Power control of sounding reference signals for multiple-input multiple-output wireless systems - Patents.com

Abstract

To provide a method for performing sounding reference signal power control for a multiple-input multiple-output wireless system.SOLUTION: The method includes: selecting, by a user device independently for each of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair to be used to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power for a sounding reference signal beam pair; adjusting, by the user device for each sounding reference signal resource on the basis of a selected uplink data channel power control parameter set, a sounding reference signal transmission power for a sounding reference signal, and transmitting, by the user device, each of power-adjusted sounding reference signals via a corresponding sounding reference signal resource and a corresponding sounding reference signal beam pair.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This specification relates to communications. [Background technology]

[0002] A communication system is a facility that enables communication between two or more nodes or devices, such as, for example, fixed or mobile communication devices. Signals may be carried on wired or wireless carriers.

[0003] An example of a cellular communication system is the architecture being standardized by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). Recent developments in this field are often referred to as the Long Term Evolution (LTE) of Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) radio access technology. E-UTRA (Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access) is the air interface of the 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) upgrade path for mobile networks. In LTE, base stations or access points (APs), called enhanced NodeAPs (eNBs), provide wireless access within a coverage area or cell. In LTE, mobile devices or mobile stations are called User Equipment (UE). LTE has undergone many improvements or developments.

[0004] The worldwide bandwidth shortage facing wireless carriers has prompted them to consider, for example, underutilized millimeter waves (mmWaves) for future broadband cellular communication networks. Millimeter waves (or very high frequency) can include, for example, a frequency range of 30-300 gigahertz (GHz). Radio waves in this band have wavelengths of, for example, 10-1 millimeters and are referred to as millimeter bands or millimeter waves. The amount of wireless data is expected to increase significantly in the coming years. To address this challenge, various techniques have been used including obtaining more spectrum, shrinking cell sizes, and using improved technology to enable more bits / s / Hz. One factor that can be used to obtain more spectrum is to move to higher frequencies above 6 GHz. For fifth generation wireless systems (5G), access architectures have been proposed for deploying cellular wireless devices that employ the millimeter wave radio spectrum. Other example spectrums such as the centimeter wave radio spectrum (3-30 GHz) can also be used.

[0005] MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) is a wireless communication antenna technology that uses multiple antennas at both the source (transmitter) and destination (receiver) to reduce errors and / or improve data rates. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to an example embodiment, a method may include the steps of: a base station determining an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; the base station determining a sounding reference signal beam pair for a sounding reference signal resource, the sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receiving beam and a user equipment transmitting beam; the base station selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used by the user equipment to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power based on the uplink data channel beam pair that matches the sounding reference signal beam pair; and the base station receiving a sounding reference signal from the user equipment via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair, with the sounding reference signal transmission power set based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set.

[0007] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: determine an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; determine a sounding reference signal beam pair for a sounding reference signal resource, the base station including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam; select, based on the uplink data channel beam pair that matches the sounding reference signal beam pair, an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used by the user equipment to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power; and receive, from the user equipment, a sounding reference signal via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair, a sounding reference signal with a sounding reference signal transmission power set based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set.

[0008] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes: means for a base station to determine an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; means for the base station to determine a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam for a sounding reference signal resource; means for the base station to select an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used by the user equipment to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power based on the uplink data channel beam pair that matches the sounding reference signal beam pair; and means for the base station to receive a sounding reference signal from the user equipment via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair, with the sounding reference signal transmission power set based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set.

[0009] According to an example embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon executable code that, when executed by at least one data processing device, is configured to cause the at least one data processing device to perform a method including: a base station determining an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; a base station determining a sounding reference signal beam pair for a sounding reference signal resource, the sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam; a base station selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used by the user equipment to adjust its sounding reference signal transmission power based on the uplink data channel beam pair that matches the sounding reference signal beam pair; and a base station receiving a sounding reference signal from the user equipment via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair, with the sounding reference signal transmission power set based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set.

[0010] According to an example embodiment, a method may include the steps of: a user equipment receiving an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair from a base station; the user equipment determining a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receiving beam and a user equipment transmitting beam for a sounding reference signal resource; the user equipment selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power; the user equipment adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power of a sounding reference signal to be transmitted via the sounding reference signal resource based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set; and the user equipment transmitting the power-adjusted sounding reference signal via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0011] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: receive, from a base station, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; determine, for a sounding reference signal resource, a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam; select, for a sounding reference signal resource, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power; adjust, based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set, a sounding reference signal transmission power of a sounding reference signal to be transmitted via the sounding reference signal resource; and transmit, via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair, the power-adjusted sounding reference signal.

[0012] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes: means for a user equipment to receive from a base station an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; means for the user equipment to determine a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam for a sounding reference signal resource; means for the user equipment to select an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power; means for the user equipment to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power of a sounding reference signal to be transmitted via the sounding reference signal resource based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set; and means for the user equipment to transmit the power adjusted sounding reference signal via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0013] According to an example embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon executable code that, when executed by at least one data processing device, is configured to cause the at least one data processing device to perform a method including: a user equipment receiving from a base station an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair; a user equipment determining a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam for a sounding reference signal resource; a user equipment selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power; a user equipment adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power of a sounding reference signal to be transmitted via the sounding reference signal resource based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set; and a user equipment transmitting the power adjusted sounding reference signal via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0014] According to an example embodiment, a method may include a step of a user equipment selecting, for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair to be used for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal beam pair, the user equipment adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal for each of the plurality of sounding reference signal resources based on the selected uplink data channel power control parameter set, and the user equipment transmitting each of the plurality of power adjusted sounding reference signals via a corresponding sounding reference signal resource and corresponding sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0015] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to: select, for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair to be used to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal beam pair; adjust, for each of the plurality of sounding reference signal resources, the sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal based on the selected uplink data channel power control parameter set; and transmit, for each of the plurality of power adjusted sounding reference signals, via a corresponding sounding reference signal resource and corresponding sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0016] According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to include: means for a user equipment to individually select, for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair to be used to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal beam pair; means for the user equipment to adjust, for each of the plurality of sounding reference signal resources, a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal based on the selected uplink data channel power control parameter set; and means for the user equipment to transmit each of the plurality of power adjusted sounding reference signals via a corresponding sounding reference signal resource and corresponding sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0017] According to an example embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon executable code that, when executed by at least one data processing device, is configured to cause the at least one data processing device to perform a method comprising: a user equipment individually selecting, for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair to be used to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal beam pair; the user equipment adjusting, for each of the plurality of sounding reference signal resources, a sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal based on the selected uplink data channel power control parameter set; and the user equipment transmitting, for each of the plurality of power adjusted sounding reference signals, via a corresponding sounding reference signal resource and corresponding sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0018] The details of one or more example embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network according to an example embodiment. [Diagram 2] 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of a base station, according to an example embodiment. [Diagram 3] 4 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a user device, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 4] 6 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of a user device according to another example embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 illustrates different beam pairs for PUSCH and SRS in accordance with an example embodiment. [Figure 6] A diagram showing different beam pairs for PUSCH and SRS signals in a heterogeneous network. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 illustrates explicit dynamic signaling according to an example embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 illustrates linking (or selection) of PUSCH power control parameter sets for multiple SRS resources, according to an example embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of a base station and a user equipment (UE) according to another example embodiment. [Figure 10] 1 is a block diagram of a node or wireless station (eg, a base station / access point, or a mobile station / user equipment) according to an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] Figure 1 is a block diagram of a wireless network 130 according to an example embodiment. In the wireless network 130 of Figure 1, user devices 131, 132, 133, and 135, which may also be referred to as mobile stations (MS) or user equipment (UE), may be connected to (and communicate with) a base station (BS) 134, which may also be referred to as an access point (AP), enhanced NodeB (eNB), or network node. At least some of the functionality of an access point (AP), base station (BS), or (e)NodeB (eNB) may be performed by any node, server, or host that may be operatively coupled to a transceiver, such as a remote radio head. The BS (or AP) 134 provides radio coverage within a cell 136 that includes user devices 131, 132, 133, and 135. Although only four user devices are shown connected or coupled to the BS 134, any number of user devices may be provided. The BS 134 is also connected to a core network 150 via an S1 interface 151. This is just one simple example of a wireless network; others may be used.

[0021] User equipment (user terminal, user equipment (UE)) may refer to portable computing devices including wireless mobile communication devices that operate with or without a subscriber identity module (SIM), and includes, by way of example and not limitation, the following types of devices: mobile stations (MS), mobile phones, cellular phones, smart phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), handsets, devices that use wireless modems (such as alarm devices or measurement devices), laptops and / or touch screen computers, tablets, phablets, gaming consoles, notebooks, and multimedia devices. It should be understood that user equipment may also be mostly uplink-only devices, such as cameras or camcorders that load images or video clips into the network.

[0022] In LTE (as one example), the core network 150, sometimes referred to as the Evolved Packet Core (EPC), may include a Mobility Management Entity (MME) that can handle or assist mobility / handover of user equipment between multiple BSs, one or more gateways that can forward data and control signaling between the BSs and a packet data network or the Internet, and other control functions or control blocks.

[0023] Various example embodiments may be applied to various wireless technologies or wireless networks, such as LTE, LTE-A, 5G, cmWave and / or mmWave networks, or any other wireless network. LTE, 5G, cmWave and mmWave networks are provided as examples, and various example embodiments may be applied to any wireless technology / wireless network.

[0024] Various example embodiments may relate to 5G wireless access systems (or other systems) that support massive MIMO (multiple input multiple output) and are optimized to operate at high carrier frequencies, e.g., centimeter wave frequencies (e.g., 3 GHz and above), or millimeter wave frequencies, for example, according to illustrative example embodiments. Typically, these exemplary systems are characterized by the need for high antenna gain to compensate for increasing path losses, and the need for high capacity and high spectral efficiency to accommodate ever-increasing wireless traffic. According to some example embodiments, the increased attenuation at high carrier frequencies can be compensated for by introducing, for example, massive (multiple element) antenna arrays and corresponding antenna gain via beamforming at the access point (AP) / base station (BS) and / or user equipment. Typically, the spectral efficiency can be improved by the number of spatial streams that the system can support, and thus the number of antenna ports at the BS. According to some example embodiments, spatial multiplexing may include a transmission technique in MIMO wireless communication in which independent, individually coded data signals, so-called streams, are transmitted from each of multiple transmit antennas.

[0025] For example, typically, a massive multiple-input multiple-output (M-MIMO) system may use a large number of antenna elements at a transmitter and / or receiver (e.g., a base station / access point or other network node). Typically, M-MIMO may have more spatial links / layers to provide more spatial degrees of freedom. In one example, a MIMO or M-MIMO transmitter may generate relatively narrow beams with good spatial separation using well-designed antenna weighting. Thus, such a transmitter may achieve high beamforming gain, reduce spatial interference areas, and obtain high multi-user spatial multiplexing gain. Typically, a MIMO or M-MIMO system may have better performance in terms of data rate and link reliability compared to other systems.

[0026] For example, as shown in FIG. 1, multiple beams are typically used to cover a cell, e.g., beam 1, beam 2, beam 3, and up to N beams. However, in many cases, only a portion of the beams can be activated simultaneously, e.g., to reduce cost and complexity. Thus, beam sweeping may be used to transmit signals over multiple time periods via each of multiple beams or multiple sets of beams. Beam sweeping may include activating each beam or a set of multiple beams over multiple time periods. The user equipment may also perform beam management (or beam tracking) to measure a reference signal for each beam and then transmit a beam report to the BS identifying one or more preferred beams (e.g., identifying the beam with the highest received power or received signal strength or other channel quality measure as one or more preferred or best downlink transmission beams). Thus, for example, beam sweeping may be performed to generate or activate each of multiple sets of beams in the time domain to transmit signals over a cell or receive signals over different beams. For example, depending on the implementation, only one beam or a set of beams (e.g., three beams, four beams, six beams, or some other number) may be active at a given time. For example, a user device or BS may transmit or receive various control signals, such as a reference signal (RS), typically for only one beam at a given time or for only one set of beams at a given time.

[0027] Transmission between a user equipment and a BS can be via a beam pair, which may include a BS-applied beam and a user equipment-applied beam. For example, in an uplink transmission from a user equipment to a BS, the beam pair may include a user equipment-applied transmit beam and a BS-applied receive beam. Similarly, in a downlink transmission, a beam pair including a BS-applied transmit beam and a user equipment-applied receive beam can be used.

[0028] According to an example embodiment, one or more user equipments may transmit uplink data to a BS via an uplink data channel, such as a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) channel. According to an example embodiment, the user equipment may perform power control using an uplink data channel (e.g., PUSCH) power control parameter set, e.g., adjust a transmission power of data (or other signals) transmitted via the uplink data channel (e.g., via a PUSCH channel). For each of a plurality of beam pairs, a different (or beam-specific) uplink data channel (e.g., PUSCH) power control parameter set may be selected or determined (e.g., a different power control parameter set for each of a plurality of uplink data channel beam pairs or PUSCH beam pairs). For example, each different uplink data channel (or PUSCH) power control parameter set may include at least one parameter having a different value than the other (one or more, or all) uplink data channel power control parameter sets.

[0029] Thus, for example, a different (or beam-specific) PUSCH power control parameter set may be determined or obtained for each of a plurality of PUSCH beam pairs, e.g., to allow a user equipment to adjust a transmission power for transmitting data on a PUSCH channel via a corresponding beam pair. As mentioned above, for uplink transmission (from a user equipment to a BS), a beam pair may include a transmission beam of the user equipment (or applied by the user equipment) and a reception beam of the BS (or applied by the BS). For example, a user equipment may perform power control using a PUSCH power control parameter set of a beam pair (or of each of a plurality of beam pairs) to adjust a transmission (or transmission) power of uplink data transmitted in the uplink via a PUSCH (or uplink data channel). In general, power control for signal transmission may help, e.g., to avoid unnecessary interference and reduce power consumption.

[0030] According to an example embodiment, the user equipment may transmit (uplink) sounding reference signals (SRS) to the BS. For example, the user equipment may transmit the sounding reference signals (SRS) to the BS to enable the BS to estimate the uplink channel conditions at different frequencies. According to an example embodiment, for example, the channel condition estimates may be used by the BS scheduler to allocate resource blocks with good channel quality for uplink PUSCH transmission (e.g., uplink channel dependent scheduling) and to select different transmission parameters (e.g., data rates) and different parameters related to uplink multi-antenna transmission. For example, the SRS signals may include periodic SRS signals transmitted at equal or regular intervals and aperiodic SRS signals that are not periodic (e.g., not transmitted at equal intervals).

[0031] According to an example embodiment, SRS signals may be transmitted via multiple different time-frequency resources. Since channel conditions vary in time and / or frequency, different beam pairs may be determined for each SRS resource. Thus, for example, each SRS signal transmitted via different SRS resources may have or be transmitted via a different beam pair (e.g., including an uplink beam of a user equipment or a receive beam of a BS). Thus, in this regard, there may be different beam pairs for each SRS resource.

[0032] Also, power control may be applied per SRS signal, e.g., the transmission power of each SRS signal may be adjusted. According to an example embodiment, the user equipment may determine an uplink data channel (e.g., PUSCH) channel power control parameter set to be used for adjusting the transmission power of the SRS signal separately for each of a plurality of SRS resources. Thus, for example, the PUSCH power control parameter set selected for use by the user equipment in adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power may be selected for each SRS resource (or for each SRS signal). The PUSCH power control parameter set selected for use in power control of the SRS signal may be referred to as, for example, a linked PUSCH power control parameter set, since it provides a link (association) or relationship between the PUSCH transmission power and the SRS signal transmission power. Since separate or independent beam pairs may be provided for different SRS resources (for SRS signals transmitted via different SRS resources), different and / or independent PUSCH power control parameter sets may be selected or determined to be used for power control of each SRS resource / SRS signal.

[0033] According to an example embodiment, if the PUSCH beam pair and the SRS beam pair are coincident, the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the PUSCH beam pair may be selected for performing power control of the SRS signal / SRS signal resource. Thus, for example, the beam pair of the SRS signal or SRS resource and the PUSCH beam pair may be coincident (e.g., have the same transmit and receive beams). Then, the PUSCH power control parameter set for the coincident PUSCH beam pair may be selected as the linked PUSCH power control parameter set to be used by the user equipment in adjusting the SRS signal transmit power of the SRS resource.

[0034] According to certain example embodiments, the user equipment may use different techniques to select or determine a linked PUSCH power control parameter set for an SRS resource. For example, the user equipment may implicitly determine a linked PUSCH power control parameter set for an SRS resource (or each SRS resource) (e.g., based on a matching beam pair between a PUSCH beam pair and an SRS beam pair) by 1) determining that a PUSCH (i.e., uplink data channel) beam pair matches an SRS beam pair, and then 2) selecting a PUSCH power control parameter set for the PUSCH (i.e., uplink data channel) beam pair to adjust the SRS transmit power (for the SRS resource) of an SRS signal having an SRS beam pair that matches the PUSCH beam pair. Alternatively, the user equipment may explicitly determine the linked PUSCH (i.e., uplink data channel) power control parameter set (e.g., based on the control information received from the BS) by 1) receiving control information from the BS indicating, for each of the plurality of SRS resources, the PUSCH power control parameter set to be used to adjust the SRS transmission power, and 2) selecting, based on the received control information for each of the plurality of SRS resources, the linked PUSCH power control parameter set to be used for power control of each of the plurality of SRS signals or SRS resources.

[0035] According to an example embodiment, control information from the BS indicating linked PUSCH power control parameter sets for each of a plurality of SRS signals / SRS resources may be conveyed to the user equipment via higher layer signaling (e.g., via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling) for periodic SRS signals and via lower layer signaling (e.g., via Downlink Control Information (DCI) on the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH)) for aperiodic SRS signals.

[0036] The user equipment may also receive information from the BS identifying a numerology for SRS transmission (e.g., to be used for power control of the SRS signal). For example, there may be different linked PUSCH power control parameter sets for different numerologies. Also, the PUSCH power control parameter set for the PUSCH beam pair and the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the SRS resource / SRS beam pair may have the same numerology. For example, the numerology includes different amounts, lengths, or intervals of information for one or more transmission or communication characteristics. Thus, for example, the numerology includes subcarrier spacing, subframe (or slot) length, OFDM symbol duration, or other time / frequency characteristics. Thus, for example, at least in some examples, a 5G radio / network device may support different numerologies (e.g., 5G numerology and 4G numerology) since a 5G BS or user equipment may be backward compatible with LTE / 4G or other standards.

[0037] The user equipment may also receive a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) to measure or determine the path loss, e.g., to determine the path loss for each of a plurality of beam pairs. The user equipment may also receive an indication of an SRS power offset (e.g., related to the transmit power of a PUSCH power signal) from the BS that may be used in setting or adjusting the SRS transmit power. Thus, in an example embodiment, the user equipment may adjust or set the transmit power of an SRS signal (or each SRS signal) based, e.g., on a linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the SRS signal / SRS resource, the numerology of the SRS signal / SRS resource, the power offset (e.g., SRS power offset), and the path loss (e.g., the path loss for or corresponding to the SRS beam pair).

[0038] As mentioned above, the user equipment may also perform beam sweeping for beam management, for example to report the latest preferred (or best) beam information to the BS (e.g., in this case, the user equipment may receive and measure signals of different beams / beam pairs and select / report to the BS one or more preferred or best beam pairs or best / preferred downlink transmission beams). The user equipment may select / use one linked PUSCH power control parameter set for all (or multiple) SRS beam pairs (rather than using different or beam-specific PUSCH power control parameter sets) when setting the SRS transmission power for beam sweeping for beam management. For example, the user equipment may select / use the PUSCH power control parameter set that was recently used to transmit data via a PUSCH channel as the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for all (or at least multiple) SRS signals / SRS resources during beam sweeping for beam management. The reason for this is that, for example, during beam management, the user equipment may not know the best or preferred beam pair(s) for different resources. According to another example, the user equipment may select a linked PUSCH power control parameter set that is signaled or indicated to the user equipment by the BS.

[0039] Example 1: Figure 2 is a flow chart showing the operation of a base station according to an example embodiment. Operation 210 includes the base station determining an uplink data channel power control parameter set of an uplink data channel beam pair. Operation 220 includes the base station determining a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receiving beam and a user equipment transmitting beam for a sounding reference signal resource. Operation 230 includes the base station selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used by the user equipment to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power based on the uplink data channel beam pair that matches the sounding reference signal beam pair. Also, operation 240 includes the base station receiving a sounding reference signal with a sounding reference signal transmission power set based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set from the user equipment via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0040] Example 2: In the example embodiment of Example 1, the step of determining an uplink data channel power control parameter set includes determining an uplink data channel power control parameter set for each of a plurality of uplink data channel beam pairs, including determining a first uplink data channel power control parameter set for a first uplink data channel beam pair and a second uplink data channel power control parameter set for a second uplink data channel beam pair; the step of determining a sounding reference signal beam pair for a sounding reference signal resource includes determining a first sounding reference signal beam pair for a first sounding reference signal resource and determining a second sounding reference signal beam pair for a second sounding reference signal resource. determining a sounding reference signal beam pair for each of the quasi-signal resources; the selecting step includes the steps of selecting, based on a match between the first uplink data channel beam pair and the first sounding reference signal beam pair, a first uplink data channel power control parameter set for the first uplink data channel beam pair that the user equipment should use to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power for the first sounding reference signal resource, and selecting, based on a match between the second uplink data channel beam pair and the second sounding reference signal beam pair, a second uplink data channel power control parameter set for the second uplink data channel beam pair that the user equipment should use to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power for the second sounding reference signal resource.

[0041] Example 3: In the example embodiment of Examples 1 or 2, the uplink data channel power control parameter set for the uplink data channel beam pair includes a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) power control parameter set for the PUSCH beam pair.

[0042] Example 4: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 1 to 3, the method further includes a step of the base station transmitting control information to the user equipment identifying an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used for adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power.

[0043] Example 5: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 1 to 4, the control information is transmitted via higher layer signaling for the periodic sounding reference signal, and the control information is transmitted via lower layer signaling for the aperiodic sounding reference signal.

[0044] Example 6: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 1 to 5, the control information is transmitted via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling for the periodic sounding reference signal, and the control information is transmitted via Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) Downlink Control Information (DCI) for the aperiodic sounding reference signal.

[0045] Example 7: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 1-6, the control information includes control information provided via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) downlink control information (DCI) that identifies 1) a sounding reference signal parameter set, configured by higher layer signaling, to be used for transmitting the sounding reference signal, and 2) an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used for adjusting the sounding reference signal transmit power.

[0046] Example 8: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 1 to 3, the method further includes the step of the base station transmitting, to the user equipment, information identifying a numerology that the user equipment should use for sounding reference signal transmission.

[0047] Example 9: The example embodiment of any of Examples 1-8 further includes the base station transmitting, to the user equipment, information identifying a power offset of the sounding reference signal transmit power for the uplink data channel.

[0048] Example 10: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 1 to 9, the base station further includes transmitting a channel state information-reference signal to the user equipment to enable the user equipment to determine a path loss of one or more beam pairs.

[0049] Example 11: According to an example embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods of Examples 1-10.

[0050] Example 12: An apparatus includes means for carrying out the method of any of Examples 1-10.

[0051] Example 13: An apparatus includes a computer program product including a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable code, the executable code being configured to cause the at least one data processing device to perform any of the methods of Examples 1 to 10 when executed by the at least one data processing device.

[0052] Example 14: Figure 3 is a flow chart showing an operation of a user equipment according to an example embodiment. Operation 310 includes the user equipment receiving an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair from a base station. Operation 320 includes the user equipment determining a sounding reference signal beam pair including a base station receive beam and a user equipment transmit beam for a sounding reference signal resource. Operation 330 includes the user equipment selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set to adjust a sounding reference signal transmit power. Operation 340 includes the user equipment adjusting a sounding reference signal transmit power for a sounding reference signal that the user equipment transmits via the sounding reference signal resource based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set. Operation 350 includes the user equipment transmitting a power adjusted sounding reference signal via the sounding reference signal resource and the sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0053] Example 15: In the example embodiment of Example 14, the step of receiving an uplink data channel power control parameter set includes receiving an uplink data channel power control parameter set for each of a plurality of uplink data channel beam pairs, including receiving a first uplink data channel power control parameter set for a first uplink data channel beam pair and receiving a second uplink data channel power control parameter set for a second uplink data channel beam pair; the step of determining a sounding reference signal beam pair includes receiving a second uplink data channel power control parameter set for a first sounding reference signal resource. determining a sounding reference signal beam pair for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources, the determining step including determining a first sounding reference signal beam pair for the first sounding reference signal resource and determining a second sounding reference signal beam pair for the second sounding reference signal resource; the selecting step including selecting a first uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power for the first sounding reference signal resource and a second uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power for the second sounding reference signal resource.

[0054] Example 16: In an embodiment example of Example 14 or 15, the selecting step includes a step of the user equipment determining that an uplink data channel beam pair matches a sounding reference signal beam pair, and a step of the user equipment selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power based on the matching of the uplink data channel beam pair to the sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0055] Example 17: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14 to 16, the selecting step includes a step of receiving control information from the base station indicating that the user equipment should use an uplink data channel power control parameter set to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power, and a step of the user equipment selecting, based on the received control information, the uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power.

[0056] Example 18: In any of the example embodiments of Examples 14-17, the uplink data channel power control parameter set for the uplink data channel beam pair includes a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) power control parameter set for the PUSCH beam pair.

[0057] Example 19: In any of the example embodiments of Examples 14-18, the control information is received via higher layer signaling for the periodic sounding reference signal, and the control information is received via lower layer signaling for the aperiodic sounding reference signal.

[0058] Example 20: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14-19, the control information is received via Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling for the periodic sounding reference signal, and the control information is received via Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) Downlink Control Information (DCI) for the aperiodic sounding reference signal.

[0059] Example 21: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14-20, the control information includes control information provided via a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) downlink control information (DCI) that identifies 1) a sounding reference signal parameter set configured by higher layer signaling to be used for transmitting a sounding reference signal, and 2) an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used for adjusting the sounding reference signal transmit power.

[0060] Example 22: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14 to 21, the method further includes the steps of: a user equipment receiving information identifying a numerology to be used by the user equipment for sounding reference signal transmission; a user equipment receiving information identifying a power offset of a sounding reference signal transmission power for an uplink data channel; a user equipment receiving a channel state information-reference signal for enabling the user equipment to determine a path loss corresponding to the sounding reference signal beam pair; and a step of identifying a path loss corresponding to the sounding reference signal beam pair based on the channel state information-reference signal, and the adjusting step includes the user equipment adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power based on the uplink data channel power control parameter set, the numerology, the power offset and the path loss.

[0061] Example 23: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14 to 22, the user equipment further includes a step of receiving information identifying a numerology that the user equipment should use for sounding reference signal transmission, and the sounding reference signal and the uplink data channel using the same beam pair have the same numerology.

[0062] Example 24: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14 to 23, when performing beam sweeping for beam management, the embodiment further includes a step of adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power of each of a plurality of sounding reference signal beams using one uplink data channel power control parameter set.

[0063] Example 25: In any of the embodiment examples of Examples 14 to 24, one uplink data channel power control parameter set includes an uplink data channel power control parameter set used for transmitting uplink data to a base station via an uplink data channel.

[0064] Example 26: An apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions, which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods of Examples 14-25.

[0065] Example 27: An apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method of any of Examples 14 to 25.

[0066] Example 28: Figure 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of a user equipment according to another example embodiment. Operation 410 includes the user equipment independently selecting an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam pair to be used to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal beam pair for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources. Operation 420 includes the user equipment adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources based on the selected uplink data channel power control parameter set. Operation 430 includes the user equipment transmitting each of the plurality of power adjusted sounding reference signals via a corresponding sounding reference signal resource and a corresponding sounding reference signal beam pair.

[0067] Example 29: In an example embodiment of Example 28, the selecting step includes a step of independently determining, for each of a plurality of sounding reference signal resources, that an uplink data channel beam pair matches the sounding reference signal beam pair, and a step of the user equipment selecting, based on the matching of the uplink data channel beam pair to the sounding reference signal beam pair, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for the uplink data channel beam pair to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power of the sounding reference signal having the sounding reference signal beam pair that matches the uplink data channel beam pair.

[0068] Example 30: In the embodiment example of Example 28 or 29, the selecting step includes: a step of the user equipment receiving, from the base station, control information indicating, for each of the plurality of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set to be used to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power; and a step of the user equipment selecting, based on the received control information for each of the plurality of sounding reference signal resources, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting the sounding reference signal transmission power.

[0069] Example 31: In any of the example embodiments of Examples 28-30, the uplink data channel power control parameter set for each uplink data channel beam pair includes a Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH) power control parameter set for the PUSCH beam pair.

[0070] Example 32: An apparatus includes at least one processor and at least one memory containing computer instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform any of the methods of Examples 28-31.

[0071] Example 33: An apparatus comprising means for carrying out the method of any of Examples 28 to 31.

[0072] Various example embodiments relate to (e.g., 5G) wireless systems supporting massive MIMO (m-MIMO). These systems are characterized by a larger number of antennas, better beamforming, and higher antenna gain. In particular, the present invention relates to an enhanced SRS (Sounding Reference Signal) power control scheme based on flexible beam switching at both the transmitter and / or receiver side. An improved or more accurate SRS power control mechanism can increase SRS capacity due to lower interference from neighboring cells. It can also reduce UE power consumption.

[0073] In an example embodiment, the power control of the SRS signal is linked (associated) with the power control of the PUSCH signal, typically by an offset value. In particular, the SRS power control can be described as or at least based on the following equation:

[0074]

number

[0075] The unit is [dBm]. Here, P CMAX,c (i) is the maximum permitted transmit power configured for a particular cell c, and M SRS,c (i) is the number of uplink PRBs (physical resource blocks) for SRS transmission, and P O_PUSCH,c (j) is the quasi-static nominal power of the PUSCH, PLc is the downlink path loss in dB of the serving cell c estimated at the UE (each beam may have its own path loss), αc(j) is a cell-specific path loss correction factor to balance between the cell average throughput and the cell edge throughput, fc(i) is the PUSCH closed loop power adjustment for the serving cell c, and P SRS_OFFSET,c (m) is an offset value for power adjustment for PUSCH power control that is semi-statically set by higher layers (e.g., by RRC signaling). Two independent offset values ​​may be used for periodic and aperiodic SRS.

[0076] As an example, a PUSCH power control parameter set, which may include one or more parameters that can be used to determine the transmit power of a PUSCH signal, may include M SRS,c (i), P.L. c, αc(j) and / or fc(i) may be included (additional parameters may be included). As described in more detail herein, a linked PUSCH power control parameter set may be selected for use in adjusting the sounding reference signal transmit power for each of one or more SRS signals / SRS resources based, for example, on the beam pairs used by the PUSCH signal and the SRS signal / resource.

[0077] There may be multiple (or many) PUSCH power control parameter sets, including a PUSCH power control parameter set for each PUSCH beam pair and a linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the SRS beam pair. This may allow or provide an independent relationship between the SRS power and the PUSCH power for different beam pairs. There may be different situations for the multiple power control parameter sets, and one or more of the parameters may be different and / or one or more parameters may be common in all or multiple power control parameter sets. Below are some illustrative case examples.

[0078] Case 1: The PUSCH power control parameter sets include independent path losses, and other parameters (P0_PUSCH, alpha) may be common to all parameter sets or beam pairs, and there may be one process to determine fc for all parameter sets / beam pairs, and the power offset values ​​may be the same or different for different parameter sets.

[0079] Case 2: A parameter set includes p0, alpha, path loss, and fc, offset, and all parameters are independent for different beam pairs / parameter sets, and each parameter set may be for or associated with one beam pair. Thus, situation 2 relates to the most general situation where each parameter set includes multiple parameters that are independent for all parameters.

[0080] Case 3: Parameter sets may include independent path loss and fc, P0_PUSCH and alpha are common to all parameter sets, and power offset values ​​may be the same or different in different parameter sets. Various example embodiments of an SRS power control scheme enhanced with flexible uplink / downlink beams for SRS transmission are described.

[0081] According to some example embodiments, both the transmit beam and / or the receive beam may be flexibly changed according to, for example, network requirements and channel transmission conditions. For example, in a UE, the beam pair (transmit beam and / or receive beam) for PUSCH and the beam pair for SRS may be different (e.g., may be different in a homogenous network). Thus, for example, the beam pair for SRS may not be the same as the beam (beam pair) used for the latest uplink transmission of PUSCH (uplink data channel). Rather, according to some example embodiments, the beam pair for PUSCH and the beam pair for SRS may be changed independently.

[0082] FIG. 5 illustrates different beam pairs for PUSCH and SRS according to an example embodiment. Scenario 1: When multiple UEs are multiplexed for transmission, the requirements for beam reception may not be aligned. For some UEs, a suboptimal gNB (5G BS) receiving beam may be selected to guarantee (or provide) multiplexing with other UEs. As an example shown in FIG. 5, UE1 may need to change its PUSCH transmission beam from beam 1 to beam 2 to (accommodate) multiplexing with UE2 in one subframe, even though the link on beam 1 has better channel quality. If SRS is triggered to obtain CSI (Channel State Information) for the link on beam 2, the beam for SRS transmission will be different from the beam for the previous PUSCH transmission, such as beam 1 (since the BS can only use one RX / receive beam at a time).

[0083] FIG. 6 illustrates different beam pairs for PUSCH and SRS signals in a heterogeneous network. Scenario 2: As shown in FIG. 6, when a gNB (5G BS) determines that the link quality of beam 1 is not so good, it may search or desire to obtain CSI of other beams. In this case, the gNB / BS may trigger an SRS transmission with a desired beam, which may be different from the beam used by the recent PUSCH transmission. In this example, different transmit powers may be used in a heterogeneous network (e.g., including different transmit / receive points, different BSs), which may result in different transmit powers and thus different beams for PUSCH and SRS. In a heterogeneous (multiple transmit points, e.g., each UE) network, the transmit and / or receive beams for PUSCH and SRS may be different. For example, by exploiting channel reciprocity, SRS can be used to obtain downlink CSI. Since transmit powers may be different at different transmit points, the downlink beam and the uplink beam may be different. As shown in Figure 6, SRS is used to obtain downlink CSI and is linked to a downlink beam that is not the same as the uplink beam of PUSCH. Thus, for example, higher transmit power DL (downlink), SRS must be TX (transmitted) on the same beam as DL data, and for example, BS may use SRS signal to obtain DL CSI based on channel reciprocity. Thus, for example, different beam pairs (or at least independent beam pairs) may be used or different beam pairs may be required for PUSCH and SRS.

[0084] Impact of multiple SRS resources According to an example embodiment, multiple SRS resources (K>1) (multiple time-frequency SRS resources for transmitting SRS signals) may be configured for one UE depending on the UE capabilities. Different SRS resources may be used to realize different functions such as obtaining uplink and downlink CSI, managing uplink beams (selecting and reporting uplink and downlink beam pairs). For example, beamforming (beam pairs) or precoding on different SRS resources may also be different since there are multiple functions and requirements. Different precoding may be used for precoded SRS for uplink CSI that may be transmitted to the same or different transmission points and thus received by the same or different Rx beams at the gNB. Also, multiple beam sweeping may be used, for example, for beam management - a signal may be applied to a set of multiple beams and swept through each beam or beam set. Thus, the beamforming gain (meaning different beams) may be different for different SRS resources. Thus, according to an example embodiment, a flexible relationship can be provided between a PUSCH power control parameter set used for PUSCH power control and SRS power control, e.g., a PUSCH power control parameter set can be linked to an SRS signal for SRS power control based on a match between a PUSCH beam pair and an SRS beam pair.

[0085] According to an example embodiment, a more accurate SRS power control scheme is provided or described, which may be particularly advantageous for operation with flexible beamforming, for example for m-MIMO systems. According to an example embodiment, the relationship of the power control parameter sets between PUSCH and SRS can be determined using explicit signaling (control information from BS indicating linked PUSCH power control parameter sets for SRS signals / resources) or implicit determination of linked PUSCH power control parameter sets for SRS signals by UE / user equipment. In this way, the change of beamforming gain (different beam pairs) of SRS can be compensated by a properly selected linked PUSCH power control parameter set (used in adjusting SRS transmission power). When configuring multiple SRS resources, the link of the power control parameter sets between PUSCH and SRS can be determined for each SRS resource due to flexible beamforming on different SRS resources. In beam management SRS, one PUSCH power control parameter set can be used for all or multiple SRS signals / links of SRS resources, e.g., since the information of all swept beams is limited, e.g., the latest PUSCH power control parameter set or a default PUSCH power control parameter set can be used for SRS power control.

[0086] Relationship of power control parameter sets between SRS and PUSCH According to an example embodiment, the UE may use different parameter sets for SRS power control, and the BS may indicate (signal to the UE) which power control parameter set is used for SRS power control. Each parameter may have different values ​​for one or more parameters of the power control parameter set, such as P0, (alpha), path loss and / or closed loop related parameter, fc.

[0087] Thus, for example, to support flexible beamforming for data transmission, different PUSCH power control parameter sets can be used for PUSCH with different beam pairs and used to adjust the power of the PUSCH signal, e.g., a different parameter set can be used for each PUSCH beam pair (UL TX / transmit beam at the UE and UL RX / receive beam at the BS). One case: Each beam pair may require a different parameter set. PUSCH One linked PUSCH power control parameter set defines the relationship (i.e. association) between SRS power and PUSCH power. For multiple PUSCH power control parameter sets, at least one of the multiple PUSCH power control parameter sets, which may include open loop related parameters, P0, (alpha), path loss and / or closed loop related parameters, fc, etc., may be different.

[0088] According to an example embodiment, a linked PUSCH power control parameter set (one of a plurality of PUSCH power control parameter sets) may be selected and used for SRS power control, for example, for each SRS resource or for one or more SRS resources. The selection of a PUSCH power control parameter set (linked PUSCH power control parameter set) for an SRS may include or involve one or more of the following:

[0089] 1) Determine multiple PUSCH power control parameter sets for PUSCH power control (one parameter set for each PUSCH beam pair).

[0090] 2) Determine a beam pair for each SRS resource (or one or more SRS resources).

[0091] 3) Determine, for each SRS resource, a linked PUSCH power control parameter set to use for determining the power of the SRS signal (for SRS power control) based on matching a beam pair for the PUSCH with a beam pair for the SRS, e.g., for a given SRS beam pair, select a PUSCH parameter set that has a beam pair that matches the SRS beam pair.

[0092] 4) Explicit option: The BS then sends to the UE an index that identifies the PUSCH power control parameter set to use (for the SRS beam pair).

[0093] A) For example, an index for a PUSCH power control parameter set may be indicated with 2 bits - explicit dynamic signaling (eg, signaling this index using DCI in the PDCC).

[0094] B) See Table 1 - Combination of higher layer (e.g., RRC) and dynamic signaling: SRS parameter sets are reported via higher layer (e.g., RRC) and lower layer signaling, e.g., PDCCH DCI can be used to report linked PUSCH power control parameter sets.

[0095] C) High level signaling such as RRC may be slow to indicate this index (not as fast as PDCCH DCI) and since the periodic SRS beam is pre-configured by the BS, high level signaling can be used to report the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for periodic SRS. Thus, the BS may transmit the linked PUSCH power control parameter set to the UE prior to SRS transmission to be used for that beam. The PDCCH may be used to report the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for aperiodic SRS.

[0096] 5) Implicit option: The beam pair may be included in the PUSCH parameter set and the SRS parameter set. Thus, when the BS (and UE) knows its beam and the PUSCH parameter set for PUSCH transmission, it also knows the linked PUSCH parameter set for the SRS with the same beam pair. Thus, the UE and the BS both know the beam pair for PUSCH and SRS (e.g., based on the match between the beam pair for SRS and the beam pair for PUSCH), and both know the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for SRS power control. Thus, the UE can implicitly determine the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the SRS with the same beam pair. Thus, in this case, it is not necessary to signal the index of the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for each SRS / SRS resource.

[0097] FIG. 7 illustrates an explicit dynamic signaling according to an example embodiment. Explicit dynamic signaling indication for association. For example, to ensure sufficiently flexible beamforming for both SRS and PUSCH, dynamic signaling may be used to indicate a linked PUSCH power control parameter set (which may include P0, alpha, path loss, etc.) for determining SRS transmission power. FIG. 7 illustrates an example of dynamic signaling. The dynamic signaling indicates to the UE a linked PUSCH power control parameter set 1 to be used for SRS power control according to the beam pair 1 used for SRS transmission link. There may be one specific offset value between the SRS and the linked PUSCH for each power control parameter set. This scheme is flexible enough to be used for power control of aperiodic SRS. In the example shown in FIG. 7, dynamic explicit signaling may be used to signal to the UE the use of PUSCH power control parameter set 1 corresponding to PUSCH transmit beam 1 and receive beam 1, for example based on a match between the PUSCH beam pair (TX beam 1 / Rx beam 1) and the SRS beam pair (TX / transmit beam 1, Rx / receive beam 1).

[0098] This dynamic signaling may be used, for example, via PDCCH DCI, to trigger aperiodic SRS transmission. To provide a good tradeoff between dynamic signaling overhead and SRS transmission flexibility, higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC / Radio Resource Control signaling) may be used in combination with lower layer (e.g., PDCCH DCI) dynamic signaling. For example, dynamic signaling may indicate an SRS transmission parameter set corresponding to one state. For example, two bits of dynamic signaling may be used (see, for example, Table 1) to indicate three states (with the fourth state not being triggered). SRS transmission parameters are configured (communicated to the UE) for each state by higher layer (e.g., RRC) signaling, and the SRS transmission parameters communicated to the UE via higher layer signaling include, for example, transmission comb, starting physical resource block allocation, srs-ConfigIndex, SRS bandwidth, frequency hopping bandwidth, cyclic shift, and number of antenna ports. According to an example embodiment, an index or value of the SRS request field may be used to indicate to the UE 1) an SRS transmission parameter set, 2) a linked PUSCH power control parameter set, and 3) a numerology for the SRS resources, as shown in Table 1. For example, an SRS and a linked PUSCH with the same power control parameter set may typically have the same numerology.

[0099] [Table 1]

[0100] Table 1 - SRS request field / index identifying linked PUSCH power control parameter set for SRS signal (e.g., for dynamic explicit signaling such as aperiodic SRS). The index or SRS request field may also indicate the SRS transmission parameter set, numerology, etc.

[0101] If a pair of transmit and receive beams is predefined for SRS transmission, higher layer signaling can be used to indicate the index of the linked PUSCH power control parameter set. For example, periodic SRS can be used to obtain CSI for different beam pairs determined by beam management. The gNB can determine the index of the PUSCH power control parameter set by the same beam pair based on the beam pair of the PUSCH and SRS used.

[0102] For example, when the receive beamforming information is not available on the UE side, signaling to indicate the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the SRS signal may be required. Also, for example, when the transmission parameters of the PUSCH and SRS include all beam pair information, the UE may implicitly determine the PUSCH power control parameter set used for determining the SRS transmission power according to the principle of the same beam pair between the PUSCH and the SRS.

[0103] Power control of multiple SRS resources. Since different beamforming (different beam pairs) may be used for different SRS, the association of PUSCH power control parameter sets for different SRS resources may (or should) be defined. This association can be determined according to the beam pair of each SRS resource used to perform accurate power control of the SRS. Thus, the association of PUSCH power control parameter sets for SRS power control (of SRS signals) can be determined for each SRS resource. This association can be obtained for each resource, for example, by explicit signaling (BS-sent control information indicating linked PUSCH power control parameter sets for each SRS resource / SRS signal) or by implicit decision (for example, based on the SRS beam pair that matches the PUSCH beam pair). If different numerologies are used on different SRS resources, it can be defined that the same numerology is used for SRS and linked PUSCH with the same power control parameter set for each SRS resource configuration. For example, when transmitting SRS within one OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) symbol on multiple resources with different frequency bands, the same link (same PUSCH power control parameter set with link per SRS) can be assumed by ensuring good PAPR (Peak-to-Average Power Ratio) characteristics when using SC-FDMA (Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access) for power-limited user equipment, i.e., UEs with SC-FDMA for example can receive the same signaling for PUSCH power control parameter set link within (or for) different SRS resources.

[0104] FIG. 8 illustrates the association (or selection) of PUSCH power control parameter sets for multiple SRS resources according to an example embodiment. In beam management SRS, beam sweeping can be used for beam selection (e.g., subframe 1 uses beam 1, subframe 2 uses beam 2, or multiple beams can be activated per subframe). In this case, the beam quality cannot be utilized for both gNB / BS and UE. Furthermore, it is not easy to obtain the corresponding PUSCH power control parameter sets for all beams. Therefore, according to an example embodiment, the same PUSCH power control parameter set may be used for this kind of SRS (for all or multiple SRS signals) even if different beams / beam pairs are used for different SRS resources. For example, since the point of beam management is to determine the latest preferred beam(s) for UL (UE TX beam and BS RX beam), the UE and BS do not necessarily know which beam is the best or preferred one. For simplicity, the PUSCH power control parameter set (used for SRS signal) can be associated with the most recently correctly transmitted PUSCH (UE already knows the PUSCH power control parameter set for UL data transmission used successfully before, e.g., implicitly known by both UE and BS during previous time instances), or one default PUSCH power control parameter set, or the BS can signal one indicated PUSCH power control parameter set to the UE, e.g., via RRC signaling. The example default PUSCH power control parameter set can be associated with a wide beam for robust transmission. Here, we assume only one SRS resource for beam management.

[0105] Various illustrative features or example embodiments may include, by way of example, one or more of the following.

[0106] 1) The BS and UE may determine a linked PUSCH power control parameter set for determining the SRS transmit power according to: the transmit and receive beams used for PUSCH and SRS; (e.g., based on the SRS beam pair that matches the PUSCH beam pair); different configurations.

[0107] A) Dynamic explicit signaling by PDCCH DCI to indicate the index of the linked PUSCH power control parameter set.

[0108] B) An implicit principle / decision for the UE to determine the link relationship of the SRS or the linked PUSCH power control parameter set based on the matching of the PUSCH beam pair and the RS beam pair.

[0109] 2) An association between multiple PUSCH power control parameter sets for the SRS and PUSCH is determined for each SRS resource (eg, based on the SRS beam pair that matches the PUSCH beam pair).

[0110] 3) The same PUSCH power control parameter set may be used for beam management SRS with beam sweeping. The UE may use one linked PUSCH power control parameter set for multiple SRS beam pairs (e.g., use the PUSCH parameter set for PUSCH beam 1 for SRS beam pairs 1-4).

[0111] (A) The PUSCH power control parameter set used for the previous or most recent PUSCH data transmission (known to both the BS and the UE) is used for multiple SRS resource / SRS beam pairs.

[0112] B) The signaled PUSCH power control parameter set (indicated by the BS to the UE) is used for multiple SRS resource / SRS beam pairs.

[0113] C) A default PUSCH power control parameter set (known to both the BS and the UE) is used for multiple SRS resource / SRS beam pairs.

[0114] 4) Additional signaling may be used to indicate (from BS to UE) the numerology for SRS transmission. SRS and linked PUSCH with the same power control parameter set have (should have) the same numerology. Different numerologies may have different linked / linked PUSCH parameter sets (numerology includes e.g. subcarrier spacing, subframe length (time), time domain (OFDM symbol period) and frequency domain (subcarrier spacing), transmit power, different beam width). Numerology may include basic time / frequency characteristics. Multiple SRS resources for numerology 1 and multiple SRS resources for numerology 2. For SRS transmission, multiple SRS resources for two different numerologies may need to be included, e.g. different beams / beam widths, different possible transmit powers, etc. The BS may indicate the numerology to the UE via high-level / RRC signaling, e.g. in the SRS transmission parameter set. The BS may indicate the association (the linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the SRS signal) and the numerology to which the association applies.

[0115] 9 illustrates the operation of a base station and a user equipment (UE) according to another example embodiment. From the BS side, the BS transmits power control related information to enable the UE to transmit SRS with appropriate SRS transmit power. From the UE side, the UE performs measurements and sets / adjusts the SRS transmit power according to gNB / BS instructions, including dynamic and semi-static signaling.

[0116] At 910, the gNB (BS) transmits / transmits a reference signal, such as a beam reference signal (BRS) or a channel state information-reference signal (CSI-RS) for UE path loss measurement via one or more beams / beam pairs. The UE then performs, for example, a path loss (PL) measurement for each of the multiple beam pairs. For example, the UE performs an RSRP (reference signal received power) measurement based on the received CSI-RS to obtain a path loss for each PUSCH beam pair and each PUSCH power control parameter set.

[0117] At 920, the gNB / BS determines and transmits via RRC multiple PUSCH power control parameter sets (each parameter, each parameter set value) including an open-loop portion, P0, α, and a closed-loop portion fc for PUSCHs having different transmit and receive beam pairs, and transmits these parameters to the UE via higher layer (open-loop portion is transmitted via RRC) and physical or lower layer signaling (e.g., fc may be transmitted via PDCCH / DCI). The UE receives the signaling of the multiple PUSCH power control parameter sets and associated offset values.

[0118] At 930, the gNB / BS configures one power offset (e.g., SRS power offset) value between the SRS and the linked PUSCH for each PUSCH power control parameter set by higher layer signaling (e.g., via RRC signaling), and can, for example, share one offset value for all PUSCH power control parameter sets or have different offset values ​​for different PUSCH power control parameter sets. At 930, the UE determines the transmit power of each SRS resource (for parameter set k, the linked PUSCH power control parameter set can be explicitly signaled or implicitly determined) based on, for example, the gNb signaling and the path loss measurement results according to the following formula:

[0119]

number

[0120] The unit is [dBm]. Here, P O_PUSCH,c,k (j), α c、k (j) is indicated by RRC signaling, PL c、k is obtained by UE measurement, and f c、k (i) is derived by TPC (transmission point) signaling. These parameters are obtained from PUSCH parameter set k. For the power control parameter set index, the gNb / BS can indicate this information using dynamic (lower layer, e.g., PDCCH DCI) or higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling). Note: In beam-managed SRS, multiple swept beams can be used for SRS transmission, but only one linked PUSCH parameter set may be used to determine the SRS transmission power. It can be, for example, one default PUSCH power control parameter set, or the most recently used parameter set for a correctly transmitted PUSCH.

[0121] At 940, the gNB / BS transmits signaling for each SRS resource indicating a linked PUSCH power control parameter set for the UE to determine the SRS transmission power according to the beam pair (transmit and receive beam) used for SRS transmission that matches the PUSCH beam pair. For aperiodic SRS, dynamic signaling (PDCCH / DCI) may be used to indicate the index of the linked PUSCH power control parameter set. The index of the linked PUSCH power control parameter set may be included with an indication of the SRS transmission parameter set for each state indicated by the dynamic signaling. For periodic SRS, semi-static signaling (RRC) may be used to indicate the index of the PUSCH power control parameter set. Implicit option - no signaling for this is required and the UE determines the association (linked PUSCH power control parameter set for SRS) based on the matching PUSCH beam pair and SRS beam pair.

[0122] At 950, eg, based on the selected / linked PUSCH power control parameter set, the UE transmits each SRS signal via a corresponding SRS resource and at the determined SRS transmit power.

[0123] Various example embodiments may have one or more advantages, such as performing precise power control on the SRS to reduce power consumption and inter-cell interference, providing compatibility with flexible SRS configurations, and supporting more users with limited SRS resources.

[0124] 10 is a block diagram of a wireless station (e.g., AP or user equipment) 1000 according to an example embodiment. For example, the wireless station 1000 may include one or two RF (radio frequency) or wireless transceivers 1002A, 1002B, each including a transmitter for transmitting signals and a receiver for receiving signals. The wireless station further includes a processor or control device / entity (controller) 1004 that executes instructions or software to control the transmission and reception of signals, and a memory 1006 that stores data and / or instructions.

[0125] The processor 1004 may also make decisions or determinations, generate frames, packets or messages to transmit, decode received frames or messages for further processing, and perform other tasks or functions described herein. The processor 1004, such as a baseband processor, may generate messages, packets, frames or other signals to transmit via the wireless transceiver 1002 (1002A or 1002B). The processor 1004 may control the transmission of signals or messages over a wireless network, as well as the reception of signals or messages (e.g., after being downconverted by the wireless transceiver 1002) over a wireless network. The processor 1004 may be programmable and may execute software or other instructions stored in memory or other computer media to perform various tasks and functions described above, such as one or more of the tasks or methods described above. For example, the processor 504 may be (or include) hardware, programmable logic, a programmable processor executing software or firmware, and / or any combination thereof. For example, in other words, the processor 1004 and the transceiver 1002 together can be considered a wireless transmitter / receiver system.

[0126] 10, a controller (or processor) 1008 may execute software and instructions and may provide overall control of the station 1000, may provide control of other systems not shown in FIG. 10, such as input / output devices (e.g., display, keypad), and / or may execute software for one or more applications that may be provided to the wireless station 1000, such as, for example, an email program, an audio / video application, a word processor, a Voice over IP application, or other application or software.

[0127] A storage medium may also be provided having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a controller or processor, cause the processor 1004, or another controller or processor, to perform one or more of the functions or tasks described above.

[0128] According to another example embodiment, the RF or wireless transceiver 1002A / 1002B can receive signals or data and / or transmit or transmit signals or data. The processor 1004 (and possibly the transceiver 1002A / 1002B) can control the RF or wireless transceiver 1002A or 1002B to receive, transmit, broadcast or transmit signals or data.

[0129] However, the embodiment is not limited to the system shown as an example, and a person skilled in the art can also apply this solution to other communication systems. Another example of a suitable communication system is the 5G concept. It is expected that the network architecture of 5G will be very similar to that of LTE-Advanced. 5G will likely use multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) antennas, many more base stations or nodes than LTE, including macro sites working with small stations, and possibly also utilize various radio technologies for improved coverage and enhanced data rates (so-called small cell concept).

[0130] It is to be appreciated that future networks will most likely utilize Network Function Virtualization (NFV), a network architecture concept that proposes virtualizing network node functions into "building blocks" or entities that can be operatively connected or linked together to provide services. A Virtualized Network Function (VNF) may include one or more virtual machines that execute computer program code using standard or generic type servers rather than customized hardware. Cloud computing or data storage may also be utilized. In wireless communications, this may mean that node operations may be performed at least in part in a server, host or node that is operatively coupled to a remote radio head. Node operations may also be distributed among multiple servers, nodes or hosts. It is also to be appreciated that the distribution of work between core network operations and base station operations may differ from that of LTE or may not exist.

[0131] The implementation of the various techniques described herein may be in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations of these. The implementation may also be as a computer program product, i.e. as a computer program tangibly embodied in an information carrier, such as a machine-readable storage device or a propagated signal, for execution by or to control the operation of a data processing apparatus, such as a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers. The implementation may also be on a computer-readable medium or computer-readable storage medium, which may be a non-transitory medium. The implementation of the various techniques may also include implementation via a transitory signal or medium, and / or in programs and / or software downloadable via the Internet or other network(s), whether wired and / or wireless networks. The implementation may also be via machine type communication (MTC) or the Internet of Things (IOT).

[0132] The computer program may be in source code form, object code form, or any intermediate form, and may be stored on any kind of carrier, distribution medium, or computer readable medium, which may be any entity or device capable of carrying a program. For example, such carriers include recording media, computer memories, read-only memories, optical-electronic and / or electrical carrier signals, telecommunication signals, and software distribution packages. The computer program may be executed in a single electronic digital computer or distributed among several computers, depending on the processing power required.

[0133] Furthermore, the implementation of the various techniques described herein may be implemented using cyber-physical systems (CPSs), which are systems of cooperating computational elements that control physical entities. CPSs can enable the implementation and exploitation of vast amounts of interconnected ICT devices (sensors, actuators, processors, microcontrollers, etc.) embedded in physical objects at different locations. Mobile cyber-physical systems, where the physical systems of interest are inherently mobile, are a subcategory of cyber-physical systems. Examples of mobile physical systems include mobile robotics and electronic devices transported by humans or animals. Interest in the field of mobile cyber-physical systems has increased with the growing popularity of smart phones. Thus, the various implementations of the techniques described herein may be implemented through one or more of these technologies.

[0134] A computer program such as the computer program(s) described above may be written in any type of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and may be deployed in any type of form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit or part suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0135] The method steps may be performed by one or more programmable processors executing computer programs or computer program portions which perform functions by operating on input data to generate output. The method steps may also be performed by, and an apparatus may be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit).

[0136] By way of example, processors suitable for executing computer programs include both general purpose and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer, chip or chipset. Typically, a processor receives instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory, or both. Elements of a computer may include at least one processor for executing instructions, and one or more storage devices for storing instructions and data. Typically, a computer includes one or more mass storage devices for storing data, such as magnetic disks, magneto-optical disks or optical disks, or may be operatively coupled to receive and / or transfer data therefrom. Suitable information carriers for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example only semiconductor storage devices such as EPROM, EEPROM and flash memory devices, magnetic disks such as internal hard disks or removable disks, magneto-optical disks, and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and memory may be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0137] To provide for interaction with a user, the implementation may take place on a computer having a display device, such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or liquid crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to a user, and a user interface, such as a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a mouse or trackball, that allows the user to provide input to the computer. Other types of devices may also be used to provide interaction with a user, for example feedback provided to the user may be any form of sensory feedback, such as visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback, and input from the user may be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0138] The implementation may take place in a computer system that includes back-end components, for example as a data server, or middleware components, such as an application server, or front-end components, such as a client computer having a graphical user interface or a web browser that allows a user to interact with the implementation, or any combination of such back-end, middleware, or front-end components. The components may be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, such as a communications network. Examples of communications networks include local area networks (LANs) and wide area networks (WANs) such as the Internet.

[0139] While certain features of the described embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art, and it is therefore to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the various embodiments.

Claims

1. A method of operating a user device, comprising: receiving control information from a base station (134) indicating that an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam should be used to adjust a sounding reference signal transmission power; said user equipment (131, . . . , 135) determining, based on said received control information, an uplink data channel power control parameter set for adjusting a sounding reference signal transmission power; the user equipment (131, . . . , 135) adjusting (340) a sounding reference signal transmission power for a sounding reference signal beam to be transmitted via a sounding reference signal resource based on the determined uplink data channel power control parameter set, where the sounding reference signal beam coincides with the uplink data channel beam; said user equipments (131, . . . , 135) transmitting (350) said sounding reference signal adjusted by said sounding reference signal transmission power via said sounding reference signal resource; The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

2. The uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam includes a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) power control parameter set for a PUSCH beam. The method of claim 1.

3. The uplink data channel power control parameter set includes a number of uplink physical resource blocks for sounding reference signal transmission, and the adjustment of the sounding reference signal transmission power by the user equipment (131, ..., 135) is based on the number of uplink physical resource blocks for sounding reference signal transmission.

3. The method according to claim 1.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving a channel state information-reference signal by said user equipment (131, . . . , 135); said user equipment (131, . . . , 135) estimating a downlink path loss based on channel state information-reference signals; Further comprising: the adjustment of the sounding reference signal transmission power by the user equipment (131, . . . , 135) is based on the estimated downlink path loss. The method according to one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The uplink data channel power control parameter set includes closed loop power adjustment parameters, and the adjustment of the sounding reference signal transmission power by the user equipment (131, . . . , 135) is based on the closed loop power adjustment parameters.

5. The method according to claim 1 .

6. The method further comprising: the user equipment (131, ..., 135) receiving information identifying a numerology to be used by the user equipment for sounding reference signal transmission; the adjustment of the sounding reference signal transmission power by the user equipment (131, . . . , 135) is based on the numerology; 6. The method according to claim 1 .

7. An uplink data channel and a sounding reference signal having the same power control parameter set have the same numerology, and / or The method of claim 6 , wherein different sounding reference signal resources have different numerologies.

8. A method for transmitting a signal from a mobile station comprising: receiving control information indicating that an uplink data channel power control parameter set for an uplink data channel beam is to be used to adjust a sounding reference signal transmit power; determining an uplink data channel power control parameter set based on the received control information to adjust a sounding reference signal transmit power; adjusting (340) a sounding reference signal transmit power for a sounding reference signal beam to be transmitted over a sounding reference signal resource based on the determined uplink data channel power control parameter set, where the sounding reference signal beam coincides with the uplink data channel beam; Transmitting (350) the sounding reference signal over the sounding reference signal resource, the sounding reference signal being adjusted by the sounding reference signal transmit power; With means adapted for A user device comprising:

9. The uplink data channel power control parameter set includes a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) power control parameter set for a PUSCH beam.

9. A user device according to claim 8.

10. The uplink data channel power control parameter set includes a number of uplink physical resource blocks for sounding reference signal transmission, and the means adapted to adjust is adapted to adjust the sounding reference signal transmission power based on the number of uplink physical resource blocks for sounding reference signal transmission. User equipment according to one of claims 8 to 9.

11. A channel state information-reference signal is received; Estimating downlink path loss based on channel state information - a reference signal; and further comprising means adapted for: the means adapted to adjust is adapted to adjust the sounding reference signal transmit power based on the estimated downlink path loss. User equipment according to one of claims 8 to 10.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the uplink data channel power control parameter set includes a closed-loop power adjustment parameter, and the means adapted to adjust is adapted to adjust the sounding reference signal transmit power based on the closed-loop power adjustment parameter. User equipment according to one of claims 8 to 11.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising: receiving information identifying a numerology to be used by the user equipment for sounding reference signal transmission; The means adapted to adjust is adapted to adjust the sounding reference signal transmit power based on the numerology. User equipment according to one of claims 8 to 12.

14. An uplink data channel and a sounding reference signal having the same power control parameter set have the same numerology, and / or The user equipment of claim 13, wherein different sounding reference signal resources have different numerologies.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing executable code, the executable code being configured, when executed by at least one data processing device, to cause the at least one data processing device to perform a method according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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