197] Precoder matrices are categorized into four different codebook categories: Type 1 single panel, Type 1 multi-panel, Type 2 single panel, and Type 2 port selection. Type 1 codebooks generally provide relative course information, while Type 2 codebooks provide more detailed information at the expense of signaling overhead.

[0198] For a Type 1 codebook, the precoder matrix can have a structure similar to one of the following two common formats (with occasional exceptions):

number

[0199] In either case, the number of rows corresponds to the number of CSI-RS ports (P), and the number of columns corresponds to the number of transmission layers (L).

[0200] v1, v2, ...v n This effectively defines the pre-coded beam weights to be applied to the CSI-RS port. The specific codebook configured is v for each precoding matrix (1, 2, or 3) n This effectively determines how many unique possible values ​​there may be.

[0201] θ n This represents the weights corresponding to each of the two possible polarizations, and in most cases, θ in the precoding matrix. n Different values ​​of these differ only in terms of their signs (+ / -).

[0202] φ nis an additional weighting term added to account for non-uniform multi-antenna panel scenarios (therefore, pre-coded beams from different panels are constructively added, for example, when gaps between adjacent panels result in inter-panel spacings between antenna elements that differ from intra-panel spacings).

[0203] For Codebook Type 1, two different Codebook Modes may be used for one or two transmit layers. Codebook Mode 1 allows for higher horizontal and vertical granularity for the wideband, while Codebook Mode 2 has higher resolution for subbands.

[0204] Each precoding matrix W can be understood as corresponding to the product of two matrices (W=W1W2). The first matrix W1 is the beam weight (i.e., (v n W1 can be understood as containing a set of beam directions and representing the long-term channel characteristics (wideband), while W2 is a vector that incorporates the short-term channel characteristics (subband). W1 can be understood as containing multiple beam directions, while the W2 matrix can be understood as selecting a subset of beam directions (for codebook mode 2) and / or performing a phase shift (for codebook modes 1 and 2).

[0205] In a given scenario, it will be understood that different transmission layers can be achieved by using different beams and / or polarizations. For example, signals received via different beams or via different polarizations may be configured to have uncorrelated (orthogonal) propagation channels.

[0206] The PMI report can be divided into two stages. The first stage provides base station 5 with feedback (referred to as i1) representing wideband information that does not change rapidly over time, and the second stage provides base station 5 with feedback (referred to as i2) representing rapidly changing subband information. The i1 portion of the PMI consists of one or more beam weight values ​​(v) of the precoding matrix. neffectively indicates. The i1 part of the PMI is reported for a wideband (i.e., a single measurement for all CSI-RS subbands), while the i2 part of the PMI can be reported for each subband (based on the CSI reporting configuration as described above).

[0207] In some cases (e.g., semi-open loop transmission mode), UE3 may be configured to report only i1. For example, the base station 5 can configure UE3 to perform CSI reporting (e.g., using the CSI-ReportConfig IE) to provide partial precoding information (e.g., i1 but not i2) by appropriately setting the reporting number parameter. UE3 can be configured, for example, by appropriately setting the reporting number parameter for one or more related CRIs to report RI, i1, and CQI (e.g., for cri-RI-i1-CQI), or to report RI and i1 without CQI for one or more related CRIs (e.g., for cri-RI-i1). [[ID=X]]

[0208] As an example, consider an exemplary case of 2-layer PMI feedback for a single panel type 1 codebook using codebook mode 1. In this case, the precoding matrix is specified as follows.

Number

[0209] The UE reports i1 and i2, and i1 = [i 1,1 , i 1,2 , i 1,3 . i 1,1 effectively indicates the index of the beam to be used in the horizontal direction, and i 1,2 effectively indicates the index of the beam to be used in the vertical direction, and i 1,3i2 effectively indicates the second beam to be formed for PDSCH transmission (with respect to the offset relative to the first beam) (multiple beams can provide independent orthogonal channels), and i2 indicates the weight used for the second polarization.

[0210] The conversion from beam index to actual beam weight in the case of 5G is defined in the relevant standards (e.g., 3GPP TS 38.214).

[0211] i1 and i2 are mapped to W based on the following pre-specified table. [Table 2]

[0212] k1 and k2 are determined based on the following pre-specified table i 1,3 It is determined based on the following. [Table 3]

[0213] Therefore, the precoder matrix defined by equation 6 is as follows:

number

[0214] The first column of the matrix effectively corresponds to the first transmit layer for transmission via the first beam from the first CSI-RS port, i 1,1 and i 1,2 Defined by: The second column of the matrix effectively corresponds to the second transmit layer for transmission through the second beam from the second CSI-RS port, i 1,1 +k1 and i 1,2 Defined by +k2

[0215] For each rank (number of transmission layers), the UE3 can attempt to determine the i1 and i2 parameters based on the reception of CSI-RS, thereby achieving the best performance, and the values ​​are therefore shown to the base station.

[0216] Base station 5 can configure limits on the reported values. For example, base station 5 can use a bitmap (e.g., in the codebook configuration IE) to set i 1,1 and i 1,2 It can indicate which values ​​are restricted. Similarly, base station 5 can indicate which rank values ​​are restricted using a bitmap (for example, in the codebook configuration IE).

[0217] Network Energy Saving (NES) NES technology can be implemented, for example, in the spatial domain or the power domain. NES in the spatial domain may involve controlling the number of physical antenna elements, i.e., TX / RX RUs, used to transmit CSI-RS (or another type of transmission). NES in the power domain may involve reducing the transmit power for a particular transmission (e.g., CSI-RS or PDSCH).

[0218] spatial area The spatial domain method for NES includes flexible on / off switching of spatial antenna elements at base station 5. Switching spatial elements on / off allows for changes in the mapping between CSI ports and physical antenna ports. Base station 5 may be configured to shut down some spatial elements (and / or reduce the transmit power of some spatial elements) to achieve energy savings. The configuration change for transmission is advantageous because it allows CSIs to be quickly reported to base station 5 by UE3 for use in scheduling and resource allocation by base station 5. Failure to receive CSIs corresponding to transmissions using a reduced number of spatial elements and / or reduced transmit power could degrade communication performance in system 1. Particularly advantageous methods for mitigating this problem are described later.

[0219] As mentioned above, a UE can be composed of multiple CSI-RS resources. A CSI-RS resource, resource set, or resource configuration may be associated with only one spatial adaptation pattern. Alternatively, a CSI-RS resource, resource set, or resource configuration may be associated with one or more spatial adaptation patterns. Similarly, independent or separate CSI reporting configurations may be used, each corresponding to its own spatial adaptation pattern. Alternatively, a single CSI reporting configuration may contain multiple CSI reporting subconfigurations, each corresponding to its own single spatial adaptation pattern.

[0220] By sending CSI reports corresponding to different numbers of each spatial element used, base station 5 can perform control to adjust the number of spatial elements for PDSCH. The CSI-RS and CSI reporting configurations are BWP-specific, and a BWP adaptive framework can be used for adaptation to UE3, which has multiple BWPs and dynamic BWP switching. UE3 may be configured to determine which CSIs should be reported to base station 5, and multiple CSIs may be reported in a single CSI report.

[0221] A single CSI-RS resource may consist of multiple antenna port configurations and / or power offsets. L1 / L2 signaling can be used to indicate the activated antenna port configurations and / or power offsets. Alternatively, multiple CSI-RS resource groups may be associated with different antenna port configurations and / or power offsets, and these resource groups may belong to the same CSI-RS resource set. L1 / L2 signaling can be used to indicate the activated group of resources.

[0222] For L1-SINR calculation (determination), UE3 may consist of NZP CSI-RS resources and / or SS / PBCH block resources. For interference measurements, UE3 may consist of NZP CSI-RS or CSI-IM resources. For L1-SINR reporting, the upper-level parameter "nrofReportedRS" in CSI-ReportConfig (shown in Figure 9) may be configured to 1, in which case the reported L1-SINR value is defined by a 7-bit value. If the upper-level parameter "nrofReportedRS" is configured to be greater than 1, or if the upper-level parameter "groupBasedBeamReporting" is configured as "enabled", UE3 uses differential L1-SINR-based reporting, where the maximum measured L1-SINR is quantized to a 7-bit value and the differential L1-SINR is quantized to a 4-bit value. In other words, the differential L1-SINR can be reported by referring to the maximum measured L1-SINR value (for example, it is part of the same L1-SINR reporting instance). When the NZP CSI-RS is configured for channel and / or interference measurements, the reported L1-SINR value is not compensated for by one or more power offsets (e.g., indicated by the upper layer power control offset parameter "powerControlOffsetSS" or "powerControlOffset").

[0223] UE3 can be configured with multiple CSI reporting configurations (CSI-ReportConfig). The number of ports associated with different CSI reporting configurations can be set to different values. The UE can then report CSIs corresponding to different numbers of ports in the corresponding CSI report. CSI reports can include, for example, RI, LI, CQI, or PMI displays. UE3 may also be configured to report multiple CSIs in a single CSI report, each of which can correspond to a different number of ports (therefore, the base station can perform more efficient configuration and scheduling for downlink transmission).

[0224] If the higher-level parameter "cqi-BitsPerSubband" in CSI-ReportConfig is not configured, the 2-bit subband difference CQI for each subband index s can be defined as follows:

number

[0225] The mapping from 2-bit subband difference CQI values ​​to offset levels is shown in Table 2 below. [Table 4]

[0226] Alternatively, if the higher-level parameter "cqi-BitsPerSubband" is configured in CSI-ReportConfig, a 4-bit subband CQI can be reported for each subband index s.

[0227] Using different numbers of ports, frequency resources, or transmit power in the NES method may result in unreliable CSI-RS measurement results being generated by UE3 and reported to the base station. To mitigate this problem, a method can be used to show UE3 how the CSI-RS is being transmitted by base station 5.

[0228] For example, if the number of CSI-RS antennas is changed by base station 5, the CSI reported before the change in antenna count may not be suitable for use in data scheduling after the change. Changes in the number of spatial elements (or transmit power) may render the CSI-RS resources (set) configured for measurement by UE3 outdated. If inaccurate CSI reports are used to schedule data, the data may not be received by UE3 and may require retransmission.

[0229] Improved methods for spatial element adaptation can help the UE adapt an already configured CSI-RS configuration, such as dynamic / semi-permanent on / off of CSI-RS, or reconfigure the CSI-RS configuration for a given number of spatial elements / ports. Improved methods for CSI-RS measurement and reporting with respect to NES in the spatial domain are described below.

[0230] power area NES methods in the power domain may be applicable to one or more of the following: PDSCH, CSI-RS, DMRS, and broadcast channel / signal transmission. For example, an NES method may include correcting the power offset value between PDSCH and CSI-RS.

[0231] The SSB reference power, ss-PBCH-BlockPower, is defined in SIB1. The power control offset, powerControlOffsetSS, is defined between (NZP)CSI-RS and SSB. This power control offset can be configured quasi-statically via RRC signaling. The power offset configuration for PDSCH and CSI-RS may be BWP specific.

[0232] Base station 5 may be configured to dynamically adapt the downlink signal and channel transmit power or power spectral density (PSD). This dynamic power adjustment can be used to adapt to different channel conditions to achieve energy savings. The power offset between the PDSCH transmit and the CSI-RS (configured by powerControlOffset) may be configured quasi-statically. Adaptation of the power offset value between the PDSCH and the CSI-RS by base station 5 allows for a reduction in the transmit power of the PDSCH transmit, which can result in advantageous energy savings. However, for base station 5 to efficiently configure the PDSCH transmit (to reduce transmit power while ensuring reliable reception by UE3), it is advantageous for base station 5 to receive CSIs from UE3 corresponding to different power offset values ​​between the PDSCH and the CSI-RS.

[0233] The UE transmits CSI feedback related to the configured DL power offset. However, when transmit power regulation for the PDSCH is used, a discrepancy may occur between the configured power offset and the actual power offset between the PDSCH and the CSI-RS. Particularly advantageous methods, including updating the power offset value between the PDSCH and the CSI-RS, will be described in more detail later.

[0234] CSI-RS Subconfiguration Here, we will describe some particularly advantageous ways in which several spatial adaptation patterns are used.

[0235] In this example, a configurable number of spatial adaptation patterns (each corresponding to the number of antenna ports in a particular CSI-RS pattern) are used. The configurable number of spatial adaptation patterns may be, for example, 2, 4, 8, or 16 patterns, depending on the configuration of the antenna ports at base station 5.

[0236] For example, the 32 antenna ports at base station 5 can correspond to K CSI-RS patterns (without NES in the spatial domain). When a set of 16 antenna ports is used, the first (N1) CSI-RS pattern (NES-1) can be used. When eight antenna ports from the first set are used, the second (N2) CSI-RS pattern (NES-2) can be used. When eight antenna ports from a second set (different from the first set) are used, the third (N3) CSI-RS pattern can be used. When a set of four antenna ports is used, the fourth (N4) CSI-RS pattern can be used. Thus, in this example, it will be understood that a different CSI-RS pattern is defined for each set of antenna ports (in this example, groups of 16, 8, and 4 antenna ports).

[0237] Advantageously, information showing the mapping between each set of antenna ports used for CSI-RS transmission and the corresponding CSI-RS pattern is presented to the UE3, for example, using a table. Therefore, beneficially, the UE3 can determine the CSI-RS pattern / resource associated with each set of antenna ports and send the corresponding CSI report to the base station 5 (which then enables base station 5 to perform more efficient scheduling and configuration of downlink transmissions).

[0238] Figure 16 shows a table that can be used to show the mapping between the set of antenna ports used for CSI-RS transmission and the corresponding CSI-RS pattern / measurement resource. Figure 16 shows a first table for a base station with 32 antenna ports available for CSI-RS transmission and a second table for a base station with 16 antenna ports available for CSI-RS transmission. The UE3 can be made to identify the table by sending the corresponding index to the UE3 (in this example, value 1 indicates that the 32-antenna port table is used, and value 2 indicates that the 16-antenna port table is used). An additional index (j) is used to indicate the set of antenna ports used for CSI-RS (and therefore the corresponding CSI-RS pattern / resource) transmission. The CSI-RS pattern information shown in the table in Figure 16 corresponds to each CSI-RS measurement resource for subconfigurations for spatial adaptive patterns. Each spatial adaptive pattern is associated with a combination of NZP CSI-RS measurement resource and interferometric CSI-IM / NZP CSI-RS resource.

[0239] In the example shown in Figure 16, the antenna ports and CSI-RS patterns / resources are shown using the same table as the joint display, but this is not necessarily required. Alternatively, for example, the antenna ports could be shown using a first table, and the CSI-RS patterns / resources could be shown using a second table (addressed using either the same index used to address the first table, or a different index).

[0240] The table can be provided to UE3 in any suitable way. For example, the table can be transmitted to UE3 by base station 5 or pre-configured in UE3.

[0241] It should be understood that the table index i does not necessarily have to be used. Alternatively, for example, the total number of antenna ports may be explicitly indicated to UE3 or may be inferred based on any other suitable information transmitted from the network to UE3. It should also be understood that there does not necessarily have to be a column indicating the set of antenna ports used for CSI-RS transmission. Alternatively, only the index j and the corresponding CSI-RS pattern / resource indication may be included in the table. In this case, UE3 can include the index j corresponding to the measured CSI-RS when transmitting the corresponding CSI report to the base station 5.

[0242] Information for identifying the table and the CSI-RS pattern / resource (in the example of FIG. 16, indices i, j) can be transmitted from the base station 5 to UE3 in any suitable transmission. For example, the information for identifying the table and the CSI-RS pattern / resource can be transmitted to UE3 within the configuration for the NES (NES configuration information) or within the CSI report configuration information (e.g., using the CSI-ReportConfig IE shown in FIG. 9). Alternatively, the information for identifying the table and the CSI-RS pattern / resource can be broadcast in the cell of the base station 5 using, for example, system information (e.g., SIB1).

[0243] As described above, CSI feedback can be triggered as needed by the base station 5 using DCI on the PDCCH. For example, CSI feedback can be configured using DCI format 1_0 or 1_1 used to schedule the PDSCH within the cell. Advantageously, in this example where dynamic adaptation of the spatial adaptation pattern can be used, the DCI can advantageously include (e.g., using indices i and j) an indication of the row of the table indicating the spatial adaptation pattern and the corresponding CSI resource set configuration selected by the base station 5.

[0244] CSI Report Here, a particularly advantageous method for transmitting a CSI report from the UE3 to the base station 5 will be described.

[0245] FIG. 17 shows an example of transmitting a CSI report configuration from the base station 5 to the UE3. As shown in the figure, in this example, the CSI-ReportConfig (described above with reference to FIG. 9) includes a CSI-ReportConfigId and a ServCellIndex information element (used to identify the serving cell). Advantageously, in this example, the CSI report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) may also include a display of a list of resources for channel measurement (resourcesForChannelMeasurementList) and a display of a list of CSI IM resources for interference measurement (csi-IM-ResourcesForInterferenceList), each indicated by a respective information element (in this example, the CSI-ResourceConfigIdList information element). The CSI report configuration (CSI-ReportConfig) may also include a display of a list of NZP CSI RS resources for interference measurement, indicated by the corresponding information element (in this example, the CSI-ResourceConfigIdList information element).

[0246] Each element of the CSI resource configuration ID list (indicated by the CSI-ResourceConfigIdList information element) corresponds to a spatial adaptation pattern for use by the base station 5. Advantageously, the channel measurement resources and the interference measurement resources can be ordered in a one-to-one mapping for each spatial adaptation pattern. In other words, the CSI resource configuration ID list can be used to indicate one or more channel measurement resources and one or more interference measurement resources for use in a particular spatial adaptation pattern.

[0247] Selection of CSI The UE3 may be configured to select a set of CSI to be reported to the base station 5. Advantageously, the UE3 may be configured to report CSI corresponding to a selected number of spatial adaptation patterns.

[0248] In this example, UE3 is configured to select a set of CSIs to be included in a CSI report for transmission from UE3 to base station 5. UE3 can select a set of CSIs based on a corresponding spatial adaptation pattern. When UE3 transmits the CSI report to base station 5, it may include an indication of the corresponding spatial adaptation pattern. For example, UE3 may include in the CSI report it transmits to base station 5 an index (index j) in the table shown in Figure 16, indicating the spatial adaptation pattern (e.g., j=3 indicates a specific set of four antenna ports used to transmit CSI-RS). The number of bits used to indicate the corresponding spatial adaptation pattern may be determined based on the number of rows in the table shown in Figure 16.

[0249] UE3 may be configured to determine which of the best m CSIs to report to base station 5 in the measurement report. The value of m may be configurable by the base station (for example, using any appropriate transmission from base station 5 to UE3).

[0250] Here, we describe a particularly advantageous way to reduce the overhead of CSI reports transmitted from UE3 to base station 5. Advantageously, multiple CSI NES parameters (e.g., "multiCSI-NES") may be configured as "enabled" (e.g., by setting the corresponding bit to "1") or "disabled" (e.g., by setting the corresponding bit to "0"), and are used to indicate whether the CSI report contains multiple CSIs or whether NES is being used.

[0251] In the first alternative, if multiple CSI NES parameters are set to "enabled", the first CSI can be reported using an absolute 4-bit value, and a 2-bit difference CQI value can be used for the remaining m-1 CSIs. For example, if m is equal to 3, the 4-bit field may be used to report the first CSI, and the 2-bit difference field may be used to indicate the CSIs of the second and third CSIs with respect to the absolute value shown using the 4-bit field of the first CSI. Thus, advantageously, the use of the 2-bit difference field makes it possible to reduce the overhead for reporting multiple CSIs.

[0252] In the second alternative, when in NES mode, the difference value of the CSI may be used (e.g., using a 2-bit field), and the difference display is for the previous (e.g., immediate / most recent) non-NES duration CSI. Thus, beneficially, the use of a 2-bit difference field can reduce the overhead of reporting multiple CSIs.

[0253] The use of differential representation (also known as "delta representation") for CSI can also be applied to L1-SINR-based spatial adaptation to report differential L1-SINR values ​​(for example, by showing the difference to the most recent non-NES L1-SINR value).

[0254] Transmit power The transmit power (or PSD) of the transmission by base station 5 may be reduced to achieve energy savings in the network. The SSB reference power is defined in SIB1 (using ss-PBCH-BlockPower). The power control offset (powerControlOffsetSS) defines the power offset between (NZP)CSI-RS and SSB. A further power control offset (powerControlOffset) defines the power offset between PDSCH and (NZP)CSI-RS. These power control offsets can be configured quasi-statically using the corresponding RRC signaling. The power control offset configurations for PDSCH and CSI-RS may be BWP specific. Base station 5 may be configured to change (adapt or adjust) the PDSCH transmit power to achieve energy savings.

[0255] The transmit power of downlink signals and channel PSDs can be dynamically adapted by modifying the corresponding configuration sent to UE3 (e.g., based on a power offset that takes potential power adaptation into account) and / or by modifying the feedback (e.g., CSI reports) sent from UE3 to base station 5 to support the NES method performed by base station 5. These modified configurations may be applicable to the transmission of PDSCH, CSI-RS, DMRS, broadcast channels and signals (e.g., SSB, SI, and paging transmissions), as well as any other suitable transmissions.

[0256] A particularly advantageous method for configuring the power offset value between PDSCH and CSI-RS is described below.

[0257] UE ability As described above, base station 5 may be configured to use a first spatial adaptation to the NES (for example, using a first configuration set of antenna elements) and then a second spatial adaptation to the NES (for example, using a second configuration set of antenna elements). When base station 5 transitions from the first spatial adaptation to the second spatial adaptation, there may be a transition time for switching the spatial adaptations. Similarly, between the low power level and the high power level for transmission by base station 5, there may be a transition time due to the time it takes for base station 5 to scale the power level up or down. The transition to energy saving mode may require a longer transition time than the transition from the low power level to the high power level. These transition times may affect measurements and packet reception at UE3. UE3 may need to reconfigure in order to measure (or receive PDSCH) the CSI-RS transmitted using the second spatial adaptation (or the new power level). Advantageously, in this example, UE3 can send an indication to base station 5 of the reconfiguration period during which UE3 will perform the reconfiguration.

[0258] UE3 may be configured to transmit a display of transition times for each spatial pattern (for each adaptation) to base station 5. For example, UE3 may be configured to transmit a display of a list of transition times to base station 5 in the format, for example, (X, Y)μs, where Xμs is the transition time required to reconfigure for a CSI-RS measurement (or PDSCH reception) transmitted using a first configuration of the antenna port, and Yμs is the transition time required to reconfigure for a CSI-RS measurement transmitted using a second configuration of the antenna port. The display of transition times may be called "capability information". Thus, advantageously, upon receiving the transition time information, base station 5 can perform control based on the transition times indicated by UE3 when transmitting CSI-RS or PDSCH, thereby increasing the reliability of communications within the system.

[0259] UE3 may be configured to indicate transition times for each antenna port configuration (for example, for each row in the table shown in Figure 16). UE3 can include information in any appropriate transmission sent from UE3 to the base station. Transition times can be explicitly indicated (for example, by explicitly indicating the transition time in μs), or they can be indicated using, for example, a lookup table and corresponding index. UE3 may be configured to omit reporting of transition times required for reconfiguration for a particular NES adaptation, in which case base station 5 may be configured to determine that the transition time for that NES adaptation is negligible.

[0260] DCI and multiple CSIs In this example, base station 5 is configured to transmit spatial adaptive pattern updates and power change indications using group-common or UE-specific DCIs. A group-common DCI will be understood as a DCI that is transmitted with the intention of being received by a specific group of UEs 3.

[0261] Advantageously, this embodiment provides a mechanism for supporting the coordination and / or joint selection of the best spatial adaptation pattern for a group of UE3s via multiple CSIs in a joint CSI report. Beneficially, multiple PDSCH or CSI-RS transmitted power settings can be presented separately or jointly to a group of UE3s along with spatial element adaptation information using the transmission of a lookup table and corresponding index(s)(s)(s). Figure 18 shows an example of a table that may be used to present power control offsets to a UE3 (e.g., used for CSI-RS transmission for measurement by the UE3). As illustrated in Figure 18, in this example, each power control offset value is represented by a corresponding 2-bit value. However, it will be understood that a number of bits other than 2 can be used to represent power control offset values, and specific values ​​of power control offsets are not limited to the values ​​shown in Figure 18.

[0262] Similarly, FIG. 19 shows an example of a table that can be used to show a UE3 a spatial adaptation pattern (used for transmission of CSI-RS, for example, for measurements by UE3). As illustrated in FIG. 18, in this example, each spatial adaptation pattern is indicated by a corresponding 2-bit value. However, it will be appreciated that a number of bits other than 2 can be used to indicate the spatial adaptation pattern.

[0263] PDSCH Power Offset PDSCH DCI Grant Here, an example where an indication indicating a power control offset / spatial adaptation pattern is included in a PDSCH DCI grant (or DL grant) will be described. UE3 may be configured to autonomously apply a received power control offset and / or a spatial adaptation pattern when the UE3 enters or re-enters the NES mode in the time domain based on the cell DTX / DRX when the spatial and / or power region NES is enabled. That is, UE3 resumes the normal power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern during the non-NES period, but continues to use the received power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern for the next NES duration.

[0264] In a first option, UE3 is configured to apply a received power control offset and / or a spatial adaptation pattern only for the corresponding scheduled PDSCH. For all other DL / PDSCH transmissions, UE3 continues to use the normal (or pre-configured) power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern (e.g., receiving or performing measurements based on this power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern).

[0265] In a second option, UE3 is configured to start with a scheduled PDSCH transmission and apply the indicated power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern for all PDSCH transmissions (e.g., until a further new value is provided).

[0266] In the third option, the network (e.g., via base station 5) indicates (e.g., explicitly using an independent bit or a dedicated bit) whether the power control offset and / or spatial adaptive pattern applies only to the scheduled PDSCH or also to subsequent PDSCHs transmitted after the scheduled PDSCH. Therefore, advantageously, UE3 can determine which PDSCH the power control offset and / or spatially adaptive pattern shown in the PDSCH DCI grant should be applied to.

[0267] Group-wide DCI Here, with reference to Figures 20 and 21, we will describe an example in which instructions indicating power control offset / spatial adaptation patterns are included in the group-common DCI.

[0268] In the first option, the network (e.g., via base station 5) indicates a time offset before UE3 applies the indicated power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern (e.g., performs signal reception or measurement based on this power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern). The time offset may also be called a time delay or timer. For example, Figure 20 shows an example where UE3 receives a DCI indicating a new power control offset (and / or spatial adaptation pattern). The time offset is the offset from the time UE3 receives the DCI. As shown in Figure 20, in this example, UE3 receives a PDSCH before the end of the time offset (i.e., within the time window between time t and time t+time offset when UE receives the DCI). Since the PDSCH is received before the end of the time offset, UE3 does not use the new power control offset (and / or spatial adaptation pattern) received in the DCI. UE3 then receives a further PDSCH after the end of the time offset and uses the new power control offset and / or spatial adaptation pattern received in the DCI.

[0269] The time until UE3 uses the indicated power control offset (and / or spatially adaptive pattern) can be indicated to UE3 by base station 5 using any appropriate transmission (e.g., in DCI). Alternatively, the time offset may be pre-configured in UE3, in which case it does not need to be transmitted to UE3 by base station 5.

[0270] If a PDSCH transmission is in progress when UE3 applies the indicated power control offset / spatial adaptation pattern, UE3 applies the indicated power control offset / spatial adaptation pattern after the completion of the set of PDSCH transmissions associated with the same DL grant. For example, Figure 21 shows an example where UE3 receives a DCI from base station 5 indicating a new power control offset, and then receives a series of PDSCH transmissions corresponding to a single DL grant. UE3 does not use the new power control offset (and / or spatial adaptation pattern) indicated in the DCI for the series of transmissions corresponding to the DL grant, even if some of the series are received after the completion of the time offset. UE3 then receives further PDSCH transmissions that do not correspond to the same DL grant and applies the new power control offset (and / or spatial adaptation pattern) indicated in the DCI.

[0271] Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) Status The beam for the target channel / signal that UE3 should receive (e.g., PDSCH, PDCCH, CSI-RS, etc.) can be indicated by the base station 5 transmitting a TCI to UE3. The TCI includes, for example, a source reference signal and the intended Quasi Co-Location (QCL) type to be applied. For example, base station 5 may schedule a resource on the PDSCH to UE3 using a DCI indicating the TCI to be used for receiving the PDSCH. UE3 can then configure its beamforming parameters based on the notified TCI and receive the PDSCH accordingly. In the case of PDCCH (or CSI-RS), a separate signal may be used for the TCI (independent of the PDSCH).

[0272] Power control offsets and / or spatially adaptive patterns may be applied to a single TRP rather than all TRPs in a cell. Here is an example of providing the UE3 with an indication of which transmits are eligible for power control offsets / spatially adaptive patterns.

[0273] In the first example, when the network provides the UE3 with a display of power control offsets and / or spatial adaptive patterns within the DL grant, the UE3 is configured to apply the power control offsets and / or spatial adaptive patterns only to TCI states associated with the PDSCH.

[0274] In the second example, when the network provides the UE3 with a display of power control offsets and / or spatial adaptive patterns within the group common DCI, the network also provides a display of TCI states to which the power control offsets and / or spatial adaptive patterns are applicable.

[0275] In the third example, UE3 is configured to apply a power control offset and / or spatial adaptive pattern to a TCI state associated with a DCI, for which instructions indicating the power control offset and / or spatial adaptive pattern are provided by the network.

[0276] In the fourth example, the network configures (or associates) each power control offset / spatial adaptive pattern value with a TCI state. Therefore, when the network changes a power control offset / spatial adaptive pattern value, the TCI state of the UE3 (used by the UE3 for DL ​​reception) changes.

[0277] Therefore, advantageously, the UE3 can identify which transmissions the displayed power control offset and / or spatially adaptive pattern is applicable to.

[0278] User equipment Figure 22 is a schematic block diagram showing the main components of UE3 as shown in Figure 1.

[0279] As shown in the figure, UE3 has a transceiver circuit 310 capable of transmitting signals to and receiving signals from base station 5 via one or more antennas 330 (e.g., having one or more antenna elements). UE3 has a controller 370 that controls the operation of UE3. The controller 370 is associated with memory 390 and connected to the transceiver circuit 310. Although not necessarily required for its operation, UE3 can, of course, have all the usual features of a conventional UE3 (e.g., a user interface 350 such as a touchscreen / keypad / microphone / speaker to enable direct user control and interaction with the user), which can be provided, as appropriate, by one or any combination of hardware, software, and firmware. The software may be pre-installed in memory 390 and / or downloaded, for example, via a communication system or from a removable data storage device (RMD).

[0280] In this example, the controller 370 is configured to control the overall operation of the UE3 by program instructions or software instructions stored in memory 390. As illustrated, these software instructions include, among other things, the operating system 410, the communications control module 430, and the CSI module 450.

[0281] The communication control module 430 is operable to control communication between the UE3 and one or more of its serving base stations 5 (and other communication devices connected to the base station 5, e.g., further UEs and / or core network nodes). The communication control module 430 is configured to handle uplink communication in general over relevant uplink channels (e.g., over the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), random access channel (RACH), and / or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)), including both dynamic and quasi-static signaling (e.g., such as SRS). The communication control module 430 is also configured to handle downlink communication in general over relevant downlink channels (e.g., over the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and / or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)), including both dynamic and quasi-static signaling (e.g., such as CSI-RS). The communication control module 430 is responsible for, for example, determining where to monitor downlink control information (such as the locations of CSS / USS, CORESET, and associated PDCCH candidates to be monitored); determining which resources should be used by UE3 for transmitting / receiving UL / DL communications (including interleaved resources and resources subject to frequency hopping); managing frequency hopping on the UE side; determining how slots / symbols are configured (e.g., for UL, DL, or SBFD communications); determining which one or more bandwidth portions are configured for UE3; determining how uplink transmissions should be encoded; and appropriately applying any SBFD-specific communication configurations. The CSI module 450 may be configured to control communications according to any of the CSI-RS-related methods described above (e.g., to receive and measure CSI-RS transmitted by base station 5 and transmit a corresponding measurement report to base station 5).

[0282] base station Figure 23 is a schematic block diagram showing the main configuration of base station 5 of the communication system 1 shown in Figure 1. As shown, base station 5 has a transceiver circuit 510 for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from communication devices (such as UE3) via one or more antennas 530 (e.g., single or multi-panel antenna arrays / large antennas), and a core network interface 550 (e.g., with N2, N3, and other reference points / interfaces) for transmitting signals to and receiving signals from network nodes in the core network 7. Although not shown, base station 5 may also be connected to other base stations via appropriate interfaces (e.g., the so-called "Xn" interface in NR). Base station 5 has a controller 570 that controls the operation of base station 5. The controller 570 is associated with memory 590. Software may be pre-installed in memory 590 and / or downloaded, for example, via the communication network 1 or from a removable data storage device (RMD). In this example, the controller 570 is configured to control the overall operation of the base station 5 by program instructions or software instructions stored in memory 590.

[0283] As illustrated, these software instructions include, among other things, the operating system 610, the communications control module 630, the CSI module 650, and the NES module 670.

[0284] The communication control module 630 is capable of controlling communication between the base station 5, the UE3, and other network entities connected to the base station 5. The communication control module 630 is configured to generally control the reception and decoding of uplink communications over the relevant uplink channels (e.g., over the physical uplink control channel (PUCCH), random-access channel (RACH), and / or physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)), including both dynamic and quasi-static signaling (e.g., SRS). The communication control module 630 is also configured to generally handle the transmission of downlink communications over the relevant downlink channels (e.g., over the physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) and / or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH)), including both dynamic and quasi-static signaling (e.g., CSI-RS). The communication control module 630 is also responsible for managing full-duplex communications (e.g., such as SBFD), including the separation of UL and DL communications over different physical antenna elements, as needed. The communication control module 630 may perform, for example, the following roles: determining where the UE3 should be configured to monitor downlink control information (e.g., the locations of CSS / USS, CORESET, and associated PDCCH candidates to be monitored); determining resources to be scheduled for UE transmission / reception of UL / DL communications (including interleaved resources and resources subject to frequency hopping); managing frequency hopping on the base station side; appropriately configuring slots / symbols (e.g., for UL, DL, or SBFD communications); configuring one or more bandwidth portions for the UE3; and providing the UE3 with relevant configuration signaling. The communication control module 630 may be configured to control communications in any of the methods described above.The CSI module 650 may be configured to control communications (for example, to transmit CSI-RS and receive corresponding measurement reports from UE3) according to any of the CSI-RS-related methods described above. The NES module 670 may be configured to control communications (for example, to configure power control offsets and / or spatially adaptive patterns) according to any of the NES-related methods described above.

[0285] Core network nodes / functions Figure 24 is a block diagram showing the main components of a core network node or function, such as AMF, CPF, UPF, SMF, or OAM. As shown in the figure, the core network function includes a transceiver circuit 710 that can operate to transmit signals to and receive signals from other nodes (including UE3, base station 5, and other core network nodes) via the network interface 720. The controller 730 controls the operation of the core network function according to software stored in memory 740. The software may be pre-installed in memory 74 and / or downloaded, for example, via the telecommunications network 1 or from a removable data storage device (RMD). The software includes, among other things, an operating system 750 and a communications control module 760.

[0286] The communication control module 760 is responsible for handling (generating / transmitting / receiving) signaling between the core network functions and other nodes such as UE3, base station 5, and other core network nodes. The communication control module 760 may be configured to perform communication control in any of the methods described above.

[0287] Variations and alternative examples As those skilled in the art will understand, the above embodiments can be modified and substituted in multiple ways, while still benefiting from the present disclosure as embodied therein.

[0288] For example, to clarify, specific terms may be used for generations of cellular communication (such as 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and 6G) ​​to refer to a particular communication entity, but it should be understood that the technical features described for a given entity are not limited to devices of that particular communication generation. Technical features can be implemented in any functionally equivalent communication entity, regardless of the differences in the terminology used to refer to them.

[0289] In the above description, the UE and base station are described as having several separate functional components or modules for the sake of ease of understanding. These modules may thus be provided in certain applications, for example, where an existing system is modified to implement the present disclosure, but in other applications, for example, systems designed from the outset with the features of the present invention in mind, these modules may be incorporated into the overall operating system or code, and therefore these modules may not be identified as separate entities.

[0290] In the exemplary embodiments described above, several software modules have been explained. As those skilled in the art will understand, software modules may be provided in compiled or uncompiled form and may be supplied as signals over a computer network or on a recording medium. Furthermore, some or all of the functions performed by this software may be performed using one or more dedicated hardware circuits. However, the use of software modules is preferred because it facilitates updating the base station or UE to update the functions of the base station or UE.

[0291] Each control unit may include, for example, one or more hardware-implemented computer processors, microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), arithmetic logic units (ALUs), input / output (IO) circuits, internal memory / cache (programs and / or data), processing registers, communication buses (such as control buses, data buses, and / or address buses), direct memory access (DMA) functions, hardware or software-implemented counters, pointers, and / or timers, and any other suitable form of processing circuitry. Various other modifications will be obvious to those skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail here.

[0292] A base station may comprise a "distributed" base station having a central unit "CU" and one or more individual distributed units (DU).

[0293] In this disclosure, User Equipment (or “UE,” “Mobile Station,” “Mobile Device,” or “Radio Device”) is an entity connected to a network via a radio interface.

[0294] Please note that this disclosure is not limited to dedicated communication devices, but can be applied to any device having communication functions as described in the following paragraphs.

[0295] The terms “User Equipment” or “UE” (as used by 3GPP), “Mobile Station,” “Mobile Device,” and “Radio Device” are generally intended to be synonymous with each other and include standalone mobile stations such as terminals, cell phones, smartphones, tablets, cellular IoT devices, IoT devices, and machines. The terms “Mobile Station” and “Mobile Device” will be understood to also include devices that remain stationary for extended periods.

[0296] UE may be items of equipment for production or manufacturing and / or items of energy-related machinery, such as equipment or machinery (for example, boilers, engines, turbines, solar panels, wind turbines, hydroelectric generators, thermal generators, nuclear generators, batteries, nuclear systems and / or related equipment, heavy electrical machinery, pumps including vacuum pumps, compressors, fans, blowers, hydraulic equipment, pneumatic equipment, metalworking machinery, manipulators, robots and / or their application systems, tools, molds or dies, rolls, conveying equipment, elevators, material handling equipment, textile machinery, sewing machinery, printing and / or related machinery, paper conversion machinery, chemical machinery, mining machinery and / or construction machinery and / or related equipment, machinery and / or equipment for agriculture, forestry and / or fisheries, safety and / or environmental protection equipment, tractors, precision bearings, chains, gears, power transmission systems, lubrication equipment, valves, pipe fittings and / or application systems for any of the aforementioned equipment or machinery, etc.).

[0297] UE may be an item of transport equipment, for example (such as transport equipment such as railway cars, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains, buses, carts, rickshaws, ships and other watercraft, aircraft, rockets, satellites, drones, balloons, etc.). UE may also be an item of information and communication equipment, for example (such as information and communication equipment such as electronic computers and related equipment, communication and related equipment, electronic components, etc.).

[0298] UE may include, for example, refrigerators, refrigerator applications, commercial and / or service industry equipment items, vending machines, automated service machines, office machines or equipment, and household appliances and electronic devices (such as audio equipment, video equipment, loudspeakers, radios, televisions, microwave ovens, rice cookers, coffee machines, dishwashers, washing machines, dryers, electronic fans or related equipment, vacuum cleaners, etc.).

[0299] The UE may be an electrical application system or device, for example, such as an X-ray system, particle accelerator, radioisotope equipment, sound wave equipment, electromagnetic application equipment, power application equipment, etc.

[0300] UE may include, for example, electronic lamps, lighting fixtures, measuring instruments, analyzers, testers, or measuring or detecting equipment (such as smoke detectors, human alarm sensors, motion sensors, wireless tags, etc.), watches or clocks, laboratory equipment, optical devices, medical equipment and / or systems, weapons, tableware, hand tools, etc.

[0301] The UE may be, for example, a wireless-equipped personal digital assistant or related device (such as a wireless card or module designed to be attached to or inserted into another electronic device, such as a personal computer or electrical measuring instrument).

[0302] The UE may be part of a device or system that uses various wired and / or wireless communication technologies to provide the following applications, services, and solutions related to the Internet of Things (IoT).

[0303] Internet of Things (or "things") may be equipped with appropriate electronics, software, sensors, network connectivity, etc., that enable these devices to collect and exchange data with each other and with other communication devices. IoT devices may include automated devices that follow software instructions stored in internal memory. IoT devices may operate without requiring human supervision or interaction. IoT devices may also remain stationary and / or inactive for extended periods. IoT devices may be implemented as part of (generally) stationary equipment. IoT devices may also be incorporated into non-stationary equipment (such as a vehicle) or attached to animals or people being monitored / tracked.

[0304] It will be understood that IoT technology can be implemented on any communication device that can connect to a communication network to send / receive data, regardless of whether such communication device is controlled by human input or by software instructions stored in memory.

[0305] It will be understood that IoT devices are sometimes called Machine-Type Communication (MTC) devices or Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication devices. It will be understood that a UE may support one or more IoT or MTC applications. Some examples of MTC applications are listed in the table below. This list is not exhaustive and is intended to show some examples of machine-type communication applications. [Table 5]

[0306] Applications, services, and solutions may include MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) services, emergency radio communication systems, PBX (Private Branch eXchange) systems, PHS / digital cordless telecommunications systems, POS (Point of Sale) systems, incoming advertising systems, MBMS (Multimedia Broadcast and Multicast Service), V2X (Vehicle to Everything) systems, train radio systems, location-related services, disaster / emergency radio communication services, community services, video streaming services, femtocell application services, VoLTE (Voice over LTE) services, billing services, wireless on-demand services, roaming services, activity monitoring services, telecommunications carrier / communication network selection services, function restriction services, PoC (Proof of Concept) services, personal information management services, ad hoc network / DTN (Delay Tolerant Networking) services, and others.

[0307] Furthermore, the aforementioned UE categories are merely examples of applications of the technical concepts and exemplary embodiments described in this document. Needless to say, these technical concepts and exemplary embodiments are not limited to the UEs described above and are subject to various modifications.

[0308] Various other modifications are obvious to those skilled in the art and will not be described in further detail here.

[0309] For example, all or part of the exemplary embodiments disclosed above may be described, but are not limited to, as follows: (Note 1) A method performed by an access network node, This includes transmitting reporting configuration information, including a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by the UE, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by an access network node, Each of the one or more reference signal resources is associated with each of the sets of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes. Transmitting a reference signal, A method including receiving measurement reports from a UE that are generated based on reporting configuration information. (Note 2) The set of energy-saving configurations is: A set of power levels for transmitting a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 1, comprising a set of spatial configurations for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes. (Note 3) The report configuration information is, Spatial configuration for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes, or The method described in Appendix 2, which includes displaying either or both of the reference signal pattern or reference signal measurement resources related to the spatial configuration. (Note 4) Each spatial configuration corresponds to the method described in Appendix 2 or 3, with each set of antenna elements corresponding to the transmission of reference signals by the access network node. (Note 5) The method described in any one of the appendices 3 to 4, wherein the reported configuration information includes an index indicating at least one of the spatial configuration or respective reference signal resources. (Note 6) The method described in Appendix 5, which includes sending downlink control information (DCI) including an index to the UE. (Note 7) Index and, A corresponding spatial configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 5 or 6, comprising sending a table to the UE showing the mapping between at least one of the corresponding reference signal resources. (Note 8) One or more reference signal resources, One or more non-zero power (NZP) channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement resources, One or more CSI interference measurement (IM) resources, or The method described in any one of the appendices 1 to 7, comprising at least one of one or more NZP CSI-RS resources. (Note 9) Network Energy Saving (NES) configuration information. channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration, Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration information, or System information broadcast within a cell, The method described in any one of the appendices 1 through 8, which includes sending reporting configuration information to the UE as part of the process. (Note 10) The reference signal is CSI-RS, and the access network node transmits reporting configuration information to the UE in the CSI reporting configuration, as described in any one of Annexes 1 to 9. (Note 11) The reference signal resource corresponds to the CSI-RS measurement resource, as described in Appendix 10. (Note 12) The report configuration information is, A display showing multiple resources for measuring the channel, or Includes at least one of the following displays indicating multiple resources for interference measurement: The method described in any one of the appendices 1 to 11, wherein each resource for channel measurement or for interference measurement is associated with its respective spatial configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. (Note 13) A method performed by user equipment (UE), This includes receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, which includes a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by the UE, Each of the one or more reference signal resources is associated with each of the sets of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of reference signals by access network nodes. To perform measurement of the reference signal, A method comprising sending a measurement report generated based on reporting configuration information to an access network node. (Note 14) The set of energy-saving configurations is: A set of power levels for transmitting a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 13, including a set of spatial configurations for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes. (Note 15) The report configuration information is, Spatial configuration for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes, or The method described in Appendix 14, which includes displaying either or both of a reference signal pattern or a reference signal measurement resource related to the spatial configuration. (Note 16) Each spatial configuration corresponds to the method described in Appendix 14 or 15, with each set of antenna elements corresponding to the transmission of reference signals by the access network node. (Note 17) The reported configuration information includes an index indicating the spatial configuration or at least one of the respective reference signal resources, as described in Appendix 15 or 16. (Note 18) The method is as described in Appendix 17, which includes receiving downlink control information (DCI) containing an index from an access network node. (Note 19) Index and, A corresponding spatial configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 17 or 18, which includes receiving a table from an access network node that provides a display of the mapping between the corresponding reference signal resource and the access network node. (Note 20) One or more reference signal resources, One or more non-zero power (NZP) channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement resources, One or more CSI interference measurement (IM) resources, or One or more NZP CSI-RS resources, The method described in any one of the appendices 13 to 19, comprising at least one of the following: (Note 21) Network Energy Saving (NES) configuration information. channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration, Radio Resource Control (RRC) reconfiguration information, or System information broadcast within a cell, The method described in any one of the appendices 13 to 20, which includes receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node as part of the same. (Note 22) The method according to any one of the appendices 13 to 21, wherein the reference signal is CSI-RS and the UE receives reporting configuration information from an access network node in a CSI reporting configuration. (Note 23) Reference signal resources are provided in the manner described in Appendix 22, corresponding to CSI-RS measurement resources. (Note 24) The report configuration information is, A display showing multiple resources for measuring the channel, or Includes at least one of the following displays indicating multiple resources for interference measurement: Each resource for channel measurement or for interference measurement is associated with its respective spatial configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, as described in any one of the items in Appendix 13 to 23. (Note 25) The method according to any one of the appendices 13 to 24, wherein the measurement report transmitted to the access network node includes an indication of one or more CSIs and an indication of an energy saving configuration associated with each of the one or more CSIs. (Note 26) A method for accessing network nodes, This includes transmitting reporting configuration information, including the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values ​​included in the measurement report sent by the UE to the access network node, to the user equipment (UE) in the cell provided by the access network node. Each CSI or SINR value is associated with one of a set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. A method including receiving measurement reports from a UE that are generated based on reporting configuration information. (Note 27) The set of energy-saving configurations is: A set of power levels for transmitting a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 26, which includes a set of spatial configurations for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes. (Note 28) Each spatial configuration corresponds to the method described in Appendix 27, wherein each set of antenna elements is used for transmitting reference signals by the access network node. (Note 29) The method described in any one of Annexes 26 to 28, wherein the measurement report received from the UE includes a representation of the energy saving configuration associated with each CSI or SINR value included in the measurement report. (Note 30) The measurement report is, Display of a first CSI or SINR value, indicated using a first number of bits, Includes the display of a second CSI or SINR value, indicated using a second number of bits, The second number of bits is smaller than the first number of bits. The method according to any one of the appendices 27 to 29, wherein the second CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the second CSI or SINR value and the first CSI or SINR value. (Note 31) The measurement report includes a display of a first CSI or SINR value indicated using a first number of bits, The first CSI or SINR value is associated with an energy-saving configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. The first CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the first CSI or SINR value and the CSI or SINR value associated with the reference signal transmitted by the base station before the base station transmits the reference signal using an energy-saving configuration. The method described in any one of the appendices 26 to 29. (Note 32) A method for user equipment (UE), This includes receiving reporting configuration information from the access network node, including a display of the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values ​​included in the measurement report sent by the UE to the access network node, Each CSI or SINR value is associated with one of a set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. A method comprising sending a measurement report, generated based on reporting configuration information, to an access network node. (Note 33) The set of energy-saving configurations is: A set of power levels for transmitting a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 32, which includes a set of spatial configurations for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes. (Note 34) Each spatial configuration corresponds to the method described in Appendix 33, wherein each set of antenna elements is used for transmitting reference signals by the access network node. (Note 35) Measurement reports transmitted by the UE to access network nodes include a representation of the energy saving configuration associated with each CSI or SINR value included in the measurement report, as described in any one of the items in Appendix 32 to 34. (Note 36) The method according to any one of the appendices 32 to 35, including determining a CSI or SINR value to be included in a measurement report for transmission to an access network node. (Note 37) The measurement report is, Display of a first CSI or SINR value, indicated using a first number of bits, Includes a representation of a second CSI or SINR value, indicated using a second number of bits, The second number of bits is smaller than the first number of bits. The method according to any one of the appendices 32 to 36, wherein the second CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the second CSI or SINR value and the first CSI or SINR value. (Note 38) The measurement report includes a display of a first CSI or SINR value indicated using a first number of bits, The first CSI or SINR value is associated with an energy-saving configuration for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. The first CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the first CSI or SINR value and the CSI or SINR value associated with the reference signal transmitted by the base station before the base station transmits the reference signal using an energy-saving configuration. The method described in any one of the appendices 32 to 36. (Note 39) A method performed by an access network node, The access network node transmits energy saving configuration information, including the display of one or more energy saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, A method comprising receiving UE capability information from a UE, which includes a representation of one or more transition times, each transition time corresponding to the duration of the UE transitioning between states in which the UE is configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by an access network node based on each of one or more energy-saving configurations. (Note 40) The set of energy-saving configurations is: A set of power levels for transmitting a reference signal by an access network node, or The method described in Appendix 39, which includes a set of spatial configurations for transmitting reference signals by access network nodes. (Note 41) Each spatial configuration corresponds to the method described in Appendix 40, with each set of antenna elements corresponding to the transmission of reference signals by the access network node. (Note 42) A method performed by user equipment (UE), Receiving energy-saving configuration information from an access network node, including the display of one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal by the access network node, A method comprising transmitting UE capability information, including a representation of one or more transition times, to an access network node, wherein each transition time corresponds to the duration for which the UE transitions between states configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by the access network node based on each of one or more energy-saving configurations. (Note 43) A method performed by an access network node, Transmitting transmission configuration information, including the indication of one or more energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by an access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, This includes transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, The transmission configuration information is: Display of power offset used for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, or A method comprising at least one of the following: a representation of a spatial configuration used to transmit a reference signal or PDSCH. (Note 44) The spatial configuration is as described in Appendix 43, corresponding to the configuration of a set of antenna elements for the transmission of a reference signal or PDSCH by an access network node. (Note 45) The method described in Appendix 43 or 44, which includes an index indicating one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, or an index indicating one or both of the power offsets used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, or the spatial configurations used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH. (Note 46) The index is associated with one or more corresponding lookup tables that provide a mapping between the index value and one or both of the power offsets used to transmit the reference signal or PDSCH, and the index value and spatial configuration are used to transmit the reference signal, as described in Appendix 45. (Note 47) A method performed by user equipment (UE), Receiving transmission configuration information from an access network node, including the display of one or more energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by an access network node, This includes receiving a reference signal or PDSCH, The transmission configuration information is: Display of power offset used by access network nodes to transmit reference signals or PDSCH, or A method including a representation of a spatial configuration used to transmit a reference signal or PDSCH by an access network node. (Note 48) The spatial configuration is as described in Appendix 47, corresponding to the configuration of a set of antenna elements for the transmission of a reference signal or PDSCH by an access network node. (Note 49) The method described in Appendix 47 or 48, which includes an index indicating one or more energy-saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, or an index indicating one or both of the power offsets used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH, or the spatial configurations used for transmitting the reference signal or PDSCH. (Note 50) The method as described in Appendix 49, wherein the index is associated with one or more corresponding lookup tables that provide a mapping between the index value and a power offset used to transmit a reference signal or PDSCH, or between the index value and a spatial configuration used to transmit a reference signal, or both. (Note 51) The method described in Appendix 50, which includes obtaining one or more lookup tables. (Note 52) A method performed by an access network node, This includes transmitting downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information, including an indication of an energy-saving configuration for transmission of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by an access network node, to user equipment (UE) within a cell provided by the access network node. DCI or downlink grant information includes an indication of the time until the UE uses the shown energy-saving configuration to receive PDSCH. A method including transmitting PDSCH using an energy-saving configuration. (Note 53) The energy-saving configuration is, Power level or power offset for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes, or The method described in Appendix 52, including a spatial configuration for the transmission of PDSCH by an access network node. (Note 54) The spatial configuration is as described in Appendix 53, corresponding to the configuration of antenna elements for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes. (Note 55) The DCI is a group-common DCI transmitted to multiple UEs by an access network node, as described in any one of the appendices 52 to 54. (Note 56) The method of any one of the appendices 52 to 55, comprising sending a display of transmission configuration indicator (TCI) status associated with the PDSCH to the UE, wherein the DCI is a group-common DCI, and the UE performs a configuration to receive the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration. (Note 57) The method described in any one of the appendices 52 to 55, including transmitting a TCI status display to the UE to indicate an energy-saving configuration. (Note 58) A method performed by user equipment (UE), This includes receiving downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information from an access network node, including an indication of an energy-saving configuration for transmission of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node. DCI or downlink grant information includes an indication of the time until the UE performs the configuration to receive PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration, or the time until the UE performs the configuration to receive PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration is pre-configured in the UE. Configure the system to receive PDSCH after the indicated time, A method including receiving a PDSCH. (Note 59) The energy-saving configuration is, Power level or power offset for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes, or The method described in Appendix 58, including a spatial configuration for PDSCH transmission by an access network node. (Note 60) The spatial configuration is as described in Appendix 59, corresponding to the configuration of antenna elements for PDSCH transmission by access network nodes. (Note 61) The method described in any one of the appendices 58 to 60, wherein the DCI or downlink grant information includes an indication of a scheduled PDSCH, and the UE uses only the indicated energy-saving configuration to perform the configuration for receiving the scheduled PDSCH. (Note 62) DCI or downlink grant information includes a representation indicating one or more PDSCHs using the energy-saving configuration indicated for the UE to perform the configuration for receiving one or more PDSCHs, The UE will use only the indicated energy-saving configuration to perform the configuration for receiving one or more indicated PDSCHs. The method described in any one of the appendices 58 to 60. (Note 63) The DCI is a group-common DCI sent to multiple UEs, as described in any one of the appendices 58 to 62. (Note 64) The method described in any one of the appendices 58 to 63, wherein the UE uses only the energy-saving configuration shown to perform a configuration for receiving a scheduled PDSCH associated with a specific transmission configuration indicator (TCI) state. (Note 65) The method described in any one of the appendices 58 to 63, wherein the DCI is a group-common DCI, and the UE uses an energy-saving configuration shown to perform the configuration for receiving the PDSCH, and includes receiving a display of the TCI status associated with the PDSCH from an access network node. (Note 66) The method according to any one of the appendices 58 to 65, comprising receiving a TCI status indication from an access network node and determining an energy-saving configuration based on the indicated TCI status. (Note 67) Access network node, Means for transmitting reporting configuration information, including a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by a UE, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by an access network node, Each of one or more reference signal resources is associated with a transmitting means, each of which is associated with one of the sets of energy-saving configurations for transmitting reference signals by an access network node. A means for transmitting a reference signal, An access network node comprising means for receiving measurement reports from a UE, which are generated based on reporting configuration information. (Note 68) User equipment (UE), A means for receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, which includes a display indicating one or more reference signal resources for the measurement of a reference signal by a UE, Each of one or more reference signal resources is associated with a receiving means, each of which is associated with one of the sets of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of reference signals by an access network node. Means for performing measurement of a reference signal, User equipment (UE) comprising means for transmitting measurement reports generated based on reporting configuration information to an access network node. (Note 69) Access network node, The system includes means for transmitting reporting configuration information, including the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values ​​included in the measurement report transmitted by the UE to the access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node. Each CSI or SINR value is associated with one of a set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. An access network node equipped with means for receiving measurement reports from a UE, which are generated based on reporting configuration information. (Note 70) User equipment (UE), Means for receiving reporting configuration information from an access network node, including a display of the number of channel state information (CSI) or signal to interference and noise ratio (SINR) values ​​included in the measurement report transmitted to the access network node by the UE, Each CSI or SINR value is associated with a receiving means, each of which is one of a set of energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node. User equipment (UE) comprising means for transmitting measurement reports generated based on reporting configuration information to an access network node. (Note 71) Access network node, Means for transmitting energy saving configuration information, including the display of one or more energy saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal by an access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by an access network node, An access network node comprising means for receiving UE capability information from a UE, including a display of one or more transition times, wherein each transition time corresponds to the duration for which the UE transitions between states configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by the access network node based on each of one or more energy-saving configurations. (Note 72) User equipment (UE), Means for receiving energy saving configuration information from an access network node, including the display of one or more energy saving configurations for transmitting a reference signal by an access network node, Means for transmitting UE capability information, including a display of one or more transition times, to an access network node, wherein each transition time corresponds to the duration of the UE transitioning between states, where the UE is configured to measure a reference signal transmitted by the access network node based on each of one or more energy-saving configurations. (Note 73) Access network node, Means for transmitting transmission configuration information, including the display of one or more energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by an access network node, to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by the access network node, The system includes means for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, The transmission configuration information is: Display of power offset used for transmitting a reference signal or PDSCH, or An access network node, including at least one of the following: a spatial configuration display used to transmit a reference signal or PDSCH. (Note 74) User equipment (UE), Means for receiving transmission configuration information from an access network node, including the display of one or more energy-saving configurations for the transmission of a reference signal or physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by an access network node, The system includes means for receiving a reference signal or PDSCH, The transmission configuration information is: Display of power offset used by access network nodes to transmit reference signals or PDSCH, or User equipment (UE) including at least one of the following: a spatial configuration display used to transmit a reference signal or PDSCH by an access network node. (Note 75) Access network node, Means for transmitting downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information to user equipment (UE) in a cell provided by an access network node, including the display of an energy saving configuration for transmission of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by an access network node, The DCI or downlink grant information includes a means of transmission, including an indication of the time until the UE uses the indicated energy-saving configuration to receive the PDSCH, An access network node comprising means for transmitting PDSCH using an energy-saving configuration. (Note 76) User equipment (UE), A means for receiving downlink control information (DCI) or downlink grant information from an access network node, including an indication of an energy-saving configuration for transmission of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) by the access network node, The DCI or downlink grant information includes an indication of the time until the UE performs the configuration to receive the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration, or the time until the UE performs the configuration to receive the PDSCH using the indicated energy-saving configuration is pre-configured in the UE, and includes a receiving means. Means for performing a configuration to receive PDSCH after the indicated time, User equipment (UE) that includes means for receiving PDSCH signals.

[0310] This application claims priority based on UK Patent Application No. 2305562.7, filed on 14 April 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0311] 1. Communication System 3. User equipment 5 base station 7 Core Network 9 cells 10 Control Plane Functions 11. User Plane Functions 20 External data network 50 du 60 CU 451 Transmitter / Receiver Circuit 453 RU interface 454 CU interface 457 Controller 459 memory 461 Operating Systems 463 Communication control module 465 F1 module 468 DU-RU Module 472 DU Management Module 473 UE Profile Management Module 475 Mobility Module 551 Transmitter / Receiver Circuit 554 DU Interface 555 CU Interface 557 Controller 559 memory 561 Operating Systems 563 Communication control module 565 F1 module 566 E1 module 568 N2 module 569 N3 module 571 CU-UP Management Module 572 CU-CP Management Module 573 UE Profile Management Module 575 Mobility Module 310 Transmitter / Receiver Circuit 330 Antenna 350 User Interfaces 370 Controller 390 memory 410 Operating Systems 430 Communication control module 450 CSI Modules 510 Transmitter / Receiver Circuit 530 Antenna 550 Core Network Interfaces 570 Controller 590 memory 610 Operating Systems 630 Communication control module 650 CSI Modules 670 NES Module 710 Transmitter / Receiver Circuit 720 Network Interfaces 730 Controller 740 memory 750 Operating Systems 760 Communication Control Module

Claims

1. Receiving reporting configuration information including multiple subconfigurations from an access network node, wherein the multiple subconfigurations are: Each of the subsets of available spatial elements composed of the aforementioned reported configuration information corresponds to a spatial domain adaptation pattern, or The power offsets corresponding to the power offset values ​​between the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and the reference signal, Receiving, which indicates at least one of the following: To perform measurement of one or more reference signals, This includes transmitting a measurement report to the access network node based on the aforementioned reporting configuration information, A method executed by user equipment (UE).

2. Each of the spatial domain adaptation patterns corresponds to each set of antenna elements for transmitting the one or more reference signals, The method according to claim 1.

3. Each of the above subconfigurations indicates its respective reference signal resource. The method according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The reported configuration information includes an index indicating at least one of the spatial domain adaptation pattern or the respective reference signal resources, The aforementioned method, This includes receiving downlink control information (DCI) including the aforementioned index from the access network node, The method according to claim 3.

5. The aforementioned method, The aforementioned index and, One spatial domain adaptation pattern from the aforementioned spatial domain adaptation patterns, or One reference signal resource from each of the aforementioned reference signal resources, At least one of the following, This includes receiving information from the access network node indicating the mapping between the access network nodes, The method according to claim 4.

6. The aforementioned measurement report is, One or more spatial domain adaptation patterns corresponding to the measurement results included in the aforementioned measurement report, or One or more antenna numbers, each corresponding to one of the one or more spatial domain adaptation patterns, Information including at least one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. The aforementioned measurement report is, Multiple channel state information (CSI), or Each corresponds to one of the aforementioned sub-configurations, layer 1 (L1) - Signal to Interference plus Noise Ratio (SINR), Including at least one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. The report configuration information includes information indicating the number of CSI / L1-SINRs to be included in the measurement report, The measurement report includes the best CSI / L1-SINR of the number of CSI / L1-SINRs indicated by the information, The method according to claim 7.

9. The aforementioned measurement report is, Information regarding the first CSI or SINR value, Information regarding the second CSI or SINR value, Includes, The second CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the second CSI or SINR value and the first CSI or SINR value. The method according to claim 7 or 8.

10. The information relating to the second CSI or SINR value uses fewer bits than the bits used for the information relating to the second CSI or SINR value. The method according to claim 9.

11. The aforementioned measurement report is, Information relating to a first CSI or SINR value corresponding to an energy-saving configuration for transmitting one or more reference signals, Information relating to a second CSI or SINR value corresponding to a non-energy-saving configuration for transmitting one or more reference signals, Includes, The second CSI or SINR value is indicated by showing the difference between the first CSI or SINR value and the second CSI or SINR value. The method according to claim 7 or 8.

12. The aforementioned method, This includes transmitting capability information, including the transition time for each subconfiguration, to the access network node. Each of the transition times corresponds to the respective duration for the UE to transition from a state in which the UE is configured to measure one or more reference signals. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

13. The one or more reference signal resources are One or more non-zero power (NZP) channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) measurement resources, One or more CSI interference measurement (IM) resources, or One or more NZP CSI-RS resources, Including at least one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

14. The aforementioned report configuration information, Network Energy Saving (NES) configuration information. channel state information (CSI) reporting configuration information; Radio novel control (RRC) reconstruction information, or System information block, Included in at least one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13.

15. The one or more reference signals are each channel state information (CSI)-reference signal (RS), The aforementioned report configuration information is included in the CSI report configuration. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. The aforementioned report configuration information is, Information indicating multiple resources for measuring the channel, or Information indicating multiple resources for interferometry, Includes at least one of the following: Each of the resources for channel measurement or interference measurement corresponds to one of the plurality of subconfigurations, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

17. The aforementioned measurement report is, Information regarding one or more channel state information (CSI), The information includes, which shows a set of energy saving configurations corresponding to each of the one or more CSIs, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

18. Each of the aforementioned subconfigurations corresponds to an energy-saving configuration of the access network node, The method according to any one of claims 1 to 17.

19. The aforementioned method, Receiving transmission configuration information from an access network node, wherein the transmission configuration information is The power offset used by the access network node to transmit a reference signal or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), or The spatial configuration used by the access network node to transmit the reference signal or the PDSCH, Receiving, which indicates at least one update among them, Includes receiving the reference signal or the PDSCH based on the transmission configuration information, A method executed by user equipment (UE).

20. The spatial configuration corresponds to a set of antenna elements for transmitting the reference signal or the PDSCH, The method according to claim 19.

21. The transmission configuration information includes an index indicating either or both of the power offset and the spatial configuration. The method according to claim 19 or 20.

22. The aforementioned transmission configuration information, Group-wide downlink control information (DCI), UE-specific DCI, or Downlink grant information, Included in at least one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21.

23. The power offset or spatial configuration indicated in the transmission configuration information is A specific transmission scheduled by the aforementioned access network node, Transmission during the period configured by the aforementioned access network, Transmitted after a time offset configured by the aforementioned access network, or Transmission of the aforementioned transmission configuration information after a time offset from the reception, Applicable to, The method according to claim 22.

24. The power offset or spatial configuration indicated in the transmission configuration information is The Transmission Configuration Indicator (TCI) state corresponding to the PDSCH scheduled by the access network node, The TCI state specified by the aforementioned access network node, or The TCI state corresponding to either the power offset or the spatial configuration shown in the transmission configuration information, Applies to at least one of the following: The method according to any one of claims 19 to 23.

25. The power offset and spatial configuration correspond to the energy-saving configuration of the access network node. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 24.

26. The process involves transmitting reporting configuration information for multiple subconfigurations to user equipment (UE) within a cell operated by an access network node, wherein the multiple subconfigurations are: Each of the subsets of available spatial elements composed of the aforementioned reported configuration information corresponds to a spatial domain adaptation pattern, or The power offsets corresponding to the power offset values ​​between the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and the reference signal, Sending, showing at least one of the following, Transmitting one or more reference signals for measurement, This includes receiving a measurement report from the UE based on the aforementioned reporting configuration information, The method executed by access network nodes.

27. Transmitting transmission configuration information to user equipment (UE) within a cell operated by an access network node, wherein the transmission configuration information is: The power offset used by the access network node to transmit a reference signal or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), or The spatial configuration used by the access network node to transmit the reference signal or the PDSCH, Sending an update that shows at least one of the following: This includes transmitting the reference signal or the PDSCH based on the transmission configuration information, The method executed by access network nodes.

28. A means for receiving reporting configuration information including multiple subconfigurations from an access network node, wherein the multiple subconfigurations are: Each of the subsets of available spatial elements composed of the aforementioned reported configuration information corresponds to a spatial domain adaptation pattern, or The power offsets corresponding to the power offset values ​​between the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and the reference signal, A means of receiving, which indicates at least one of the following: Means for performing the measurement of one or more reference signals, The system includes means for transmitting a measurement report to the access network node based on the aforementioned reporting configuration information. User equipment (UE).

29. A means for receiving transmission configuration information from an access network node, wherein the transmission configuration information is The power offset used by the access network node to transmit a reference signal or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), or The spatial configuration used by the access network node to transmit the reference signal or the PDSCH, A means of receiving, which indicates at least one update among the following, The system includes means for receiving the reference signal or the PDSCH based on the transmission configuration information. User equipment (UE).

30. A means for transmitting reporting configuration information of multiple subconfigurations to user equipment (UE) in a cell operated by an access network node, wherein the multiple subconfigurations are: Each of the subsets of available spatial elements composed of the aforementioned reported configuration information corresponds to a spatial domain adaptation pattern, or The power offsets corresponding to the power offset values ​​between the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and the reference signal, A means of transmission that indicates at least one of the following, Means for transmitting one or more reference signals for measurement, The system includes means for receiving a measurement report from the UE based on the aforementioned report configuration information. Access network node.

31. A means for transmitting transmission configuration information to user equipment (UE) in a cell operated by an access network node, wherein the transmission configuration information is: The power offset used by the access network node to transmit a reference signal or a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH), or The spatial configuration used by the access network node to transmit the reference signal or the PDSCH, A means of transmission indicating at least one update among, The system includes means for transmitting the reference signal or the PDSCH based on the transmission configuration information. Access network node.

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