Beam reporting triggered by data transmission

Abstract

An embodiment of the present disclosure relates to a beam reporting method triggered by data transmission. A first device receives configuration information from a second device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device. The first device determines whether data is available for transmission from the first device to the second device. If data is available for transmission, the first device selects at least one first reference signal that identifies the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information. The first device transmits information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of telecommunications, and more particularly to a device, method, apparatus, and computer-readable storage medium for beam reporting triggered by data transmission. [Background technology]

[0002] New Radio (NR) supports an inactive state for terminal devices. In the inactive state, terminal devices that transmit data infrequently are usually maintained by the network equipment. Until Release 16, the inactive state does not support data transmission. Therefore, terminal devices must resume a connection state to transmit data. Although data packets are not small and infrequent, a connection must be set up and the inactive state must be cleared every time a data transmission occurs. This results in unnecessary power consumption and signaling overhead. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Generally, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution to beam reporting triggered by data transmission.

[0004] In a first aspect, a first device is provided, the first device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code configured by the at least one processor to cause the first device to receive configuration information from a second device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device, and upon determining that data is available for transmission from the first device to the second device, select at least one first reference signal identifying the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information, and transmit information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device.

[0005] In a second aspect, a second device is provided, the second device comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code configured to cause the at least one processor to: send configuration information to an inactive first device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device, receive information from the first device regarding at least one first reference signal identifying the at least one candidate beam, select a target beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the information regarding the at least one first reference signal, and serve the first device using the target beam.

[0006] In a third aspect, a method is provided that is implemented in a first device, the method including: receiving, at the first device, configuration information from a second device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device, selecting, pursuant to a determination that data is available for transmission from the first device to the second device, at least one first reference signal that identifies the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information, and transmitting information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device.

[0007] In a fourth aspect, a method is provided for implementation in a second device, the method including: transmitting configuration information from the second device to an inactive first device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device, receiving information from the first device regarding at least one first reference signal identifying the at least one candidate beam, selecting a target beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the information regarding the at least one first reference signal, and serving the first device by using the target beam.

[0008] In a fifth aspect, there is provided an apparatus comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method according to the third aspect above.

[0009] In a sixth aspect there is provided an apparatus comprising means for carrying out the steps of the method according to the fourth aspect above.

[0010] In a seventh aspect, there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for causing an apparatus to carry out at least the method according to the third aspect above.

[0011] In an eighth aspect there is provided a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program for causing an apparatus to carry out at least the method according to the fourth aspect above.

[0012] It will be understood that this Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the embodiments of the present disclosure, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Other features of the present disclosure will become readily apparent through the following description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] Some embodiments will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Figure 1] FIG. 1 illustrates an example communication system in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a signaling chart illustrating a process for beam reporting triggered by a data transmission in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented in a first device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart of a method implemented in a second device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified block diagram of an apparatus suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. [Figure 6]6 is a block diagram of an exemplary computer-readable medium in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, the same or similar reference numbers represent the same or similar elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Next, the principles of the present disclosure will be described with reference to some examples. It should be understood that these embodiments are described for illustrative purposes only, without implying any limitation on the scope of the present disclosure, to assist those skilled in the art in understanding and implementing the present disclosure. The disclosure described herein can be implemented in various forms other than those described below.

[0015] In the following description and claims, unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs.

[0016] References in this disclosure to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," "an example," or the like indicate that the embodiment being described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but not all embodiments need include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Moreover, if a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an example, it is believed to be within the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art to affect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

[0017] In this specification, terms such as "first" and "second" may be used to describe various elements, but it should be understood that these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element can be referred to as a second element, and similarly, a second element can be referred to as a first element, without departing from the scope of the embodiment. As used herein, the term "and / or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the listed terms.

[0018] The terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit the examples. As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that, as used herein, the terms "comprise," "comprising," "has," "having," "includes," and / or "including" specify the presence of the stated features, elements, and / or components, etc., but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof.

[0019] As used herein, the term "circuitry" may refer to one or more or all of the following: (a) hardware-only circuit implementations (e.g., implementations in analog and / or digital circuitry only); and (b) A combination of hardware circuitry and software, such as (where applicable) (i) any combination of analog and / or digital hardware circuitry and software / firmware; and (ii) software (including digital signal processors), software, and hardware processors having memory that work together to cause a device, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions; and (c) A hardware circuit, such as a microprocessor or a portion thereof, and / or a processor, that requires software (e.g., firmware) to operate, but the software may not be present when not necessary for operation.

[0020] This definition of circuitry applies to all uses of the term in this specification, including any claims. As a further example, as used herein, the term circuitry covers merely a hardware circuit or processor (or processors), or a portion of a hardware circuit or processor, and its (or their) accompanying software and / or firmware implementation. The term circuitry also covers, for example, baseband or processor integrated circuits for mobile devices, or similar integrated circuits in servers, cellular network devices, or other computing or network devices, where applicable to certain claim elements.

[0021] As used herein, the term "communication network" refers to a network conforming to any suitable communication standard, such as a fifth generation (5G) system, Long Term Evolution (LTE), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), High Speed ​​Packet Access (HSPA), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), etc. Furthermore, communication between terminal devices and network devices in the communication network may be performed according to any suitable generation of communication protocols, such as first generation (1G), second generation (2G), 2.5G, 2.75G, third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), 4.5G, future fifth generation (5G) New Radio (NR) communication protocols, and / or any other protocols currently known or to be developed in the future. The embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied in various communication systems. Considering the rapid development of communication, there will naturally be future communication technologies and systems in which the present disclosure may be embodied. The scope of the present disclosure should not be considered as being limited to only the aforementioned systems.

[0022] As used herein, the term "network device" refers to a node in a communication network through which terminal devices access the network and receive services therefrom. A network device can be utilized in various ways depending on the terminology and technology, such as a base station (BS) or access point (AP), e.g., Node B (NodeB or NB), evolved Node B (eNodeB or eNB), NR next generation Node B (gNB), integrated access and backhaul node, remote radio unit (RRU), radio header (RH), remote radio head (RRH), relay, low power node such as femto, pico, etc. The RAN split architecture consists of a gNB-CU (aggregation station, hosting RRC, SDAP, PDCP) that controls multiple gNB-DUs (distributed stations, hosting RLC, MAC, PHY).

[0023] The term "terminal" refers to any end device capable of wireless communication. By way of example and not limitation, a terminal may also be referred to as a communication device, user equipment (UE), subscriber station (SS), mobile subscriber station, mobile station (MS), or access terminal (AT). Terminals may include, but are not limited to, mobile phones, cellular phones, smartphones, voice over IP (VoIP) phones, wireless local loop phones, tablets, wearable terminals, personal digital assistants (PDAs), portable computers, desktop computers, imaging terminals such as digital cameras, gaming terminals, music storage and playback devices, and the like. Examples of such wireless devices include vehicle mounted wireless terminal equipment, wireless endpoints, mobile stations, laptop embedded equipment (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, smart devices, wireless customer premises equipment (CPE), Internet of Things (IoT) devices, wearables such as watches, head mounted displays (HMD), vehicles, drones, medical devices and applications (e.g., remote surgery), industrial devices and applications (e.g., robots and / or other wireless devices operating in industrial and / or automated processing chain contexts), consumer electronics devices, devices operating in commercial and / or industrial wireless networks, etc. In the following description, the terms "terminal equipment", "communication equipment", "terminal", "user equipment", and "UE" may be used interchangeably.

[0024] While the functionality described herein may be performed in fixed and / or wireless network nodes in various embodiments, in other embodiments the functionality may be implemented in a user equipment device (such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, desktop computer, mobile IoT device, or fixed IoT device), which may comprise corresponding functionality, for example, as described in connection with the fixed and / or wireless network nodes, as appropriate. The user equipment device may be user equipment and / or a control device, such as a chipset or processor, configured to control the user equipment when installed therein. Examples of such functionality include a bootstrap server function and / or a home subscriber server, which may be implemented in the user equipment device by providing the user equipment device with software configured to cause the user equipment device to execute in terms of these functions / nodes.

[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary communication network 100 in which embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented. The network 100 includes a first device 110 and a second device 120 that may communicate with each other. In this example, the first device 110 is illustrated as a terminal device, and the second device 120 is illustrated as a network device that serves the terminal device. Thus, the serving area of ​​the second device 120 is referred to as a cell 102. It should be understood that the number of network devices and terminal devices is for illustration purposes only, without implying any limitations. The system 100 may include any suitable number of network devices and terminal devices adapted to implement embodiments of the present disclosure. Although not illustrated, it will be understood that one or more terminal devices may be located in the cell 102 and served by the second device 120.

[0026] Communications in the communications system 100 may be based on any suitable communications protocol, including, but not limited to, cellular communications protocols such as first generation (1G), second generation (2G), third generation (3G), fourth generation (4G), and fifth generation (5G) or NR, wireless local network communications protocols such as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11, and / or other protocols now known or later developed. Furthermore, communications may utilize any suitable wireless communications technology, including, but not limited to, code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequency division duplex (FDD), time division duplex (TDD), multiple input multiple output (MIMO), orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM), and / or other technologies now known or later developed.

[0027] In some embodiments, the first device 110 may be in an inactive state. In the inactive state, the first device 110 may perform small-scale, low-frequency data transmission to the second device 120. Examples of small-scale, low-frequency data communication may be related to smartphone applications or non-smartphone applications. The smartphone applications may be related to at least one of traffic from instant messaging (IM) services (such as whatsapp, QQ, wechat, etc.), heartbeat or keep-alive traffic from IM or email clients and other applications, or push notifications from various applications. The non-smartphone applications may be related to at least one of traffic from wearables (such as periodic location information), sensors (such as industrial wireless sensor networks that transmit temperature, pressure measurements periodically or in an event-triggered manner), or smart meters and smart meter networks that transmit periodic meter measurements, etc.

[0028] In some embodiments, when the timing advance for the first device 110 is valid, the first device 110 may perform small-scale infrequent data transmission on resources preconfigured by the second device 120. That is, the first device 110 may perform small-scale infrequent data transmission by reusing the configured grant type 1 in an inactive state. The second device 120 may preconfigure such resources for the first device 110 using dedicated or broadcast signaling. Pre-configured ( Preconfigured ) Examples of resources may include, but are not limited to, resources on a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH).

[0029] In other embodiments, if the timing advance for the first device 110 is invalid, the first device 110 may perform a small infrequent data transmission by performing a random access (RA) procedure. In some embodiments, the random access procedure may be a random access procedure that includes two steps. In other embodiments, the random access procedure may be a random access procedure that includes four steps.

[0030] In the case of a random access procedure including two steps, the first device 110 may perform small-scale infrequent data transmission using MSGA, and in the case of a random access procedure including four steps, the first device 110 may perform small-scale infrequent data transmission using MSG3.

[0031] In an embodiment in which the communications system 100 may be implemented as an NR system, the NR system shall be efficient and flexible for short data bursts with low throughput, support an efficient signaling mechanism, and generally reduce signaling overhead. To support an efficient signaling mechanism, the signaling shall be smaller than the payload.

[0032] Signaling overhead from inactive devices for small data packets is a common issue. It will become a significant issue as more devices are added in NR systems, not only for network performance and efficiency, but also for device battery performance. In general, devices with intermittent small data packets in the inactive state can benefit from enabling small data transmissions in the inactive state.

[0033] Also, for NR systems with multiple beams, different resources on the physical random access channel (PRACH) and / or preambles may be configured for different beams. A beam may correspond to a synchronization signal block (SSB) index or a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) index. In other words, resources and / or preambles on the PRACH may be associated with different beams. Thus, upon receiving a preamble on resources on the PRACH from a terminal device, the network device can know which beam is used to serve the terminal device. Moreover, in connected mode, the terminal device maintains beam failure monitoring and triggers a beam failure recovery (BFR) procedure when the current beam becomes too weak.

[0034] However, the pre-configured resources on the PUSCH or the resources on the PRACH may be configured only for a subset of beams, taking into account the increased resource consumption they bring about. Thus, even if resources for uplink transmission are associated with a beam for serving a terminal device, such a beam may not be preferred for the served terminal device.

[0035] To solve the above technical problems and potentially other technical problems in conventional solutions, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a solution for beam reporting triggered by data transmission. In some embodiments, when data is available for transmission from the first device to the second device, the first device selects at least one reference signal that identifies at least one candidate beam based on configuration information. If the selected at least one reference signal is not associated with a resource for transmission of data or a resource for transmission of an RA request from the first device to the second device, the first device transmits information about the selected at least one reference signal to the second device. Upon receiving the information about the at least one reference signal, the second device selects a target beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the information. Then, the second device serves the first device using the target beam.

[0036] Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which illustrates a signaling diagram illustrating a process 200 for beam reporting triggered by data transmission, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of discussion, the process 200 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The process 200 may include a first device 110 and a second device 120, as shown in FIG. 1. Although the process 200 has been described in the communication system 100 of FIG. 1, the process may be applied to other communication scenarios as well. Also, although a beam report by a first device has been described, a similar process may be applied to a second device.

[0037] The first device 110 receives configuration information 210 from the second device 120 regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device 110.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first device 110 receives the configuration information via dedicated signaling. Examples of dedicated signaling include, but are not limited to, a Radio Resource Control (RRC) release message. Of course, dedicated signaling other than an RRC release message may be used. The scope of the present disclosure is not limited in this respect.

[0039] Alternatively, the first device 110 receives the configuration information via broadcast signaling, examples of which include, but are not limited to, system information.

[0040] The first device 110 determines (220) whether data is available for transmission from the first device 110 to the second device 120. If data is available for transmission, the first device 110 selects (230) at least one first reference signal that identifies the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information.

[0041] The first device 110 transmits information 240 regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device 120 .

[0042] In some embodiments, the first device 110 determines (250) whether the selected at least one first reference signal is associated with at least one of a resource for transmitting data from the first device 110 to the second device 120 or a resource for transmitting an RA request. If the selected at least one first reference signal is not associated with a resource for transmitting data or a resource for transmitting an RA request, the first device 110 transmits information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device 120.

[0043] Upon receiving information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal from the first device 110, the second device 120 selects (260) a target beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the information regarding the at least one first reference signal.

[0044] In turn, the second device 120 provides service to the first device 110 by using the target beam (270). In some embodiments, the second device 120 may transmit a response to receiving information related to the at least one first reference signal by using the target beam. In other embodiments, the second device 120 may transmit a response to receiving data from the first device 110 by using the target beam.

[0045] On the other hand, if the first device 110 determines at 250 that the selected at least one first reference signal is associated with a resource for transmitting data or a resource for transmitting an RA request, the first device 110 may transmit data on the resource for transmitting data or transmit an RA request on the resource for transmitting the RA request. Upon receiving the data or the RA request from the first device 110, the second device 120 may determine a beam for serving the first device 110 based on the resource.

[0046] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first device 110 transmits information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device 120. In this manner, the second device 120 may determine a beam for serving the first device 110 based on the information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal, even though the selected at least one first reference signal is not associated with a resource for transmitting data or a resource for transmitting an RA request.

[0047] In some embodiments, the first device 110 may select the at least one first reference signal based on a first received power of the at least one first reference signal, i.e., a comparison with at least one threshold, and the at least one second reference signal is associated with a resource for transmission of data or a resource for transmission of an RA request.

[0048] In such an embodiment, the first device 110 may determine whether the first received power exceeds a first threshold power. If the first received power exceeds the first threshold power, the first device 110 may further determine whether the second received power is below a second threshold power. The first threshold power exceeds the second threshold power. In other words, the first threshold power is equal to or greater than the second threshold power. If the second received power is below the second threshold power, the first device 110 may select the at least one first reference signal.

[0049] Consider an example. In this example, the first device 110 receives a reference signal X associated with beam X, a reference signal Y associated with beam Y, and a reference signal Z associated with beam Z, and reference signals X and Y are not associated with resources for transmitting data or resources for transmitting RA requests. Reference signal Z is associated with resources for transmitting data or resources for transmitting RA requests.

[0050] The first device 110 measures the received power of each of the reference signals X, Y, and Z, and the received power of the reference signal X is −70 dBm. The received power of the reference signal Y is −80 dBm. The received power of the reference signal Z is −90 dBm. The first threshold power is −85 dBm. Since the received powers of the reference signals X and Y are equal to or greater than the first threshold power, the first device 110 may select one of the reference signals X and Y. For example, the first device 110 may select the reference signal X. The first device 110 may then transmit information about the selected reference signal X that identifies the beam X to the second device 120, and the second device 120 that receives the information about the selected reference signal X may determine that the beam X is used to serve the first device 110.

[0051] Alternatively, the first device 110 may select reference signal Y. The first device 110 may then transmit information about the selected reference signal Y that identifies beam Y to the second device 120. Thus, upon receiving information about the selected reference signal Y, the second device 120 may determine that beam Y is to be used to service the first device 110.

[0052] Alternatively, the first device 110 may select both reference signal X and reference signal Y. The first device 110 may then transmit information about the selected reference signals X and Y that identifies beams X and Y to the second device 120. Thus, upon receiving information about the selected reference signals X and Y, the second device 120 may select one of beams X and Y to serve the first device 110.

[0053] In some embodiments, comparing the first and second received powers to the at least one threshold may include comparing a difference between the first received power and the second received power to a third threshold power. In such embodiments, the first device 110 may determine whether the difference exceeds the third threshold power. If the difference exceeds the third threshold power, the first device 110 selects the at least one first reference signal.

[0054] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes information regarding at least one threshold value. Alternatively, the at least one threshold value may be predefined.

[0055] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes information regarding a number of the at least one first reference signal.

[0056] In some embodiments, the number of the at least one first reference signal may be a variable number that depends on the number of reference signals that exceed a threshold. For example, the threshold may be a first threshold.

[0057] In some embodiments, the first device 110 may transmit information about the selected at least one first reference signal together with the data, or alternatively, the first device 110 may transmit the information about the selected at least one first reference signal and the data separately.

[0058] In some embodiments, the at least one first reference signal includes at least one channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS). In such embodiments, the information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal may include an index of the at least one CSI-RS.

[0059] In some embodiments, the at least one first reference signal includes at least one synchronization signal block (SSB). In such embodiments, the information about the selected at least one first reference signal may include an index of the at least one SSB.

[0060] In some embodiments, the first device 110 may transmit information about the selected at least one first reference signal in a medium access control control element (MAC CE). In some embodiments, a new MAC CE may be defined to transmit the information. Unlike the conventional BFR MAC CE, the new MAC CE may not configure a bitmap for the serving cell because there is only one cell where data transmission is performed and information needs to be transmitted. Since the new MAC CE does not configure a bitmap, overhead can be reduced.

[0061] In some embodiments, the first device 110 may transmit a MAC protocol data unit (PDU) including a MAC subheader and a MAC CE. In some embodiments, a length field in the MAC subheader may indicate the number of selected at least one first reference signal in the MAC CE.

[0062] 3 is a flowchart of an example method 300 performed in a first device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of discussion, the method 300 is described from the perspective of the first device 110 with reference to FIG. 1. It will be understood that the method 300 may also be implemented in the second device 120 of FIG.

[0063] In block 310, the first device 110 receives configuration information from the second device 120 regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device 110.

[0064] In block 320 , the first device 110 determines whether data is available for transmission from the first device 110 to the second device 120 .

[0065] If data is available to be transmitted, the first device 110 selects, in block 330, at least one first reference signal that identifies at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information.

[0066] At block 340, the first device 110 transmits information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device 120.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first device 110 determines whether the selected at least one first reference signal is associated with at least one of a resource for transmitting data from the first device 110 to the second device 120 or a resource for transmitting an RA request. If the selected at least one first reference signal is not associated with a resource for transmitting data or a resource for transmitting an RA request, the first device 110 transmits information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device 120.

[0068] In some embodiments, the first device 110 selects at least one first reference signal, i.e., a first received power of the at least one first reference signal and a second received power of the at least one second reference signal associated with the resource, based on a comparison with at least one threshold.

[0069] In some embodiments, the first device 110 determines whether the first received power exceeds a first threshold power. If the first received power exceeds the first threshold power, the first device 110 determines whether the second received power is below a second threshold power. The first threshold power is above the second threshold power. If the second received power is below the second threshold power, the first device 110 selects the at least one first reference signal.

[0070] In some embodiments, the first device 110 determines a difference between the first received power and the second received power, and if the difference exceeds a third threshold power, the first device 110 selects the at least one first reference signal.

[0071] In some embodiments, the first device 110 transmits the information along with the data.

[0072] In some embodiments, the first device 110 transmits information in the MAC CE.

[0073] In some embodiments, the first device 110 receives the configuration information via at least one of dedicated signaling or broadcast signaling.

[0074] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes information regarding at least one of a list of reference signals from which the first device 110 selects at least one first reference signal, at least one threshold, or the number of at least one first reference signal, which information is to be transmitted to the second device 120.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first device 110 includes a terminal device and the second device 120 includes a network device.

[0076] 4 is a flowchart of an example method 400 performed in a first device in accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of discussion, the method 400 is described from the perspective of the second device 120 with reference to FIG. 1. It will be understood that the method 400 may also be implemented in the first device 110 of FIG.

[0077] In block 410, the second device 120 transmits configuration information regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device to the inactive first device 110.

[0078] At block 420, the second device 120 receives, from the first device 110, information regarding at least one first reference signal identifying at least one candidate beam.

[0079] In block 430, the second device 120 selects a target beam from the at least one candidate beam based on information about the at least one first reference signal.

[0080] In block 440, the second device 120 serves the first device 110 by using the targeted beam.

[0081] In some embodiments, the at least one first reference signal is not associated with at least one of a resource for transmission of data from the first device to the second device or a resource for transmission of a random access request from the first device to the second device.

[0082] In some embodiments, the second device 120 receives the information along with the data.

[0083] In some embodiments, the second device 120 receives the information in a MAC CE.

[0084] In some embodiments, the second device 120 transmits the configuration information via at least one of dedicated signaling or broadcast signaling.

[0085] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes information regarding a number of the at least one first reference signal.

[0086] In some embodiments, the first device 110 comprises a terminal device and the second device 120 comprises a network device.

[0087] In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing any of the methods 300 (e.g., the first device 110 or the second device 120) may include means for performing each step of the method 300. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuit or a software module.

[0088] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes means, at the first device, for receiving configuration information from the second device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device; means for selecting at least one first reference signal that identifies the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information in accordance with a determination that data transmission from the first device to the second device is possible; and means for transmitting information regarding the selected at least one first reference signal to the second device.

[0089] In some embodiments, the selected at least one first reference signal is not associated with at least one of a resource for transmission of data or a resource for transmission of a random access request from the first device to the second device.

[0090] In some embodiments, the means for selecting includes means for selecting the at least one first reference signal based on a comparison of a first received power of the at least one reference signal and a second received power of at least one second reference signal associated with the resource to at least one threshold.

[0091] In some embodiments, the means for selecting includes means for determining whether a second received power is below a second threshold power in accordance with a determination that the first received power exceeds a first threshold power, where the first threshold power is above the second threshold power, and means for selecting the at least one first reference signal in accordance with a determination that the second received power is below the second threshold power.

[0092] In some embodiments, the means for selecting comprises means for determining a difference between the first received power and the second received power, and means for selecting the at least one first reference signal in accordance with a determination that the difference exceeds a third threshold power.

[0093] In some embodiments the means for transmitting the information comprises means for transmitting the information together with the data.

[0094] In some embodiments, the means for transmitting the information includes means for transmitting the information over a media access control control element.

[0095] In some embodiments, the means for receiving the configuration information comprises means for receiving the configuration information via at least one of a dedicated signal or a broadcast signal.

[0096] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes information regarding at least one of: at least one threshold value; or a number of at least one first reference signal.

[0097] In some embodiments, the first device includes a terminal device and the second device includes a network device.

[0098] In some embodiments, an apparatus capable of performing any of the methods 400 (e.g., the first device 110 or the second device 120) may include means for performing each step of the method 400. The means may be implemented in any suitable form. For example, the means may be implemented in a circuit or a software module.

[0099] In some embodiments, the apparatus includes means for transmitting configuration information from the second device to an inactive first device regarding at least one candidate beam for serving the first device, means for receiving information from the first device regarding at least one first reference signal identifying the at least one candidate beam, means for selecting a target beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the information regarding the at least one first reference signal, and means for serving the first device using the target beam.

[0100] In some embodiments, the at least one first reference signal is not associated with at least one of a resource for transmission of data from the first device to the second device or a resource for transmission of a random access request from the first device to the second device.

[0101] In some embodiments the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the information along with the data.

[0102] In some embodiments, the means for receiving comprises means for receiving the information at a media access control control element.

[0103] In some embodiments, the means for transmitting includes means for transmitting the configuration information via at least one of dedicated signaling or broadcast signaling.

[0104] In some embodiments, the configuration information includes information regarding a number of the at least one first reference signal.

[0105] In some embodiments, the first device includes a terminal device and the second device includes a network device.

[0106] 5 is a simplified block diagram of an apparatus 500 suitable for implementing embodiments of the present disclosure. The apparatus 500 may be provided for implementing a communication apparatus, such as the first device 110 or the second device 120 as shown in FIG. 1. As shown, the apparatus 500 includes one or more processors 510, one or more memories 520 coupled to the processor 510, and one or more communication modules 540 coupled to the processor 510.

[0107] The communication module 540 is for bidirectional communication. The communication module 540 has at least one antenna to facilitate communication. The communication interface may refer to any interface required for communication with other network elements.

[0108] The processor 510 may be of any type suitable for a local technology network, including, by way of non-limiting example, one or more of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP), and a processor based on a multi-core processor architecture. The device 500 may have multiple processors, such as application specific integrated circuit chips that are slaved in time to a clock that synchronizes a main processor.

[0109] The memory 520 may include one or more non-volatile memories and one or more volatile memories. Examples of non-volatile memories include, but are not limited to, read only memory (ROM) 524, electronic programmable read only memory (EPROM), flash memory, hard disks, compact disks (CDs), digital video disks (DVDs), and other magnetic and / or optical storage devices. Examples of volatile memories include, but are not limited to, random access memory (RAM) 522 and other volatile memories that do not persist during periods of power loss.

[0110] The computer program 530 includes computer-executable instructions that are executed by the associated processor 510. The program 530 may be stored in the ROM 524. The processor 510 may load the program 530 into the RAM 522 to perform any suitable operation and processing.

[0111] The embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented by a program 530 such that the device 500 can execute any process of the present disclosure, as described with reference to Figures 2 to 4. The embodiments of the present disclosure may also be implemented by hardware or a combination of software and hardware.

[0112] In some embodiments, the program 530 may be tangibly included in a computer-readable medium that may be included in the device 500 (such as in memory 520) or other storage accessible by the device 500. The device 500 may load the program 530 from the computer-readable medium into RAM 522 for execution. The computer-readable medium may include any type of tangible non-volatile storage, such as ROM, EPROM, flash memory, hard disk, CD, DVD, etc. FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a computer-readable medium 600 in the form of a CD or DVD. The computer-readable medium has the program 530 stored thereon.

[0113] In general, various embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented in hardware or special purpose circuits, software, logic, or any combination thereof. Some aspects may be implemented in hardware, and other aspects may be implemented in firmware or software that may be executed by a controller, microprocessor, or other computing device. Although various aspects of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated and described using block diagrams, flowcharts, or some other graphical representations, it will be understood that the blocks, devices, systems, techniques, or methods described herein may be implemented in, by way of non-limiting examples, hardware, software, firmware, special purpose circuits or logic, general purpose hardware or controllers or other computing devices, or any combination thereof.

[0114] The present disclosure also provides at least one computer program product tangibly stored in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium. The computer program product includes computer-executable instructions, such as those included in a program module, that execute on a target real or virtual processor device to perform the methods 900 and 1000 described above with reference to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10. Generally, a program module includes routines, programs, libraries, objects, classes, components, data structures, or the like that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The functionality of the program modules may be combined or split among program modules as desired in various embodiments. The machine-executable instructions for a program module may be executed in a local or distributed device. In a distributed device, the program modules may be located in both local and remote storage media.

[0115] Program codes for implementing the methods of the present disclosure may be written in any combination of one or more programming languages. These program codes may be provided to a processor or controller of a general purpose computer, a special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus, and when the program codes are executed by the processor or controller, the functions / operations specified in the flowcharts and / or block diagrams are performed. The program codes may run entirely on the machine, partly on the machine as a stand-alone software package, partly on the machine and partly on a remote machine, or entirely on a remote machine or server.

[0116] In the context of the present disclosure, computer program code or associated data may be transmitted by any suitable carrier to enable a device, apparatus, or processor to perform various processes and operations as described above. Examples of carriers include signals, computer readable media, etc.

[0117] The computer-readable medium may be a computer-readable signal medium or a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readable medium includes, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, device, or any suitable combination of the above. More specific examples of the computer-readable storage medium include an electrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computer disk, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of the above.

[0118] Additionally, although operations are depicted in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring such operations to be performed in the particular order shown, or sequentially, or that all of the operations depicted be performed, in order to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Similarly, while some specific implementation details are included in the above discussion, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the disclosure, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are described in the context of separate embodiments may also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment may be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.

[0119] Although the present disclosure has been described in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts, it will be understood that the present disclosure, as defined by the appended claims, is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms for implementing the claims.

Claims

1. A first device, At least one processor; at least one memory containing computer program code; The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to cause the first device, using the at least one processor, to: receiving, from a second device, configuration information regarding at least one candidate beam associated with a pre-configured uplink resource configured by the second device for the first device; determining that data is available for transmission to the second device over the pre-configured uplink resources while the first device is in an inactive state; selecting, by the inactive first device, a beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information, the selected beam being identified by a first reference signal to the first device; transmitting the data to the second device using the selected beam on the pre-configured uplink resources during the inactive state; A first device configured to execute the

2. The first device is At least one threshold value; a first received power of the first reference signal; and a second received power of at least one second reference signal associated with a resource for transmission of a random access request from the first device to the second device; and identifying the selected beam based on a comparison with The first device of claim 1 .

3. The first device is determining whether the second received power is below a second threshold power in accordance with a determination that the first received power exceeds a first threshold power, the first threshold power exceeding the second threshold power; and selecting the beam in accordance with a determination that the second received power is less than or equal to the second threshold power; and selecting said beam by The first device according to claim 2 .

4. The first device is determining a difference between the first received power and the second received power; and selecting the beam in accordance with a determination that the difference exceeds a third threshold power; and selecting said beam by The first device according to claim 2 .

5. The first device is Dedicated signaling, or Broadcast signaling, the configuration information being received via at least one of The first device of claim 1 .

6. The configuration information is the at least one threshold value, or A list of reference signals, The first device of claim 2 , further comprising information regarding at least one of:

7. The first device of claim 1 , wherein the first device comprises a terminal device and the second device comprises a network device.

8. a second device, At least one processor; at least one memory containing computer program code; The at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to cause the second device, using the at least one processor, to: transmitting, to a first device, configuration information regarding at least one candidate beam associated with uplink resources preconfigured for the first device; receiving data from the first device in an inactive state on the pre-configured uplink resources using a beam selected by the first device and identified by a first reference signal; providing service to the first device by using the selected beam; and A second device configured to execute the

9. The second device is Dedicated signaling, or Broadcast signaling, the configuration information is transmitted via at least one of The second device according to claim 8 .

10. The second device of claim 8 , wherein the configuration information includes information regarding the first reference signal.

11. The second device of claim 8 , wherein the first device comprises a terminal device and the second device comprises a network device.

12. receiving, at a first device, configuration information from a second device regarding at least one candidate beam associated with uplink resources preconfigured for the first device; determining, by the first device while the first device is in an inactive state, that data is available for transmission to the second device over the pre-configured uplink resources; selecting, by the inactive first device, a beam from the at least one candidate beam based on the configuration information, the selected beam being identified by a first reference signal to the first device; The method includes transmitting, by the first device during the inactive state, the data to the second device using the selected beam on the preconfigured uplink resources.

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